Final mayoral tally sets a strong pace in Limerick race

WITH the final tally in for the inaugural Limerick mayoral election from count staff at Limerick Racecourse, unofficial preliminary stats show that it’s all left to play for in the historic race.

With the tallies in across all six electoral areas, and 258 of the 280 boxes and opened tallied, Independent candidate John Moran is ahead of the pack with 24 per cent of the vote (16,855 votes), but with the count proper not beginning until Monday – after the local results have been finalised – it’s by no means case closed.

Independent candidate Helen O’Donnell is still very much in the race with 16 per cent of the vote in the unofficial tally (11,755), as are Fianna Fáil’s Dee Ryan (14 per cent) and Fine Gael’s Daniel Butler (13 per cent).

Turnouts have been strong across the county, according to the unofficial tally, with voters turning out strongest in Newcastle West at 53 per cent turnout. Numbers were also strong in Cappamore-Kilmallock (52 per cent), Adare-Rathkeale (50 per cent), City North (50 per cent), City East (48 per cent), and City West (48 per cent).

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Sitting TDs Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Féin) and Brian Leddin (Green Party) will be looking to pick up numbers on transfers with an underwhelming 10 per cent and 3 per cent respectively.

Others in the race will have similar hopes with Aontu’s Sarah Beasley on 3 per cent (2,378 votes), Independent Frankie Daly on 6 per cent (4,193), Rabharta’s Dr Laura Keyes on 1 per cent (985), Social Party candidate Caitríona Ní Chatháin on 1 per cent (811), and Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan on 3 per cent (2,082).

Labour Party contender Conor Sheehan is not to be ignored either with 3 per cent of the tally estimations (2,227).

Looking less hopeful on the tally estimations are People Before Profit’s Ruairí Fahy (647), Animal Welfare Party candidate Gerben Uunk (669), and Independent Colm Ó Móráin.

Counting proper will resume on Monday. Until then, the Limerick Post will be keeping an eye on how things fare in the local elections, the count for which continues across this evening.