Independent Councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig has retained his seat on the first count for Glenties.
The Glenties LEA Councillor secured 2007 first preference votes, sailing comfortably over the quota of 1875.
Mac Giolla Easbuig has almost doubled his amount of votes since the last Local Election in 2014. In 2014, he achieved 1,100 – while today he was elected with 2,007 first preferences.
Mac Giolla Easbuig, a Socialist Republican, is delighted to be elected on the first count.
“First and foremost I’d like to thank everybody who has been out helping me; between posters, knocking on doors, and fundraising. A special thanks goes to my father who was out day and night for the past couple of months canvassing.”
“I look forward to the next five years to use my seat, not just in day to day work, but to highlight social injustice in both our country as a whole and throughout the world.”
Wearing a t-shirt in support of the Craigavon Two campaign, Mac Giolla Easbuig discussed the importance of showing international solidarity with the oppressed in Palestine, the Basque country, and Catalonia.
“I will continue advocating for political prisoners, against the ongoing occupation of the six counties, and the military oppression against the working class communities in the six counties,” he told Donegal Daily.
Following his landslide re-election, Mac Giolla Easbuig is looking forward to getting back to business.
“I don’t take this vote for granted, I need to work for the next five years for the community I serve,” he concluded.
More notes on the first count
Sinn Féin candidates John Sheamuis Ó’Fearraigh polled highly with 1429 first preferences, as did Marie Therese Gallagher (1089).
Noreen McGarvey (FF) and Michael McClafferty (FG) both achieved over 1,000 votes; achieving 1018 and 1012 first preferences respectively.
From an electorate of 23,165 and a total poll of 12,851, 147 votes were spoiled.
Full results of the first count:
Enda Bonner (FF) 893
Brian Carr (SF) 922
Marie Therese Gallagher (SF) 1089
Micheal Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig (Independent) 2007
Michael McClafferty (FG) 1012
Noreen McGarvey (FF) 1018
Anthony Molloy (FF) 916
Liam Mulligan (Aontú) 349
Seamus O’Domhnaill (FF) 979
John Sheamuis Ó’Fearraigh (SF) 1429
Seamus Rodgers (Labour) 544
Evelyn Sweeney (FG) 724
Liam Whyte (Independent) 822
As the lowest scoring candidate, Liam Mulligan’s votes will be distributed.
Concerns regarding the accuracy of yesterday’s tallies were voiced this morning in the Highlands Hotel, so the first count has provided a vital indication for how the rest of the day will go for the candidates.
For live updates as they happen across the county, follow this link:
LIVE: Donegal Daily Local Elections 2019 – follow our updates
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