Three of the five seats in Loughrea have been filled at the first count.
Outgoing councillors Shane Curley (Fianna Fáil), Jimmy McClearn (Fine Gael) and Declan Kelly (Independent Ireland) have all been re-elected. It is likely the other outgoing councillors will also retain their seat.
In the meantime, Fine Gael David Collins has been elected in the Athenry-Oranmore LEA after five counts.
He is the third candidate to be elected in the area after Albert Dolan (Fianna Fáil) and Tomás Grealish (Independent), who both exceeded the quota at the first count.
While in the Tuam LEA Blessing Oguekwe (Labour) has been eliminated at the seventh count.
11am
In the Athenry-Oranmore LEA Maria Carr has been eliminated at the fourth count. David Collins only need four more votes to secure a seat.
While in the Tuam LEA, Ross Culligan (the National Party) was eliminated during the sixth count. The quota is at 1,920 and Mary Hoade is very close to be elected with 1,843 votes so far. She is followed by Shaun Cunniffe (Independent Ireland) with 1,632 votes, Donagh Killilea (Fianna Fáil) with 1,533 votes and Ollie Turner (Fine Gael) with 1,518 votes.
10.15am
Independent candidate Colin Lynch has been eliminated from the Tuam run during the fourth count, while Danann Liam Gaughan (The Irish People) has been eliminated after the fifth count.
Shortly after, the results of the third count for the Athenry-Oranmore LEA have been announced. The quota is set at 1,718 and nobody was elected or eliminated.
However, Fine Gael David Collins and independent James Charity are close to be elected as they received 1,705 and 1,614 votes.
David Collins said he is happy with the results so far: “I’m delighted, I got a great mandate from local people, they gave me a great first preference of votes. I’ve been a councillor the last five years, working hard, and people have realised that and I’m delighted. I’m delighted for my canvass team, for my family. We’re nearly there.”
9am
The counting has now resumed at Galway Lawn Tennis Club.
Last night, the third count for the Tuam LEA and the second count for the Athenry-Oranmore LEA were completed. However, both areas have to elect another five candidates.
Later today, the count for Connemara South, Loughrea, and Ballinasloe will also begin.
1.30am
The results of the third count for the Tuam LEA have been announced. However, nobody was elected or eliminated.
In the meantime, the results of the second count for the Athenry-Oranmore LEA have been announced but nobody was elected or eliminated.
The count will resume tomorrow morning at 9am.
Midnight The first count of the Athenry-Oranmore LEA has been completed and two candidates have been elected.
As expected, Albert Dolan (Fianna Fáil) was elected with 2,393 votes along with Tomás Grealish (Independent) who was elected with 1,843 votes.
Among the other candidates, David Collins (Fine Gael) got 1,586 votes, James Charity (Independent) 1,565 votes, Peter Feeney (Fine Gael) 1,213 votes, Eoghan Gallagher (Fine Gael) 1,018 votes, Louis O’Hara (Sinn Féin) 1,005 votes, Cillian Keane (Fianna Fáil) 937 votes, Shelly Herterich Quinn (Fianna Fáil) 792 votes, Eoin Madden (Green Party) 454 votes, Fergal Landy (Labour) 409 votes, Sean Hehir (Independent Ireland) 301 votes, Maria Carr (The Irish People) 226.
Moments later, the second count for Tuam LEA was announced but no-one was elected or eliminated.
11pm Tallies indicate that young Fianna Fáil candidate Albert Dolan, who is seeking election for the second time, will top the poll in the Athenry-Oranmore LEA.
As Albert Donal is waiting for the first count to be announced, he told the Irish Independent: “The tallies were absolutely incredible, something I don’t think we could have ever predicated. I’m looking forward to the first count.
“I think it’s a reflection that the people o the Athenry-Oranmore area want to see me drive on, they want to see our community represented and they want to see candidates that have an energy and a passion for community and ultimately candidates that want the best for their area”.
Andrew Reddington with his family and supporters the moment he heard he was elected.
10pm Results of the first count for the Tuam LEA have been announced: Andrew Reddington (Fine Gael) has been elected with 2,784 votes while Peter Roche (also Fine Gael) has been elected with 2,553 votes.
At the first count, Shaun Cunniffe (Independent Ireland) received 1,438 votes, Donagh Killilea (Fianna Fáil) 1,379 votes, Mary Hoade (Fianna Fáil) 1,326 votes, Ollie Turner (Fine Gael) 1,210 votes, Joe Sheridan (Fianna Fáil) 1,153 votes, Karey McHugh Farag (Independent) 1,042 votes
Also, Luke Peter Silke (Aontú) got 553 votes, Stiofán De Lundres Ó Dálaigh (Sinn Féin) received 458 votes, Tom Quirke (Fianna Fáil) got 427 votes, Islammiyah Kadejo (Green Party) got 257 votes, Deborah Reynolds (Sinn Féin) got 208 votes, Blessing Oguekwe (Labour) got 206 votes, Ross Culligan (National Party) received 149 votes, Danann Liam Gaughan (The Irish People) received 118 votes, and Colin Lynch (Independent) got 95 votes.
