Recounts Resume in Ireland South and Midlands-North West as Nine Seats Remain Unfilled

The Irish Times

As the dust settles on the Irish general election, nine seats remain unfilled in the Ireland South and Midlands-North West constituencies. Recounts have resumed in both regions to determine the final outcome.

Ireland South

In Ireland South, three seats are still undecided. The race is particularly tight in Cork North West, where Sinn Féin’s Holly Cairns currently holds a slim lead over Fine Gael’s Colm Burke. A recount is underway in the constituency, with the result expected later today. In Kerry, a recount has begun in the Kerry North-Lixnaw constituency. The outgoing Fianna Fáil TD, Norma Foley, is down by a mere four votes to Sinn Féin’s Pa Daly. The result of this recount is expected to be announced by this evening.

Midlands-North West

In the Midlands-North West constituency, six seats remain unfilled. The focus is on the Longford-Westmeath constituency, where Sinn Féin’s Sorca Clarke has a slim lead over Fianna Fáil’s James Bannon. A recount is underway, with no clear end in sight. Elsewhere in the constituency, Fine Gael candidate Peter Burke has secured a seat, while Independent candidate Denis Naughten is on the verge of being elected. However, the remaining three seats are still up for grabs, with candidates from Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, and Labour in contention.

Official Results Expected Soon

The Irish Electoral Commission has stated that it is working to finalize the official results as quickly as possible. However, the close margins and the need for recounts have delayed the process. It is anticipated that the remaining seats will be filled in the coming hours or days. The results of these recounts will have a significant impact on the composition of the new Dáil, Ireland’s lower house of parliament. Sinn Féin has emerged as the largest party but needs to secure additional seats to form a government. The outcome of the recounts in Ireland South and Midlands-North West will play a crucial role in determining the political landscape for the next five years.Main Points

Main Points

* European elections and Limerick mayoral election results * Local election results

Key Parts

On the News Podcast:

* Key takeaways from local and European elections

Opinion:

* The author’s perspective on “ruining” their vote

Analysis:

* Poor results in the South increase Sinn Féin’s chances in Northern elections

Limerick:

* Profiling John Moran, the newly elected first directly elected mayor of Limerick

Local:

* Three stories that encapsulate the local elections

Live Coverage of Electoral Count:

* Ongoing coverage of results from all three electoral areas

Minister Patrick O’Donovan Comments:

* Attributes Fine Gael’s success to “vibrant and energetic campaign” * Defends Fine Gael’s behavior in the campaign against Green Party allegations

Political Editor Pat Leahy’s Insights:

* Highlights challenges in the ongoing counting process * Analysis of potential candidates for North Dublin Bay

An Coimeisún Toghcháin Report:

* Welcomes significant reduction in spoiled votes

Electoral Commission Chief Art O’Leary’s Statement:

* Emphasizes the need to understand non-voters and improve participation * Indicates a steady decline in voter turnout over the past 20 years

Counting Updates:

* Only three council seats remain undecided * A recount in Kildare County Council’s Newbridge LEA is underwayRecounts resume in Ireland South and Midlands-North West with nine seats to be filled Counting of the final ballots in Ireland South and Midlands-North West has resumed this morning after being suspended on Sunday. Counting in both constituencies is expected to take all day, with recounts under way in nine seats across both constituencies. In Midlands-North West, the most high-profile contest is in the Longford-Westmeath constituency, where Independent Peter Burke has been re-elected on the first count. However, the outcome of the four other seats in the constituency remains on a knife-edge, with Fianna Fáil’s Robert Troy, Fine Gael’s Gabrielle McFadden, Sinn Féin’s Sorca Clarke and Independent Joe Flaherty all battling it out for the final three seats. In Ireland South, the focus will be on the Cork North Central constituency, where the contest between Fianna Fáil’s Michael McGrath and Sinn Féin’s Thomas Gould is likely to go to the wire. Other constituencies where recounts are taking place include Waterford, Wexford and Carlow-Kilkenny. The final results of the election are expected to be known by the end of the day.