How the count played out in Cork North West

The count in Cork North West was like a game of musical chairs, with four contenders vying to occupy three Dáil seats.

It took 18 hours of counting at the Mallow GAA complex for Aindrias Moynihan and Michael Moynihan, of Fianna Fáil, and John Paul O’Shea, of Fine Gael, to be elected at 3am, without reaching the quota at the end of the sixth count after 18 hours.

Gaeltacht Mhúscraí-based candidate Aindrias Moynihan topped the poll with 8,047 first preferences. He had predicted that it would be tight, after last year’s redraw of the constituency. That had led to the loss of Ballincollig to Cork North Central and the inclusion of areas in the northern half of the constituency, but the Moynihan machine left no stone unturned to offset any disadvantage.

“The finish line is in sight and, as you say, it’s been a very long campaign and a huge credit to the team that were out,” Mr Moynihan told The Echo shortly before the result.

The encounter in Twohig’s supermarket in Kanturk between Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach, Simon Harris, and the care worker Charlotte Fallon had been pivotal during the campaign and had shortened the ‘Harris hop’, but did not impact local Fine Gael candidate O’Shea and the party’s vote in Kanturk was up on previous general elections.

Having been pipped at the post in 2020, when he first stood for Fine Gael and, previously, having tasted defeat after a breakthrough performance in 2016 as an Independent, Mr O’Shea will savour this moment.

“This is my third time of asking for the Dáil,” Mr O’Shea said. “I’ve worked really hard on the council for the past 15 years, representing the people of my area as best I could in that time.” .

“I’ve always looked to be elevated to the Dáil and, thankfully, it has worked out.”

Michael Moynihan, who has been a TD for Cork North West since 1997, was “prepared for every eventuality”, should he lose or retain the seat, when he spoke with The Echo earlier in the evening.

He eventually finished with 9,057 votes and the final seat.

The contender left without a seat was the Fine Gael candidate and veteran Macroom councillor, Michael Creed, who was just 250 votes short of the leading pack after the first count, but none of the seven candidates who finished below him were going to be able to help him bridge that gap in transfers.

The councillor was disappointed, without a doubt, but gracious nonetheless. 

“It’s been a long campaign: I’ve been campaigning now with over eight weeks, but it’s been a pleasure and I’ve met some very decent people. I had a go, I gave it one good try, and just came up a small bit short this time.”