This is a big achievement for Andrew Reddington, who in 2019 was passed the quota for only 10 votes.
He said to the Irish Independent he is delighted with the results: “We ran a long camping, we started at the end of January, we knocked to as many doors as we could. My campaign has been very honest, I work hard and I do my best for everybody. I’m delighted with the votes today, I had great support from my wife, and my three kids, and we had 75 people canvassing so we have a big team. And it’s great to see a lot of those people here today, without that team I wouldn’t have got elected.
“In 2019 I got the last seat by 10 votes, and what I want to say to everybody is there’s a lot of people who put their name forward today, there’s 17 candidates all from different political backgrounds but at the end of the day they put their name forward to represent their community and I applaud them for putting their name forward.
“Councillors play a huge role in local areas and community groups and I’m very honoured to be in a position to retain my seat”.
Peter Roche as he learnt he was elected
9pm Gerry Finnerty (Fianna Fáil) is the fifth and last councillor to be elected for the Gort-Kinvara LEA.
Following five counts, Gerry Finnerty has been elected along with Geraldine Donohue (Independent), Paul Killilea (Fine Gael), Martina Kinane (Fianna Fáil), and PJ Murphy (Fine Gael).
7.30pm TD Hildegarde Naughton is at Galway Lawn Tennis Club showing her support for the Fine Gael candidates.
She told the Irish Independent that the early results both in Galway and nationwide indicate it is a “a positive day” for The Fine Gael party.
She said: “There are sitting Fine Gael Councillors that have a very good track record and work hectic on the ground and they’re getting that recognition. We got some very good new candidates as well, hopefully they’ll get over the line, one of two got over already. So a positive day I think for Fine Gael here in Galway.”
In the meantime, results of the third count for the Gort-Kinvara LEA have been announced but no-one has reached the quota to get the last available seat.
Gerry Finnerty (Fianna Fáil) received 1,415 votes, Megan Flynn Dixon (Green Party) received 852 votes, Lucina Kelly (Sinn Féin) received 559 votes and Alan Sweeney (The Irish People) received 322 votes.
The quota is set at 1,658. Paul Killilea (Fine Gael), PJ Murphy (Fine Gael), Martina Kinane (Fianna Fáil) and Geraldine Donohue (Independent) have already been elected.
TD Hildegarde Naughton at Galway Lawn Tennis Club
6.20pm All four candidates for Connemara North LEA have been elected during the fourth and last count.
Gerard King (Fianna Fáil) was elected with 1,663 votes, Eileen Mannion (Fine Gael) was elected with 1,684 votes, Séamus Walsh (Independent Ireland) was elected with 1,598 votes and Thomas Welby (Independent) was elected with 1,591 votes.
6pm Four out of the five seats at the Gort-Kinvara LEA have been filled. During the second count, Paul Killilea (Fine Gael) has been elected with 1,717 votes. The quota is set at 1,658 and there is only one seat left as PJ Murphy (Fine Gael), Martina Kinane (Fianna Fáil) and Geraldine Donohue (Independent) have been elected during the first count.
During the second count, Gerry Finnerty (Fianna Fáil) received 1,301 votes, Megan Flynn Dixon (Green Party) received 781 votes, Lucina Kelly (Sinn Féin) received 537 votes and Alan Sweeney (The Irish People) received 303 votes.
5.40pm Results of the third count for Connemara North LEA have been announced.
Independent Ireland’s Seamus Walsh (elected during the second count) received 1,598 votes, Thomas Welby (elected during the first count) received 1,591 votes.
Eileen Mannion (Fine Gael) received 1,572 votes; Gerard King (Fianna Fáil) received 1,496 votes, Mánus Ó Conaire (Independent) received 973 votes; Tom Healy (Sinn Féin) received 671 votes.
Daniel Gleeson (Green Party) and Críostóir Breathnach (Independent) were excluded.
In the meantime, the count is also underway for Tuam LEA. According to tallies, Fine Gael’s Andrew Reddington and Pete Roche are doing extremely well.
They are followed by two Fianna Fáil candidates, Mary Hoade, Donagh Killilea and Joe Sheridan, as well as Independent Ireland’s Shaun Cunniffe, and new candidate Ollie Turner (Fine Gael).
Aontú candidate Luke Silke and Sinn Féin’s Stiofán De Lundres Ó Dálaigh are expected to be eliminated.
