A total of five sitting councillors have been returned in Athlone and Boyle LEA’s.
Independent councillor Emer Kelly topped the poll in the Athlone LEA. Kelly was followed by Independent councillor Tony Ward and Fine Gael councillor John Naughten.
Independent Laurence Fallon and outgoing Fianna Fáil Cathaoirleach John Keogh are both expected to be returned in the next count.
However there is expected to be high drama around the sixth seat. Indeed, Sinn Féin’s 18-year-old candidate Sam Brooks is very much in the running.
It’s thought it will come down to a handful of votes between Brooks, Fianna Fáil’s James Murray and Fine Gael’s Domnick Connolly.
The second count and distribution of Emer Kelly’s surplus of 543 has already taken place. However, no one was elected on that second count.
Boyle LEA first count results
In the Boyle LEA, Independent councillor Valerie Byrne topped the poll with 1565 votes but didn’t reach the quota of 1628.
Sinn Féin’s Leah Cull was second with 1416 votes. Followed by, Independent candidate Micheál Frain with 1355 votes. Whereas, Fianna Fáil candidate Sean Moylan received 1278 votes.
Independent councillor Tom Crosby is expected to be returned after winning 1065 first preference votes.
The sixth and final seat looks set to be a battle between Fine Gael councillor Liam Callaghan and his party colleague, Arigna candidate Dympna Daly Finn.
Callaghan with 748 votes closed the gap from 151 votes to 129 on Daly-Finn who took 877 first preference votes.
Indeed, the third count in the Athlone area is expected to place next.
Meanwhile, two Fianna Fáil councillors were returned in the Roscommon LEA. Paschal Fitzmaurice topped the poll. While, Marty McDermott was also returned.
The second count saw the distribution of Paschal Fitzmaurice’s 362 surplus.
Fine Gael candidate and fellow Castlerea man Gareth Scahill was the biggest beneficiary, picking up 164 votes.
Whereas, Independent Councillor Anthony Waldron is now just 29 votes of the quota after picking up 72. If not elected, Wilson will be very close in the next count.
The Roscommon LEA, looks to be quite clear cut according to the final tallies. Independent Anthony Waldron, Independent Ireland’s Nigel Dineen, Fianna Fáil candidate Larry Brennan and Fine Gael candidate Gareth Scahill are all expected to take seats.
