Sinn Fein was the party with most to celebrate in Sligo, taking three seats on the 12-member Corporation and winning its first seat on Sligo County Council since the late 1960s.
Alderman Sean MacManus, who also contested the European election, took a seat on both the council and corporation. His son Chris was also elected to the corporation along with Mr Arthur Gibbons. This represents a gain of one seat on the corporation as the party took two seats last time, although this was later reduced to one with the expulsion from Sinn Fein of Mr Vincent Murray.
Labour held its two seats on the corporation, and gained a second seat on the council, a result the party will be pleased with. Overall on the council, Fine Gael held its 11 seats, Fianna Fail lost two and was left with a total of nine, while two Independents held their seats.
The sitting mayor of Sligo, Mr Padraig Branley, lost his seat on the corporation but won one on the county council. A former Garda inspector, Mr Barnes Murphy, a high-profile Fine Gael candidate who was seen as potential Dail material, polled badly and failed to get elected to either the corporation or the council. Fine Gael TD Mr John Perry won a seat on the council, after his surprise decision to contest the election. In Leitrim the biggest shock was the defeat of Senator Pascal Mooney. The Mooney family has held a seat on the county council since the foundation of the State, and the collapse of Mr Mooney's vote was unexpected.
Sinn Fein gained a seat on Leitrim County Council and now has two, Fianna Fail gained a seat to take 10, while Fine Gael lost one to be left with eight. One Independent was also elected. Fianna Fail TD Mr John Ellis stepped down from the council but the seat was won by his brother, Caillian.
In Roscommon, Fianna Fail will be not be happy with the performance of Mr Tom Crosby, a former party member and sitting member of the council who made headlines when he was convicted of assaulting Deputy Sean Doherty. Fianna Fail selected its candidates for the Strokestown area by private interviews, but Mr Crosby, running as an Independent, topped the poll and was elected on the first count. The former TD, Hospital Action Committee candidate, Mr Tom Fox also polled well and was elected on the first count.
In the Boyle area, seen as Sean Doherty country, Fianna Fail lost a seat while Fine Gael gained one - leaving Fine Gael with four seats and Fianna Fail just one. Fianna Fail's former junior minister Mr Terry Leyden, who was added to the ticket against local opposition, won a seat on the council.
The PDs got their first councillor elected in the county and Independents won four. Fine Gael took 12, a gain of one and Fianna Fail nine, a loss of one.