Funchion Overtakes McNamara in Southern Ireland Count

In a closely contested race, Sinn Féin candidate Paul Funchion has overtaken Fine Gael’s Michael McNamara to become the leading vote-getter in the Southern Ireland constituency in the recent Irish general election. With 48.6% of the first preference votes counted, Funchion has a substantial lead over McNamara, who has 24.4%. Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary is currently third with 14.1%. The result marks a significant shift from the previous election in 2020, when McNamara was elected with 33.7% of the first preference votes. Funchion, who was a Fianna Fáil TD at the time, stood down from the party to contest the election as an Independent. He has since been endorsed by Sinn Féin. The surge in support for Funchion is seen as a reflection of the growing popularity of Sinn Féin across Ireland. The party is now the largest in the Dáil Éireann, the Irish parliament, and is poised to enter government for the first time. McNamara has conceded defeat and congratulated Funchion on his victory. He said he was “disappointed” with the result but respected the decision of the electorate. Calleary has also fallen short of expectations, failing to secure a second seat for Fianna Fáil in the constituency. The party’s incumbent TD, Pat Carey, lost his seat in the election. The final result of the Southern Ireland constituency is expected to be announced later today.Europe Election 2024: Ireland South

Europe Election 2024: Ireland South

Counting is expected to resume this morning in the Ireland South constituency. Billy Kelleher continues to close in on the quota, while Sinn Féin’s Kathleen Funchion has entered the race after gaining almost 16,000 votes following the elimination of her party colleague Paul Gavan. Last night, Kelleher overtook Clare independent Michael McNamara in the 16th count, but McNamara is currently close behind, with just 1,127 votes separating the pair. Ireland’s independent candidate Eddie Punch was eliminated last night on the 14th count. The count will resume this morning at 9:00 a.m.In a recent development, Timmy Funchion has overtaken Michael McNamara in the latest count in the race for the Southern Ireland constituency in the European Parliament. With 78.3% of the votes counted, Funchion has secured 77,766 first-preference votes, while McNamara trails behind with 71,776 votes. Funchion, representing Fianna Fáil, has emerged as a strong contender in the race. His campaign has focused on issues such as Brexit, job creation, and the future of rural Ireland. His supporters have praised his experience in politics and his commitment to the region. McNamara, the incumbent MEP for Sinn Féin, has been a vocal advocate for Irish reunification and has campaigned on a platform of social justice and economic equality. He has expressed disappointment with the current count but has vowed to continue fighting for the people of Southern Ireland. The counting is expected to continue over the coming days, and the final result may not be known for some time. However, Funchion’s lead suggests that he is well-positioned to secure a seat in the European Parliament.