Independent TD Marian Harkin pulled off a remarkable comeback to retain her Dáil seat in Sligo-Leitrim last night.
Fine Gael’s Frank Feighan, Sinn Fein’s Martin Kenny and Fianna Fáil’s Eamon Scanlon took the other seats.
It seemed Marian Harkin had a mountain to climb to take the fourth and final seat after the first count.
She trailed Independent Ireland’s Michael Clarke by over 1,600 votes – he led her by 5,979 to 4,347 first preferences.
But things started to turn in Harkin’s favour from count eight onwards. After she benefitted from transfers from the likes of Labour councillor Nessa Cosgrove, Independent councillor Marie Casserly and Fianna Fail councillor Paddy O’Rourke.
Harkin overtook Clarke after count 11; when she also took a large chunk of transfers from Fianna Fail councillor Edel McSharry.
She grew that lead over the next two counts and was elected on the 13th count, along with Fianna Fail man Scanlon, without reaching the quota of 11,381.
Poll-topper Feighan was elected after reaching the quota on the 11th count, while Kenny exceeded the quota on the 12th.
Feighan and Scanlon both said they would like cabinet ministries in the next government, while Harkin said she’s open to government-formation talks.
Kenny, though, is resigned to another five years in opposition.