PJ Murphy celebrating after being elected at the first count
5pm Three councillors have been elected as the results of the first count for Gort-Kinvara LEA have been announced.
PJ Murphy (Fine Gael) has been elected with 1,953 votes and is followed by Martina Kinane (Fianna Fáil) elected with 1,884 votes and Geraldine Donohue (Independent) elected with 1,761 votes.
The quota is set at 1,658 votes and Paul Killilea (Fine Gael) is very close to be elected as well after receiving 1,538 votes. He is followed by Gerry Finnerty (Fianna Fáil) with 1,225 votes, Megan Flynn Dixon (Green Party) with 762 votes, Lucina Kelly (Sinn Féin) with 523 votes and Alan Sweeney (The Irish People) with 296 votes.
PJ Murphy, who’s elected for the second time, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to top the poll here on the Gort-Kinvara LEA. It was quite a close race, the leading independent candidate, Fianna Fáil candidate and myself were really neck to neck throughout the campaign.
“Now the work begins, we have a lot of work to do to continue the representation for the people of the Gort-Kinvara elected area and I’m very much looking forward to the next five years to represent my people.”
Shortly after, the second count for Connemara North was announced.
Independent Ireland’s Seamus Walsh was elected with 1,598 votes, followed by Thomas Welby (elected during the first count) with 1,591 votes.
Eileen Mannion (Fine Gael) received 1,463 votes; Gerard King (Fianna Fáil) received 1,456 votes, Mánus Ó Conaire (Independent) received 920 votes; Tom Healy (Sinn Féin) received 600 votes; and Daniel Gleeson (Green Party) received 255 votes while Críostóir Breathnach (Independent) received 71 votes.
Thomas Welby with his family
3.30pm The first count for Connemara North has been announced: Independent candidate Thomas Welby is the first candidate in Ireland to be elected today.
Welby has been elected with 1,758 votes (exceeding the quota which is set at 1,591) and is followed by Séamus Walsh (Independent Ireland) with 1,525 votes; Gerard King (Fianna Fáil) with 1,435 votes and Eileen Mannion (Fine Gael) with 1,425 votes; Mánus Ó Conaire (Independent) with 905 votes; Tom Healy (Sinn Féin) with 591 votes; and Daniel Gleeson (Green Party) with 248 votes.
Thomas Welby commented: “I’m delighted, it’s the fourth time topping the poll, the second time as the first to be elected in Ireland. I just want to thank everybody, my family in particular, my brother, my wife, my children, and grandchildren, sons in law, the support I got from relatives and friends, I’m really delighted. ”I look forward to another five years and 20 years in politics. My father was first elected 50 years ago, in 1974, and I’m really happy to be able to continue.”
2pm Counting has also commenced for the Gort-Kinvara LEA. According to tallies, Martina Kinane (Fianna Fáil) and PJ Murphy (Fine Gael) are very strong and are followed by Independent candidate Geraldine Donohue and Fine Gael newcomer Paul Killilea.
It is understood Sinn Féin’s Lucina Kelly and The Irish People’s Alan Sweeney are out of the running.
Alan Sweeney commented: “In terms of being a first time candidate my intention was to put my name out there, to break the ice, to give people an opportunity to hear my point of view. People have to start somewhere, sometimes it could take people two or three elections to even get in. I’m happy enough and I believe next time it will be a lot better.”
Lucina Kelly added: “I’m absolutely thrilled I did it. I wouldn’t be high profile in the area, but I’m very happy I did it, I met a lot of wonderful people at the doors, so no regrets whatsoever.”
1pm The sorting of ballot papers is underway in the local elections at the County Galway Count Centre.
The first ballot boxes to be opened at Galway Lawn Tennis Club are the ones for Conamara North.
According to tallies, the four outgoing councillors (Fianna Fáil Cllr. Gerard King, independent Cllr. Thomas Welby, Fine Gael Cllr. Eileen Mannion, Independent Ireland Cllr. Séamus Walsh) are expected to be re-elected.
Among them, Independent candidate Thomas Welby expects to be elected on the first count for the fourth time in his career.
Galway Lawn Tennis Club
Green Party candidate Daniel Gleeson, who is waiting for the official results along with his newborn baby, Lughaidh, said he is still hopeful the Green Party will do well around the county: “I feel okay, we weren’t expecting to do fantastic. It’s the first time a Green party candidate has run in Conamara North and we had a baby halfway through the campaign which curtailed my ability to go out. But we’re really hopeful that around the county the Green party will be gaining seats. So we’re cautiously optimistic, the day could turn out well for us in the end.”
Meanwhile, it is understood a voter has lost a diamond ring in one of the boxes from Ballinderreen yesterday. Returning Officer Marian Chambers Higgins announced they are looking for it.
We will have all the updates from the Galway local election count as it happens here on this page.
