LATEST Longford #LE24 | Buckle up for the fierce Battle of Ballymahon (and Lanesboro, Kenagh, Mostrim & Cashel!)

With no candidates officially elected yet, the adjudication of doubtful votes and counting in the Longford local elections is continuing this, Sunday, June 9, in Edgeworthstown.

The latest state of play from Ballymahon Municipal District, based on the tallies, indicates that candidates and their supporters will need to buckle up for the fiercest of battles to fill the final three of the six seats on offer.

So the upcoming Battle of Ballymahon (and Lanesboro, Kenagh, Mostrim & Cashel!) is certainly going to liven up this count whenever it cranks into serious action. 

PICTURES | It may be late but they're still smiling at Longford local elections count centre #LE24

Based on the tallies, the breakdown of the first preference vote share per party is Fine Gael 34.5%, Fianna Fáil 30.9%, Sinn Féin 7.9%, Independents 24.4% and The Irish People 2.3%. 

Fine Gael's Paul Ross has accumulated 1,305 first preferences, well excess of the predicted quota of 1,004. In 2019, Legan based Ross received a huge 1,217 first preferences and he will be elected for a third successive time this weekend.

Longford #LE24: Fine Gael's Paul Ross 'utterly humbled' by fantastic poll topping achievement in Ballymahon municipal district

Fianna Fáil's Mick Cahill (860) and Pat O'Toole (721) look to be well on course to retain their seats.

Longford #LE24: Cahill doesn't rule out prospect of Fianna Fáil claiming third seat in Ballymahon

That's three of the six seats accounted for.

Now here's where the serious fight begins. 

Almost incredibly, there are six candidates who are separated by just 93 votes ; ranging from Independent Mark Casey on 629 down to Fine Gael's Colm Murray on 536 and the four candidates in between are Sean Mimnagh (Fianna Fáil) 588, Martin Skelly (Fine Gael) 582, Gerald Farrell (Independent) 580 and John Rooney (Sinn Féin) 558.

Longford #LE24: Under pressure Colm Murray predicts 'a real dogfight' in battle for final three seats in Ballymahon

That's six candidates well and truly in the hunt for the final three seats so the Ballymahon count which required a recount in 2019 is poised to go down to the wire once again. 

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