Mayo election wrap up: No change in Ballina with just one Independent 'swap'
By Caoimhín Rowland
THE Ballina Municipal District almost fell to forgotten status during the election count as cathaoirleach Michael Loftus had to wait until 4 a.m. last Tuesday to be deemed elected, alongside newcomer Independent Joe Faughnan and Fine Gael’s Jarlath Munnelly.
The north Mayo ward was the last in the country to have the first count concluded, candidates having had to wait for counting in all of the other districts to commence before council staff could tackle their boxes.
From the tallies, however, the story remained the same with the top two, Fine Gael’s John O’Hara and the Independent Mark Duffy, holding strong atop the quota.
Duffy as delighted to reclaim his seat without much sweat, the unique achievement for a young councillor who will now have a decision to make over launching a general election bid over the coming months.
Jarlath Munnelly was left to sweat along with first-time challenger Dave Alexander to determine the final seat, and it was the distribution of Sinn Féin’s Una Morris’ vote that helped to finalise the location of the last seat, which remained with the incumbent.
The election of Joe Faughnan provided a boost to the people of Knockmore who rallied around the teacher that was anointed to replace Seamus Weir. Faughnan finished the first count with 1,130 first preference votes and proved to be transfer-friendly as he surpassed Crossmolina's Councillor Michael Loftus.
Faughnan stated: “A lot of work went into the campaign. I’d fantastic support from my team over the 10 weeks, canvassing, posters and leaflets.”
Mark Duffy took time to congratulate his friend, Faughnan, on his election: “Joe will get to carry on the great legacy left by Seamus Weir. A lot of work went in behind the scenes and I know Joe Faughnan will be a fantastic public servant - just look at his time involved with Conn Rangers and the countless lives he’s bettered with sport.”
A notable fact from the Ballina ballot paper was the significant number of Independents campaigning on the back of the Ballina Says No protests. Jo Mullen, Keith Howley and Joe Doocey all endorsed the blockade which aims to prevent the relocation of asylum seekers in the Twin Trees Hotel. Their share of the vote was minimal and Duffy took time to congratulate them all on putting their names on the ballot paper but remarked it was noticeable their vote in comparison to the loud social media posts that have characterised the protests in north Mayo of late, describing it as a “loud-minority.”
Duffy also refused to rule out a general election bid, but stated the similar turnaround from 2019 to 2020 that looks to be on the cards heading into an autumn election.
“I haven’t had time to think. I want to deliver on several projects for Ballina and north Mayo and that’s my focus at the moment.”