TALLIES Galway East tallies completed
The tally for the Galway East constituency is now complete and it looks as if Sean Canney will top the poll and will easily retain his Independent seat, while Portumna’s Anne Rabbitte is also expected to be returned for Fianna Fáil.
However, the destination of the Fine Gael seat is still unclear with sitting TD Ciaran Cannon around 400 votes ahead of his party colleague Pete Roche and it will be down to transfers to decide on this final seat.
Pete Roche is not without hope as he will be hoping to benefit geographically in the event of FF’s Donagh Killilea being eliminated.
It is still very close to call but there is one independent seat and one each for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – that is definite.
It has been a good election for Sinn Fein’s Louis O’Hara, who has polled more than 6,500 first preferences but a lack of transfers will ultimately deny him a seat with the quota expected to be just over 10,000.
As it stands, Sean Canney is on just under 7,400 but is assured to be first past the post.