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Election 2020

LIVE: Election 2020 - Michael Collins, Christopher O'Sullivan and Holly Cairns elected

February 8th, 2020 9:00 AM

By Southern Star Team

LIVE: Election 2020 - Michael Collins, Christopher O'Sullivan and Holly Cairns elected Image
Holly Cairns gets final seat in Cork South West. Photo: Martin Walsh.

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Welcome to the Southern Star's 2020 General Election Live Blog. We'll be posting updates from each of the three count centres (Clonakilty, Mallow and Nemo) across all platforms, with video and up-to-the-minute results and tallies.

4:02am

CORK SOUTH WEST

With the count finalised, and the count centre in Clonakilty closing, this is the end of our LIVE blog, thank you for following, from the Southern Star teams in Clonakilty, Mallow and Nemo.

4am

CORK SOUTH WEST

3:55am

CORK SOUTH WEST:

Christopher O'Sullivan with his parents at the count centre in Cork South West, Clonakilty following his election. Photo: Martin Walsh.

3:48

CORK SOUTH WEST

3:44

CORK SOUTH WEST

3:42

CORK SOUTH WEST

3:33am

CORK SOUTH WEST

3:17am

CORK SOUTH WEST:

 

2:51am

CORK SOUTH WEST:

Everyone on tenter hooks now to see how the last shake-up will pan out. Likely to see Christopher O'Sullivan pass the quota and then a tight fight between Holly Cairns and Tim Lombard.

2:18am

CORK SOUTH WEST:


2:11am

CORK SOUTH WEST: After seventh count Sinn Féin’s Paul Hayes has been eliminated, and his votes will now be distributed amongst the remaining candidates: FF's Christopher O'Sullivan, FG's Tim Lombard and SD's Holly Cairns.

1:15

CORK SOUTH WEST:

1:08

CORK SOUTH WEST: Outgoing Fianna Fail TD Margaret Murphy O'Mahony has lost her seat. The next count will see the distribution of her votes.

1:04

CORK SOUTH WEST Even the coffee man is still going!

12:19 

CORK SOUTH WEST:


12:16

CORK SOUTH WEST:

12:04

CORK SOUTH WEST:


12:02am

CORK SOUTH CENTRAL: The count has completed with four TDs elected - Donnchadh O Laoghaire, Micheal Martin, Simon Coveney and Michael McGrath.

23:33

CORK SOUTH WEST:


23:31

CORK SOUTH WEST:


23:21

CORK SOUTH WEST: Michael Collins arrives into Schull after being re-elected to Cork South West tonight:

22:44

CORK SOUTH CENTRAL Result of Count 7:

22:41

CORK NORTH WEST: As the count centre winds down, re-elected TD Aindrias Moynihan talks to our reporter in Mallow:


22:37

CORK SOUTH WEST:


22:35

CORK SOUTH WEST:


22:10

CORK SOUTH CENTRAL FF leader Micheal Martin elected:

21:57

CORK NORTH WEST: It's all over ...

21:47

CORK NORTH WEST:

21:32

CORK SOUTH WEST: The result of the second count - nobody elected on the second count.

 

20:50

CORK SOUTH WEST: Awaiting the announcement of the results of the second count in Cork South West. Just Michael Collins IND elected as yet in this three-seater. The distribution of Collins' 627 surplus is currently underway.

20:46

CORK NORTH WEST: Count No 4:

19:09

CORK NORTH WEST: Third count

 

19:07

CORK SOUTH WEST: First count result

18:59

This was the moment Michael Collins was deemed elected.

18:19

CORK NORTH WEST

18:14

CORK SOUTH WEST -

18:05

CORK SOUTH WEST - Reporter Jackie Keogh asks incoming TD Christopher O'Sullivan if his girlfriend taking the last seat would be the 'icing on the cake'.

17:39

CORK SOUTH WEST

Michael Collins being congratulated on his great performance in the count centre in Clonakilty.

Independent candidate Michael Collins with Fine Gael's Deirdre Clune at the Cork South West count centre in Clonakilty. Photo: Martin Walsh.

