Roscommon-Galway 4th Count: Dolan eliminated

The environmental campaigner from Ballinasloe who works at NUI Galway as a project manager with start-ups in healthcare and medtech, only joined the party last November after winning a seat as an Independent in the local elections last May.

The strategy to run her as the sole party candidate in this poll will have cost her dearly as it made her transfer-unfriendly leading to her elimination in count seven.

"I've been a strong voice and have presented a new vision in this constituency, which I will continue to do on Galway County Council," she remarked.

"We need a stable government and if we don't have somebody in one of the big parties we need the Independents to achieve change of sitting on the side of the fence, pointing the finger and being entertaining.

"One of the Independents had the chance of going into government and he didn't last time. I hope that's not repeated but we need real change in Galway, we need to get good quality broadband, we need to address rural decline - that will only happen if in government."

Her first-time vote share at 12% -  or 5,391 first preference votes - will be regarded as very credible given her short association with the party. She was parachuted in after Senator Maura Hopkins withdrew after giving birth to a baby recently.

Her total - 6,162 - will see the other two candidates being elected on the fifth and final count, which is expected after 2am.

Number of seats: 3 Electorate: 69,598 Spoiled votes: 330 Total valid poll: 45,612 Quota: 11,404

Fourth Count Fitzmaurice, Michael (Ind) Elected Naughten, Denis (Ind) 8,422 +635 9057 +362 9419 + 1447 10,866 Kerrane, Clare (SF) 8,003 +319 8322 +368 8690 +712 9402 Dolan, Aisling (FG) 5,466 +169 5635 +75 5710 +452 6162 Murphy Eugene (FF) 4,945 +256 5201 +180 5381 +1861 7242 Leyden, Orla (FF) 2,953 +171 3124 +73 3197 Eliminated O'Donoghue, Julie (GP) 1,413 +32 1445 +165 1610 Eliminated Hope, James (Aontu) 504 +38 542 Eliminated Tynan, Kieran (SPBP) 422 +20 442 Eliminated Hanley, Paul (National Party) 319 +12 331 Eliminated Fallon, Thomas D (Ind) 88 +21 109 - Eliminated Eliminated: Aisling Dolan. The next count is the fifth and final count.

THIRD COUNT Fitzmaurice, Michael (Ind) Elected Naughten, Denis (Ind) 8,422 +635 9057 +362 9419 Kerrane, Clare (SF) 8,003 +319 8322 +368 8690 Dolan, Aisling (FG) 5,466 +169 5635 +75 5710 Murphy Eugene (FF) 4,945 +256 5201 +180 5381 Leyden, Orla (FF) 2,953 +171 3124 +73 3197 O'Donoghue, Julie (GP) 1,413 +32 1445 +165 1610 Hope, James (Aontu) 504 +38 542 Eliminated Tynan, Kieran (SPBP) 422 +20 442 Eliminated Hanley, Paul (National Party) 319 +12 331 Eliminated Fallon, Thomas D (Ind) 88 +21 109 - Eliminated

Nobody deemed elected. Eliminated O'Donoghue and Leydn.

SECOND COUNT Fitzmaurice, Michael (Ind) 13,077 Elected Naughten, Denis (Ind) 8,422 +635 9057 Kerrane, Clare (SF) 8,003 +319 8322 Dolan, Aisling (FG) 5,466 +169 5635 Murphy Eugene (FF) 4,945 +256 5201 Leyden, Orla (FF) 2,953 +171 3124 O'Donoghue, Julie (GP) 1,413 +32 1445 Hope, James (Aontu) 504 +38 542 Tynan, Kieran (SPBP) 422 +20 442 Hanley, Paul (National Party) 319 +12 331 Fallon, Thomas D (Ind) 88 +21 109

Eliminated Fallon, Hanley, Hope and Tynan

FIRST COUNT Fitzmaurice, Michael (Ind) 13,077 Naughten, Denis (Ind) 8,422 Kerrane, Clare (SF) 8,003 Dolan, Aisling (FG) 5,466 Murphy Eugene (FF) 4,945 Leyden, Orla (FF) 2,953 O'Donoghue, Julie (GP) 1,413 Hope, James (Aontu) 504 Tynan, Kieran (SPBP) 422 Hanley, Paul (National Party) 319 Fallon, Thomas D (Ind) 88

Fitzmaurice re-elected on the first count. Fitzmaurice's surplus of 1,673 to be distributed.