Conway-Walsh delighted to make history by topping Mayo poll

SINN Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh says she is delighted to make history by becoming the first woman in a Mayo constituency to top the poll in a General Election.

The results of the first count in the Mayo constituency saw the Erris-based TD top the poll with 10,117 which leaves her 1,695 votes short of the quota of 11,812.

“I am delighted...I did not realise until I reached the count that I made history by being the first woman to top the poll in Mayo. I am delighted but it is down to all the people who put the trust in me to give me their number one vote. I always felt I had the work done but I never took anything for granted. The feedback all along was very positive,” she said after the announcement of the first count in the TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar.

Sinn Féín ran a two candidate strategy with Cllr Gerry Murray running in the east and south of the county and picked up 3,600 first preference votes.

Conway-Walsh commended her running mate for stepping forward to contest the election and thanked all party members who canvassed during the election.

“We are still in with a shout to win a second seat so let's see. It was important to run somebody in south Mayo and I want to thank Gerry for stepping up to the mark he was asked to do it. I want to thank the huge team effort from across the county by Sinn Fein members coming out to canvass day and night and coming out in the cold. It is not easy to canvass and knock on doors with the wind and rain and the frost. It was a real team effort,” she added.

Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon came second 600 votes behind Conway-Walsh with 9,517 first preference votes while Ballina-based Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary followed in third spot with 8,620.

Fellow Ballina-based candidate Mark Duffy of Fine Gael polled 6,009 votes with party colleague Keira Keogh coming in fifth position with 5,830.

Former TD and Fianna Fáil candidate Lisa Chambers secured 5,584 votes with Independent Patsy O'Brien on 5,229 and Aontú's Paul Lawless on 4,482.

Independent's Seán Forkin and Gerry Loftus who secured 66 and 423 votes respectively were both eliminated after the first count and their votes are currently being distributed.