Independent candidate Michael Collins with his children (left to right) Michael, Marie and Eileen at the Cork South West count centre in Clonakilty. Photo: Martin Walsh.

16:44

CORK SOUTH CENTRAL-First Count Result

16:31

CORK NORTH WEST-First Count Result

Electorate: 71,685

Total Votes cast: 46,856

Spoiled Votes: 486

Total Valid Votes: 46,370

Quota: 11,593
Creed.M  8,338
Finn C 3,495
Kealy 3,877
McCarthy C 3,845
Moynihan A 9,628
Moynihan M 8,651
O'Shea JP 7,065
O'Leary S 515
Ni Domhnaill T 956
Both O'Leary and Ni Domhnaill eliminated and their transfers to be distributed.

16:15

CORK SOUTH WEST:

16:06

CORK SOUTH CENTRAL: AS predicted, Sinn Fein is likely to top the poll in Cork South Central, with poll-topper Donnchadh O Laoghaire coming in ahead of Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin. O Laoghaire polled 24.8pc first preferences, according to tallymen, ahead of the 20pc quota. Tanaiste Simon Coveney (FG) is on 16.3pc and FF’s Michael McGrath on 16.1pc.

16:00

CORK SOUTH WEST: Word is that with a tally of 9%, Fianna Fáil’s TD Margaret Murphy O’Mahony is about 2,000 voted behind where she needs to be to take a seat in CSW.

15:37

The candidates have edged closer to the desk and are inspecting the doubtful votes very intensely.

15:33

Aontú candidate Mairéad Ruane pictured with her daughter Annabel

15:27

Michael Collins' 14 month old grand-nephew Jack Lynch pictured with his mother Olivia and his other grand uncle Cllr Danny Collins.

15:16

Jackie Keogh chats to Skibbereen environmental campaigner Alicia O'Sullivan.

15:12

CORK SOUTH WEST

14:57

CORK NORTH WEST

14:27

CORK SOUTH WEST:

13:47

CORK SOUTH WEST:

Social Democrat candidate Holly Cairns is hoping to fight it out for the third seat

13:29pm

CORK SOUTH WEST:

Our reporter Emma Connolly has been chatting to Social Democrat candidate Holly Cairns mum Madeleine.

13:23pm

CORK SOUTH WEST:

Deputy Returning Officer Jerome O'Sullivan is estimating the valid poll will be close to 44,000 which, means the quote will be about 11,000 and the first count results should be in around teatime.

13:01pm

CORK SOUTH WEST:

Holly Cairns of the Social Democrats has been speaking to our reporter Jackie Keogh.

12:42pm

CORK SOUTH WEST:

Michael Collins is expected to top the poll in Cork South West and he spoke to our reporter Jackie Keogh.

12:05pm

CORK SOUTH WEST:

11:49am

CORK SOUTH CENTRAL:

 

 

11:31am

CORK NORTH WEST:

11:11am

CORK SOUTH WEST:

Some views from the count centre in Clonakilty:

EAGLE EYES: Watching the votes at the Cork South West count centre in Clonakilty. Photo: Martin Walsh.

Ready for tallying in Cork South West. Photo: Martin Walsh

Count begins in Cork South West. Photo: Martin Walsh

Fineen Cashman and her mum Deirdre from Courtmacsherry at the Cork South West count centre in Clonakilty. Photo: Martin Walsh.

10:59am

CORK SOUTH CENTRAL (@Nemo Rangers)

The count continuing at Nemo Rangers where the Cork South Central votes are being scrutinised.

10:55am

CORK NORTH WEST:

10:53am

CORK SOUTH WEST:

10:45am

CORK SOUTH WEST:


10:42am

CORK SOUTH WEST:

10:38am:

CORK SOUTH CENTRAL

WITH early boxes open Sinn Fein could hang on to their two seats in Cork North Central and Cork South Central with early tallies showing their two candidates, Thomas Gould and sitting TD, Donnchadh O Laoghaire both polling well.

