Kilcoyne, Deere and Kerr making headlines in Castlebar election
Michael Kilcoyne has retained his established position of political power in Mayo’s county town but the margin is narrowing.
The popular and experienced independent representative secured a quota-busting first preference return of an estimated 2,309 to seal his return to Mayo County Council in the Castlebar Municipal District for another term.
Despite his landslide triumph, his performance revealed a dip of approximately 200 votes, a factor which certainly won’t cost him any sleepless night.
But he witnessed the emergence of a new vote-gathering specialist in Fine Gael Councillor Ger Deere, who increased his tally by close to 600 for an estimated return of 1,866, which is expected to exceed the quota after the first count later today.
It was a good day for Fine Gael in the Castlebar Municipal District who attracted 28% of the vote in an election in which a shift against government parties had been widely anticipated.
His two party colleagues, Cyril Burke and Donna Sheridan, are also on course to be re-elected, albeit the latter is likely to be caught up in the battle for the final two seats.
Fianna Fáil, on the other hand, secured a 26% rating with two of their outgoing councllors - Blakcie Gavin and Al McDonnell - on course to retain their seats.
Their third candidate, outgoing Councillor Martin McLoughlin, is far from out of the equation, either, with an estimated 791.
But he is facing major competition from Breaffy Independent Stephen Kerr, the real surprise packet of the 2024 election in Castlebar.
His estimated first preference showing of 874 places him in seventh position in an area with seven seats up for grabs.
On a day when independent candidates secured 38% of the votes, the aspirations of school teacher Harry Barrett cannot be ruled out, either, at this stage.
The count is expected to go late into the night before an official declaration of the seven seats is made.
The election in Castlebar was particularly disappointing for Sinn Féin, which attracted just five per cent of the vote.
Neither of their candidates - Donna Hyland nor Maureen O'Sullivan - are in contention for a seat.