GALWAY EAST - Turnout not much bigger than in 2007

BY DECLAN TIERNEY

At close of polls tonight (Friday) the turnout in Tuam town was 61% but this has to be considered in the context that there was a massive 78% turnout in the rural Tuam boxes.

Some of the boxes in Tuam had as low as 49% of a turnout which was much lower than the 2007 General Election.

In Ballinasloe there was a 59% turnout which disappointed some of the main parties although it was felt that there was a big support for Independent candidate Cllr. Timmy Broderick.

A total of 3,309 voters came to the polling booths in Ballinasloe which was slightly lower than the 2007 turnout.

It is expected that Cllr. Broderick and Sinn Fein's Cllr. Dermot Connolly were the biggest beneficiaries of the vote but there was a strong opinion that Fine Gael's Cllr. Paul Connaughton also did quite well.

The counting of votes will begin at 9 a.m. with the Ballinasloe boxes being the first to be opened. A full tally is expected by 1 p.m. on Saturday.