WHERE WE ARE NOW: First count soon in Castlebar and Claremorris

Castlebar

The official first count for the Castlebar Electoral Area is expected soon in the Velvet Room in the TF Royal Hotel. Tallies suggest that Independent candidate Stephen Kerr will be only challenger to the existing seven councillors. Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne looks set to top the poll with 16 percent of the vote followed by Ger Deere (FG) on 13 percent, Al McDonnell (FF) on 11, Blackie Gavin (FF) on 10, Cyril Burke (FG) on 9 percent, Donna Sheridan (FG) on 6.3 percent, Kerr (Ind) on 6.1, Martin McLoughlin (FF) on 5.5 percent and Harry Barrett (Ind) on 4.9 percent. Sinn Féin challenge failed to emerge with Donna Hyland on just 3.9 percent and her party colleague Maura Sullivan on 1.4 percent.

Claremorris 

The votes in the Claremorris Electoral Area are currently being counted with early tallies suggesting that sitting Independent councillors Patsy O'Brien and Richard Finn will head the poll while new candidate Alma Gallagher (FG) from Ballyhaunis looks set to hold a seat for Fine Gael. Current councillors Michael Burke (FG), Tom Connolly (FG) and Cllr Damien Ryan (FF) are also polling well. Aontú candidate Paul Lawless and Stephen Nolan (FF) look like they will be the only challengers for the final seat.

Belmullet

With all of the boxes in the Belmullet Electoral Area now tallied, it looks like there will be no change with the three sitting councillors expected to be elected. Gerry Coyle (FG) looks set to top the poll ahead of Achill councillor Paul McNamara while Belmullet-based Fianna Fáil councillor Seán Carey looks like he has enough votes to hold off the challenge of Sinn Féin candidate Rosaleen Lally and Pat Chambers (FG).

Swinford

The official count for the Swinford Electoral Area has yet to begun but with the boxes all tallied, only a handful of votes are expected to separate Fianna Fáil's Aiden Forkan and Sinn Féin's Gerry Murray who are both tallying at 20 percent.

They are followed by Fianna Fáil's John Caulfield and Fine Gael's Neil Cruise who are both coming in at 18 percent and closely followed by Swinford-based Sinn Féin candidate John Sheahan on 17 percent and Fine Gael first-time candidate Antionette Peyton on 11. Just four seats are up for grabs and with just 92 votes separating Caulfield, Cruise and Sheahan in the tallies, this contest is set to go down to the wire. 

Ballina 

Sitting councillors Mark Duffy (Ind) and John O'Hara (FG) look set to battle it out to top the poll with tallies putting them on 18 and 16 percent of the vote respectively. Fianna Fáil newcomer David Alexander is also showing strongly with 8 percent and sitting Cathaoirleach Michael Loftus (FF) is on 11.9.

Independent Joe Faughnan who hopes to capture Seamus Weir's seat in Knockmore is on 10 percent followed by long-standing Fianna Fáíl councillor Annie May Reape on 9.1 while sitting Fine Gael councillor Jarlath Munnelly is struggling on 7.8. Alexander had a particular strong showing in both Killala NS boxes attracting 184 first preference votes in two boxes.

There are six seats on offer. Sinn Féin are highly unlikely to take a seat with their two candidates Una Morris and Antonio Caffola attracting less than 6 percent of the tally vote between them.