Ballina ends up with predicted 2-2-2 result

THE six-seat Ballina electoral area concluded with a satisfying degree of symmetry as two Fianna Fáil, two Fine Gael and two Independent candidates were returned.

John O'Hara, an outgoing councillor, topped the poll on 2,123 first preferences, with newcomer Mark Duffy (Ind) in a close second with 2,095 votes, both men crossing the line at the first hurdle.

No one else was elected until the seventh count, by which stage Tracey Smyth (Social Democrats), Michael Regan (Sinn Fein), Willie Nolan (Independent) and Kieran Gill (Fine Gael) had been eliminated.

By then Annie May Reape (Fianna Fáil) had accumulated enough votes to get over the magical quota mark of 1,753.

The next count proved to be the final one, with Michael Loftus joining his Fianna Fáil colleague Reape over the quota and Seamus Weir (Ind) and Jarlath Munnelly (Fine Gael) getting in without reaching the quota.

Eamon Moore (Fianna Fáil) was the unlucky loser, finishing seventh behind Munnelly by a margin of just 74 votes. The final count, a distribution of Aileen Horkan's votes, proved vital as her transfers got her Fine Gael party colleague Munnelly over the line. He picked up 324 votes in the final count to overtake Moore, who benefitted to the tune of 109. It wasn't quite enough, but it was a close run thing.

The six councillors elected to Mayo County Council in the Ballina electoral area were: John O'Hara, Fine Gael (outgoing); Mark Duffy, Independent; Annie May Reape, Fianna Fáil (outgoing); Michael Loftus, Fianna Fáil (outgoing); Seamus Weir, Independent (outgoing); and Jarlath Munnelly, Fine Gael (outgoing).