National trend for West Mayo with Sinn Féin and Independent topping tallies

National trend for West Mayo with Sinn Féin and Independent topping tallies


Áine Ryan

THE Fine Gael blue tsunami that began to rise in the local elections of 2009 shows signs of receding in the newly aligned Municipal District of West Mayo as Sinn Féin candidate Rose Conway-Walsh and Independent Michael Holme are topping party tally figures. The first tally (62 of 64 boxes) shows Conway-Walsh with 2,067 votes and the Tiernaur-based Holmes trailing her by 422, with 1645 votes.
Erris-based Fine Gael Cllr Gerry Coyle has done well in this tally with 1187 votes but could be threatened by newcomer, SeΡn Carey, whose name was added to the ballot paper at the eleventh hour. Indeed, another newcomer, Achill-based Paul McNamara has returned a very good first preference for Fianna FΡil with 1325 votes.
Geographically, the new West Mayo district, which will return seven candidates,  is the second biggest in the country,  stretching from Erris to the Galway border at Leenane. It involved the merging of the Westport and Belmullet areas and  tally indications favour candidates from the latter area.
However, Westport candidates Cllr Tereasa McGuire (1187), Fine Gael, and Independent Christy Hyland (1146), formerly Fine Gael, are looking good. While Westport-based Fianna FΡil town councillor, Brendan Mulroy and sitting Fine Gael Cllr Austin Francis O’Mally, whose base is around Louisburgh, could be in a battle for the last seat.
The official count has not started yet for West Mayo and is not expected to start for some time due to operational delays.