THE four seats in the Bantry-West Cork LEA have now been filled after today's count in Clonakilty.
Cllr Danny Collins was the poll-topper in Bantry, with 2,386 first-preference votes. The Independent Ireland candidate was elected on the third count, and celebrated with brothers John – also elected, in the Bandon-Kinsale LEA – and Michael, the Cork South West TD.
Danny Collins elected after the 3rd count, celebrates with his brothers John and Michael at Clonakilty Count Centre this morning. (Photo: Andy Gibson)
Independent candidate Finbarr Harrington took the second seat, and was elected after the seventh count.
An emotional Finbarr Harrington celebrating with his family after being elected to the Bantry-West Cork LEA.
'It was a massive effort all around,' Harrinton told The Southern Star, adding that he was delighted with what he has achieved politically.
It came down to the wire for the final two seats in the constituency, with both Fine Gael cllr Caroline Cronin and Fianna Fáil's Patrick Gerard Murphy elected on count eight.
Cronin was elected with an 18-vote surplus, while Murphy was on 2,185 votes to Helen O'Sullivan's 1,995, so Murphy was elected without reaching the quota. Cronin and Murphy celebrated together, while the strains of 'Sweet Caroline' ran around the hall in Clonakilty!
Bantry-West Cork LEA councillors
Caroline Cronin – Fine Gael
Danny Collins – Independent Ireland
Finbarr Harrington – Independent
John Patrick Murphy – Fianna Fáil
The final count
Follow our live updates for election results from other local electoral areas.
Pick up a copy of this Thursday's Southern Star for local and European election results, reaction and analysis.
