Cornagee records highest turnout

Two electoral areas in Leitrim which recorded the highest turnout in the country in the 2004 local elections are likely to do so again.

The Dromahaire electoral area recorded a turnout of 77 per cent just ahead of Ballinamore on 76.7 per cent.

In 2004, Ballinamore recorded a turnout of 76.7 per cent, the highest in the country, followed by Dromahaire on 75.8 per cent.

One polling booth in Paschal Mooney’s home town of Drumshambo recorded a turnout of 84 per cent exceeded only by Cornagee in Dowra where the turnout was 85 per cent.

Overall, Leitrim recorded a turnout of 72 per cent.

Mr Mooney is standing for the European Elections in the north-west constituency, but early tallies suggest that he may be out-polled in his own county by independent MEP Marian Harkin.

The first count in Leitrim was delayed to allow for a recheck of the ballots of two of the candidates with the same surname.

Incumbent Fianna Fáil councillor Sinead Guckian and independent Des Guckian are both standing in the Carrick-on-Shannon electoral area.

Popular GAA referee Enda Stenson topped the poll in Carrick-on-Shannon. There was a surprise in the Ballinamore electoral area with veteran Fine Gael councillor Damien Brennan, who is a former chairman of the council, expected to lose out to his running mate Gordon Hughes for the last seat.