FRIENDLY FIRE Lisa Chambers is is expected to be more transfer friendly in the coming counts. Pic: Michael McLaughlin
Jerry Cowley eliminated after eighth count
Edwin McGreal
Castlebar
The results of the eighth count at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar have favoured Fianna Fáil over Fine Gael in the race for the final two seats in Mayo.
Fianna Fáil duo Dara Calleary and Lisa Chambers each received more votes from the elimination of three candidates than Fine Gael’s Michelle Mulherin.
Michael Farrington (Renua), Tom Moran (People Before Profit) and Margaret Sheehan (Green Party) were eliminated after the seventh count last night and their combined votes of 3,003 were the first votes to be distributed after counting resumed this morning.
The biggest winner was Dr Jerry Cowley who received 707 transfers but it was never going to be near enough to stop him being eliminated, and the former TD’s votes are now being distributed.
In the race for the last two seats, Fianna Fáil remains on course to take both of them.
Dara Calleary got 438 transfers, while Lisa Chambers got 364. Michelle Mulherin received less than that – 314 votes, meaning Chambers is now 222 votes ahead of Mulherin and is expected to be more transfer friendly in the coming counts.
Michael Ring received 421 transfers from the eighth count, leaving him 696 votes off the quota, which he is expected to pass on the next count.