Seán Kelly re-elected for Europe on first count

Tue, 11 Jun, 2024 - 00:00

Breda Graham

Fine Gael’s Seán Kelly rejoiced following his re-election to the European Parliament on Monday evening after a long day of counting votes.

The count centre for the Ireland South constituency in the European Parliament elections at Nemo Rangers GAA Club erupted in cheers following the announcement by returning officer Martin Harvey that Mr Kelly had exceeded the quota of 114,761, winning 122,777 votes in the Ireland South constituency.

Mr Harvey announced to the crowd gathered in anticipation for Mr Kelly’s election that the total poll was 713,323. There were 24,759 invalid ballot papers and 688,564 valid ballot papers.

The electorate of Ireland South is over 1.3m.

Mr Kelly is the first candidate to win a seat in Ireland South, following the first count of ballots, which got underway earlier on Monday.

Some 250 counting staff resumed the sorting of the 713,323 ballot papers in the morning and a first count followed later in the evening.

Indications suggest Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher will take the second of five seats up for grabs in the Ireland South constituency.

From Fossa in Kerry, Mr Kelly worked as a primary school teacher before serving as the President of the GAA from 2003 to 2006, where he is most remembered for his role in removing Rule 42 which paved the way for rugby and football to be played in Croke Park.

Now leader of the Fine Gael delegation to the European Parliament, he was first elected as an MEP in 2009. He has served three terms on the European Parliament and will now enter his fourth.

Some of his notable achievements since include securing a deal on the EU Buildings Directive, leading critical negotiations on Brexit trade enforcement laws to safeguard the proper functioning of the all island economy and helping to secure an ambitious renewable energy target.

Result of first count

The 688,564 were distributed as follows: