Fine Gael polls 13% higher than Fianna Fáil in Longford local elections as the parties share sixteen seats

The total electorate for county Longford was 36,865 (Longford MD 13,843; Ballymahon MD 12,067; Granard MD 10,955) and the turnout was 57.46% (21,181).

Across the three municipal districts, the number of spoiled votes was 232 (95 in Longford MD; 74 in Ballymahon MD; 63 in Granard MD). 

The total valid poll for the entire county was 20,949.

39 candidates were in the race - 12 Independents, 10 Fine Gael, 10 Fianna Fáil, 3 Sinn Féin, 2 The Irish People, 1 Green Party and 1 People Before Profit Solidarity. 

Of the first preference vote share, Fine Gael secured 43.29% (9,068), almost 13% more than Fianna Fáil 30.54% (6,398), yet both parties ended the election with the same number of seats - 8 each. 

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

Fine Gael’s unsuccessful candidates were outgoing County Council Cathaoirleach Colm Murray in Ballymahon MD and Colin Dalton in Granard MD, who was co-opted in 2020 to fill the seat vacated by Micheál Carrigy following his election to the Seanad. 

Fianna Fáil’s unsuccessful candidates both ran in Granard MD - Susan Murphy and Marett Smith. 

Independents secured 18.23% (3,820) of the vote and two of them were returned to the council chamber for the next five years. 

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

Outgoing councillor Gerald Farrell, formerly of Fine Gael, was the biggest casualty among the Independents as he failed to retain his seat in Ballymahon MD. The remaining unsuccessful Independent candidates were Niall Dowler and Francesca Pawelczyk (both in Ballymahon MD) along with Sadia Athar, Alicia Carberry, Maura Greene-Casey, Mujahid Manzoor, James Quinn, Tony Reilly and Dwain Schouten.

Sinn Féin, who ran one candidate (James Donnelly in Longford MD, John Rooney in Ballymahon MD and Barry Campion in Granard MD) in each of the three municipal districts, will be disappointed with their 5.8% (1,216) share of the first preference vote.

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

The Irish People, who ran two candidates, Mandy Larkin (Ballymahon MD) and Gareth McKendry (Longford MD), captured 1.4% (284) of the vote.

Catherine Joseph of the Green Party 0.44% (92) and Dave Smyth of People Before Profit 0.34% (71).

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

The successful candidates were ;

Fine Gael - Garry Murtagh, Paul Ross, Paraic Brady, Gerry Hagan, Peggy Nolan, Padraig McNamara, Niall Gannon, Martin Skelly

Fianna Fáil - Martin Monaghan, Seamus Butler, Mick Cahill, Pat O’Toole, Sean Mimnagh, David Cassidy, Kevin Hussey, Uruemu Adejinmi 

Independents - Turlough McGovern, Mark Casey  

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

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