As the counting of votes continues for the General Election South Tipperary has elected it’s 3 TDs for Dáil Eireann while North Tipperary is to begin a recount at 11am this morning.
Deputy Mattie McGrath, Rural Independent based in Newcastle, topped the poll in South Tipperary(10,014)and will be joined in Dáil Eireann by Cllr Michael Murphy, Fine Gael, (8,731) based in Clonmel and Seamus Healy Workers Unemployed Action Group(4,795) will return to Dáil Eireann for the 5th time.
Mr Healy is also based in Clonmel. (First Preference votes in brackets). The quota in South Tipperary was 10,270.
Sitting TD Martin Browne (4,937), Sinn Fein was eliminated while in 5th place and his votes enabled Seamus Healy to overcome the lead held by Cllr Imelda Goldsboro Fianna Fáil(5,838) to secure the third seat in South Tipperary.
Independent Cllr John O’Heney was ranked sixth on first preference votes in his first run for the Dáil with 3,692 votes.
Michael Lowry, Regional Independent, topped the poll(12,538) in North Tipperary and was deemed elected on the first count after exceeding the quota(11,442) on Saturday night.
As counting continued on Sunday, Labour TD Alan Kelly was well placed(7,072) to take the second seat with Cllr Ryan O’Meara, Fianna Fáil(5,654) third in the rankings on first preference votes.
Late on Sunday night Independent Cllr Jim Ryan asked for a recount after the 9th count as he was facing elimination but only a handful of votes separated him from Cllr Michael Smith Fianna Fáil.
Cllr Ryan says he has to seek a recount as the possibility exists that he could secure enough transfers from Cllr Michael Smith(Fianna Fáil) if Smith was to be eliminated as they are both in the Thurles Templemore District.
The recount will begin at 11am. Ryan O’Meara has 7,781 votes, Cllr Michael Smith 6, 369 and Cllr Jim Ryan has 6,362 after the 9th count.
