Fine Gael lost two seats on Sligo County Council as Labour had a councillor elected to the local authority for the first time in a decade and Fianna Fáil increased its representation.

Sinn Féin saw its two sitting councillors, Thomas Healy and Arthur Gibbons, returned but failed to increase its seat total despite running four other candidates.

First-time Fianna Fáil candidate Edel McSharry, a cousin of now Independent TD Marc McSharry, secured 1,327 first preferences in the five seat Sligo-Drumcliff area and will join another cousin, Tom MacSharry, in the chamber. Her election alongside running mate Donal Gilroy led to outgoing Fine Gael councillor Tom Fox losing his seat.

Fianna Fáil candidates Liam Brennan and Barry Gallagher had to wait until 3am to be elected on the 12th count in Ballymote-Tubbercurry, where outgoing Fine Gael representative Martin Connolly lost out.

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Overall, Fianna Fáil won six of the 18 seats in the county, with Fine Gael taking four, Independents holding four, Sinn Féin retaining two and People Before Profit-Solidarity holding one and Labour gaining one via Nessa Cosgrove.

Another successful first time candidate was Fergal Nealon (FG) in Sligo-Strandhill, a son of former Sligo-Leitrim TD and minister of State Ted Nealon.

Asked whether Sinn Féin had made a mistake by running so many candidates, including three in Ballymote-Tubbercurry, the party’s local TD Martin Kenny said it had been the correct policy because of the geographical spread. “Votes don’t cross the Ox mountains,” he said. “They stay on one side or the other.”

One of the country’s longest serving councillors, Declan Bree (Ind), who was first elected in 1974, topped the poll as expected in Sligo-Strandhill. The other poll toppers were former Sligo footballer Paul Tayor (FF) in Ballymote-Tubbercurry and sitting Fine Gael councillor Thomas Walsh in Sligo-Drumcliff.

Once more, only three of the 18 council members are women with Marie Casserly returned in Sligo-Drumcliff in addition to Ms Cosgrove and Ms McSharry.

Ms Cosgrove, a native of Bandon, Co Cork, said she was “over the moon” that voters had put their trust in her. Her brother Shane O’Callaghan topped the poll for Fine Gael in Cork City South Central.

Ballymote – Tubbercurry: 7 seats

Sligo – Drumcliff: 5 seats

Sligo – Strandhill: 6 seats

[ View 2019 Sligo County Council results ]

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