Fianna Fáil most popular party on first preferences in Cork South Central

Micheál Martin has celebrated a good result from Fianna Fáil in Cork South Central, as the party took the first two seats, and he looks increasingly likely to be the next Taoiseach.

The party got 36.5% of the first-preference vote. It was more than twice as high as Fine Gael — who also ran three candidates but ended on 16.19% — or Sinn Féin, who ran two and got 15.41%.

Mr Martin was elected on the first count, a big improvement from 2020 when it was the sixth count before he was elected, behind Sinn Féin’s Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

Humbled

Mr Martin saw his second-strongest-ever showing with 23.17% of the vote, having received 26.29% of the first-preference votes back in 2002. Speaking afterwards, Mr Martin said he was feeling “relieved, elated, and very humbled” by an “extraordinary vote of confidence”.

Mr Martin thanked his wife Mary, his three children, Micheál Aodh, Aoibhe, and Cillian, his parliamentary assistant Fianna Fáil councillor Mary Rose Desmond, as well as other party staff and volunteers.

Micheál Martin told The Echo on Saturday that he planned to celebrate his election with “a pint of Murphy’s or Beamish”.

“I’m in Nemo Rangers, so I couldn’t be in a better place, but I’m tired as well. It was a hectic couple of weeks, the exit poll — which has now proven not to be correct — was a bit of a downer.”

Surplus

The party’s Margaret Kenneally was eliminated on the ninth count with 1,241 votes — her surplus then elected Seamus McGrath to the constituency’s second seat on the 10th count with 10,758 votes, having exceeded the quota of 10,451.

Séamus McGrath told The Echo: “I’m absolutely ecstatic, it’s great to finally make it over the line, so I just want to thank everyone for their support. It’s a wonderful day for the McGrath family, Michael takes up his role as EU commissioner today and I’m elected as a TD, so it’s a very special day.”

Michael McGrath said: “It’s emotional, I’m so proud of [Séamus].”

Mr Martin added: “It confirms a very strong representation for Fianna Fáil in Cork South Central again. The bottom line is it’s hard work that gets these results.”