LATEST Longford #LE24 | Battle of Ballymahon (and Lanesboro, Kenagh, Mostrim & Cashel!) becoming increasingly tense

The Battle of Ballymahon (and Lanesboro, Kenagh, Mostrim & Cashel!) is becoming increasingly tense.

Paul Ross (FG), with 1,300 first preference votes, has been elected as the spectacular poll topper and with three counts completed, three candidates have also been eliminated: Francesca Pawelczyk (Independent), Mandy Larkin (The Irish People) and Niall Dowler (Independent). 

Dowler’s 489 votes will be distributed during the fourth count and they will a huge bearing as just 48 votes separates five candidates Gerald Farrell (Independent) 590, Sean Mimnagh (Fianna Fáil) 612, Colm Murray (Fine Gael) 615, Martin Skelly (Fine Gael) 637, John Rooney (Sinn Féin) 638 and whoever is lowest at the end of count four will be out of the race. 

Fianna Fáil duo Mick Cahill and Pat O’Toole on 949 and 753, respectively, are on course to retain their seats, while Mark Casey (Independent), currently on 685, will be hoping he can avoid been dragged into the fierce dogfight for the final seats.  

How the Battle of Ballymahon is unfolding

6 seats
12 candidates
Electorate: 12,067
Poll: 7,093
Spoilt Votes: 74
Valid Poll: 7,019
Quota 1,003

FIRST COUNT

Mick Cahill, Fianna Fáil - 866
Mark Casey, Independent - 636
Niall Dowler, Independent - 425
Gerald Farrell, Independent - 563
Mandy Larkin, The Irish People - 161
Sean Mimnagh, Fianna Fáil - 593
Colm Murray, Fine Gael - 538
Pat O'Toole, Fianna Fáil - 714
Francesca Pawelczyk, Independent - 80
John Rooney, Sinn Féin - 562
Paul Ross, Fine Gael - 1,300
Martin Skelly, Fine Gael - 581
Elected: Paul Ross 

SECOND COUNT
(Distribution of P Ross 297 surplus)

Mick Cahill, Fianna Fáil +72 = 938
Mark Casey, Independent +14 = 650
Niall Dowler, Independent +15 = 440
Gerald Farrell, Independent +4 = 567
Mandy Larkin, The Irish People +4 = 165
Sean Mimnagh, Fianna Fáil +8 = 601
Colm Murray, Fine Gael +65 = 603
Pat O'Toole, Fianna Fáil +29 = 743
Francesca Pawelczyk, Independent +2 = 82
John Rooney, Sinn Féin +36 = 598
Martin Skelly, Fine Gael +48 = 629
(Eliminated: Francesca Pawelczyk & Mandy Larkin)

THIRD COUNT
(Distribution of F Pawelczyk 82 & M Larkin 165 votes)

Mick Cahill, Fianna Fáil +11 = 949
Mark Casey, Independent +35 = 685
Niall Dowler, Independent +49 = 489
Gerald Farrell, Independent +23 = 590
Sean Mimnagh, Fianna Fáil +11 = 612
Colm Murray, Fine Gael +12 = 615
Pat O'Toole, Fianna Fáil +10 = 753
John Rooney, Sinn Féin +40 = 638
Martin Skelly, Fine Gael +8 = 637
Non-transferable votes: 48 
(Eliminated: Niall Dowler)

FOURTH COUNT
(Distribution of N Dowler 489 votes)

COUNTING UNDERWAY