AS FINAL tallies were lain down at Limerick Racecourse just before 1pm this Saturday afternoon, a picture of ‘same as it ever was’ began to appear from the polls.
In the county, it appears as though there is very little change to be expected at all with all current incumbents charging ahead.
Fine Gael’s Patrick O’Donovan has overtaken Independent Ireland General Secretary Richard O’Donoghue with 26 per cent of the final tally. The Independent Ireland man comes just marginally behind with 23 per cent.
Just behind his two sitting county colleagues is Niall Collins (FF) on 20 per cent.
It is speculated widely across the count centre that the three now being returned is a foregone conclusion. However, a surprise might be in store from Sinn Féil’s Joanne Collins, who came in with 13 per cent after the final county constituency tally.
In a wider party view, Fine Gael has claimed 29 per cent of first preferences in the county according to the first tally, followed by Fianna Fáil (24), Independent Ireland (23), and Sinn Féin (13).
The Green Party took just two per cent of the first preferences with newcomer Rob O’Donnell.
In the city, a picture of continuity is also being painted with three of the four incumbents likely to be seeing the Dáil chamber once again.
Fianna Fáil veteran Willie O’Dea is charging ahead with 19 per cent of the vote (7,992), taking the polltopper crown away from Sinn Féin’s Maurice Quinlivan who romped home first in 2020.
Fine Gael’s Kieran O’Donnell is in second place in the city with 15 per cent of first preferences, according to the final tally just before lunchtime.
The outgoing OPW minister is just ahead of Quinlivan who has 14 per cent.
The race for the fourth seat in Limerick City is hotting up with Elisa O’Donovan (SocDem) on 7 per cent, Labour’s Conor Sheehan on 7 per cent, Fine Gael’s Maria Byrne on 7 per cent, and Dee Ryan (FF) on 7 per cent.
Independent Frankie Daly trails on 5 per cent, alongside outgoing Green TD Brian Leddin, who is likely to struggle to retain his coveted seat. Aontú’s Sarah Beasley is also on 5 per cent.
Fianna Fáil are in the strongest position in the city with 26 per cent of first preferences, according to the final tally, followed by Fine Gael (21), Sinn Féin (17), Labour (7), and the Green Party (4).
A first official count is expected some time this afternoon, with many predicting that Willie O’Dea in the city and Patrick O’Donovan in the county going through immediately.