About 20pc of boxes are open in both. O Laoghaire pipped Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin in one box in Turner’s Cross – Micheal’s home suburb.

Overall, Martin’s seat looks safe as does Coveney’s.

9:57am:

MALLOW (Cork North West)

 

9:49am:

CORK SOUTH WEST: The counting is continuing a pace here in Cork South West and tallymen are busy with Lombard, Collins and Cairns polling well in the early boxes.

Ready for tallying in Cork South West. Photo: Martin Walsh

Count begins in Cork South West. Photo: Martin Walsh

9am:

CLONAKILTY The Cork South West boxes are open and deputy returning officer Jerome O'Sullivan has announced that the total electorate in Cork South West is 69,127 - up 5,544 on the 2016 figure

16.31

Interesting sign placement in Kilcoe

16.15

Voter in Kilcoe tells us she voted in Kilcoe at 4.15. Quiet now but clerk says it has been busy. First voter was there at 7am.

13.37

Met Eireann has issued a Level Orange severe weather alert (wind) for Cork. Valid until 12pm Sunday.

13.00

SHERKIN: Voting has been strong on Sherkin with people wanting to get it done early, ahead of the storm. A good few people coming in especially to vote. Polling is due to finish around 2.30 with the last ferry at 3. No ferry tomorrow.

Geoff Stephens voting on Sherkin Island

12.45

NEWCESTOWN: Slow start at Newcestown Polling Station this morning but picking up now. Weather conditions are getting bad and might affect turn out as it’s expected to get worse later.

12.03

No traffic congestion in Rosscarbery square but steady flow of voters

11.44

Reporter Jackie Keogh has been out and about speaking to voters this morning

11.41

Steady flow of voters at Skibbereen Courthouse despite stormy weather. Estimated 15% turnout so far.

11.33

There has always been a Fine Gael seat in West Cork since the foundation of the party, apart from one brief interruption in 1957. Could this Saturday’s election see another shock for the party in the home of General Michael Collins? Editor Con Downing asks the question.

11.07 Cork South West

Ever wondered what goes in to organising an election count? Struggling to get to grips with Ireland's PR voting system? This interview with Cork's Deputy Returning Officer Jerome O'Sullivan by news editor Siobhan Cronin is a must-watch.

11.03

Vera O’Leary and Daniel O’Driscoll took five minutes out of their busy day at Field’s to cast their votes at the Skibbereen Polling Station.

10.50

CAHERAGH: Very brisk turnout for early morning with over 9% having voted in the village by 10.40. There were even two people queuing up at 06.58 for the polling station to open en route to Dublin for the rugby.

10.40

SKIBBEREEN: Town Hall - Staff are reporting that it is 'tipping away nicely' here in Skibbereen this morning with plenty of voters coming in and out.

10.37

DURRUS: Voting is reported to be brisk in the polling station on Sheep's Head. 'Good turnout so far,' report the staff.

09:33 Cork South West

This is an interesting Twitter thread from Ciarán O'Driscoll about the Cork South West constituency:

09:23 Cork South West

Looking for more information on your candidates? Emma Connolly asked each of the Cork South West candidates some non-political questions. These are the ones who responded.

09:01 Cork South West

Can't decide who to vote for? This breakdown by our editor Con Downing is worth a watch and gives a feel for all the candidates in Cork South West.

--

And they're off. Polling stations are open across Cork South West, Cork North West and Cork South Central as voting gets underway in the 2020 General Election. Polling stations will remain open until 10pm.

In Cork South West there are two outgoing TDs - Mchael Collins (Ind) and Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (FF) - seeking re-election in the three-seater constituency.

The decision of Jim Daly (FG) to step down means there will be at least one new TD returned to the 33rd Dáil but with 12 candidates in the field there could be a bigger than expected shake-up.

Paddy Power makes Michael Collins favourite to top the poll with odds of 1/6. Margaret Murphy O'Mahony is 1/4 followed by Christopher O'Sullivan (FF) at odds of 4/11. Sen. Tim Lombard (FG) is next in the betting priced at 8/15.

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