O’Cuiv first elected in Galway West

SHOULDER HIGH Eamon O'Cuiv celebrating his election this morning at the Galway West count centre. 

Ciara Galvin
Galway

Fianna FΡil’s Eamon O’Cuiv has been officially elected the first TD in the Galway West Constituency.
After receiving an impressive 9,539 first preference votes and a long wait to reach the quota and celebrate success, it was colleague Mary Hoade’s transfers that finally pushed him over the line in the ninth count.
Hoade’s elimination in the eighth count resulted in 928 of her 2,673 transfers going to the Connemara man.
Last night (Saturday) O’Cuiv was in good spirits, posing for pictures with family members and chatting with supporters, saying he was already focused on the challenge ahead in representing the new south Mayo area in the redrawn constituency.
Speaking to The Mayo News he cited road infrastructure, fibre broadband and developing tourism in the area as major issues to be addressed.
Labour’s Derek Nolan was the latest casualty following the ninth count at the count centre in NUI Galway. It is expected that a substantial portion of his 3,787 transfers will go to Independent Catherine Connolly, who stands at 6,461
It is likely now that Independent Noel Grealish will take the second of the five seats, as he is well out in front on 8,830, with the rest of the pack harder to call at this stage.
Trevor O’Clochartaigh of Sinn Fein is at 6,721, with Fine Gael’s Sean Kyne just behind him on 6,587.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s Hildegarde Naughton is just 76 votes ahead of fellow Fine Gael candidate John O’Mahony and is now on 5,298.  
O’Mahony does not seem to be benefitting from eliminated candidate transfers. And it is of some interest to note that out of 5,371 south Mayo voters,  500 more voted for Galway-based candidates over the Mayo man.
O’Mahony received 2,432 first-preference votes in the south Mayo area, compared to a total of 2,932 first-preference votes given to the rest of the candidates combined.
Social Democrat Niall O’Tuathaill stands at 4,725. The surplus votes of newly elected TD Eamon O’Cuiv will not be distributed, as they will not elect any of the remaining candidates.
It is expected that the tenth count will not see another candidate deemed elected. The wait continues in Galway West.