How you voted in Granard municipal district: Fine Gael secure massive 59% of first preference vote but fail to nail four seats

Granard municipal district boasted the largest turnout of the three Longford MDs in the 2014 and 2019 local elections and it also emulated the feat in 2024. 

Voter turnout was 65.43% or 7,168 of the total electorate of 10,955.  

Of the first preference vote, Fine Gael secured 58.83% (4,180), Fianna Fáil 17.72% (1,259), Independents 19.89.27% (1,413) and Sinn Féin 3.56% (253). 

The five candidates elected were Fine Gael’s Garry Murtagh (1,450), Independent Turlough McGovern (1,413)  and Paraic Brady (FG, 1,211), all on Count 1, after they spectacularly exceeded the 1,185 quota. 

Also read: “It is very hard to know what went wrong. In my time, North Longford was a heartland for Fianna Fáil”

Then after a dramatic 4am Monday morning Seventh Count Fine Gael’s Padraig McNamara and Fianna Fáil’s David Cassidy, without reaching the quota, were deemed elected.

Also read: Six new faces and three recounts as Longford local elections produce plenty of drama

Unsurprisingly a recount was sought as Cassidy was just four votes ahead of FG’s Colin Dalton (1,071 to 1,067) and by 9.30pm on Monday, with the meticulous recount complete and no discrepancies or errors found, the result was officially declared. 

Also read: How you voted in Ballymahon municipal district: Two recounts and two big name casualties in gruelling Battle of Ballymahon

Also read: How you voted in Longford municipal district: Less than 50% turnout as Fianna Fáil quartet elected

5 seats

9 candidates

Electorate: 10,955

Poll: 7,168

Spoilt Votes: 63

Valid Poll: 7,105

Quota: 1,185

FIRST COUNT

Paraic Brady, Fine Gael - 1,211

Barry Campion, Sinn Féin - 253

David Cassidy, Fianna Fáil - 543

Colin Dalton, Fine Gael - 820

Turlough McGovern, Independent - 1,413

Padraig McNamara, Fine Gael - 699

Susan Murphy, Fianna Fáil - 434

Garry Murtagh, Fine Gael - 1,450

Marett Smith, Fianna Fáil - 282

Elected: Garry Murtagh, Turlough McGovern and Paraic Brady

SECOND COUNT

(Distribution of G Murtagh 265 surplus)

Barry Campion, Sinn Féin +20 = 273

David Cassidy, Fianna Fáil +57 = 600

Colin Dalton, Fine Gael +63 = 883

Padraig McNamara, Fine Gael +36 = 735

Susan Murphy, Fianna Fáil +76 = 510

Marett Smith, Fianna Fáil +13 = 295

THIRD COUNT

(Distribution of T McGovern 228 surplus)

Barry Campion, Sinn Féin +21 = 294

David Cassidy, Fianna Fáil +15 = 615

Colin Dalton, Fine Gael +35 = 918

Padraig McNamara, Fine Gael +115 = 850

Susan Murphy, Fianna Fáil +14 = 524

Marett Smith, Fianna Fáil +28 = 323

Eliminated: Barry Campion 

FOURTH COUNT

(Distribution of B Campion 294 votes)

David Cassidy, Fianna Fáil +46 = 661

Colin Dalton, Fine Gael +35 = 953

Padraig McNamara, Fine Gael +31 = 881

Susan Murphy, Fianna Fáil +28 = 552

Marett Smith, Fianna Fáil +13 = 336

Non-transferable: 141

Eliminated: Marett Smith 

FIFTH COUNT

(Distribution of M Smith 336 votes)

David Cassidy, Fianna Fáil +56 = 717

Colin Dalton, Fine Gael +19 = 972

Padraig McNamara, Fine Gael +154 = 1,035

Susan Murphy, Fianna Fáil +61 = 613

Non-transferable: 46

Eliminated: Susan Murphy

SIXTH COUNT

(Distribution of S Murphy 613 votes)

David Cassidy, Fianna Fáil +338 = 1,055

Colin Dalton, Fine Gael +87 = 1,059

Padraig McNamara, Fine Gael +76 = 1,111

Non-transferable: 112

LIVE BLOG: Longford voters give their verdict in Local Elections 2024 #LE24 #LocalElections24

SEVENTH COUNT

(Distribution of P Brady 26 votes surplus)

David Cassidy, Fianna Fáil +16 = 1,071

Colin Dalton, Fine Gael +8 = 1,067

Padraig McNamara, Fine Gael +2 = 1,113

Non-transferable: 0

Elected: Padraig McNamara and David Cassidy without reaching the quota