Election 2024: Live updates from the Aura Letterkenny

THE following post will contain live updates from the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.

Saturday, June 8

20:20pm

The final electoral area to be tallied was Lifford Stranorlar and the tally that follows accounts for 41 of the 42 boxes opened. Topping the poll on tallies is Independent Martin Scanlon with 1387, followed by Frank McBrearty Independent on 1188, Gary Doherty of Sinn Féin has 1151, while Patrick McGowan of Fianna Fáil had 1124 followed by Gerry Crawford Fianna Fáil on 984, then Charles Ward of 100% Redress is on 860 with Niall McConnell Independent following on 856.

20:10 pm

52 of the 56 of the Glenties electoral area boxes provided the following tallies Michál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig Independent 2111, followed by Independent Michael Lafferty 1902, Anthony Molloy Fianna Fáil on 1400, Sinn Féin’s Brian Carr on 1003, followed by John Seamus Ó Fearraigh Sinn Féin 968, Kellie Rodgers Sinn Féin 796, Michael Harkin Aontú 462.

18:27 pm

The final tally for the Donegal Town electoral area with all 32 boxes opened sees Michael Naughton Fianna Fáil well in the lead with 1817 votes. Noel Jordan of Sinn Féin is on 1538, Michael McMahon of Sinn Féin on 1358, Pauric Kennedy independent is on 1310, Manus Boyle Fine Gael is on 1278, while Niamh Kennedy Independent is on 1096.

18:00 pm

With 28 of the 32 boxes now tallied in the Donegal Electoral Area, Michael Naughton (FF) is in poll position, according to the vote tallies with 1,737. Michael McMahon (SF) follows in second 1,352. Noel Jordan (SF) is a close third with 1,316. Barry Sweeney (FG) has 1,265 while Pauric Kennedy (Ind) is on 1,197. James Brogan (Ind) is on 1,181 with Manus Boyle (FG) on 1,086. Outgoing Cllr Niamh Kennedy is on 1,028.

16:31pm

The tally for the Donegal Electoral Area at present only has 14 of the 32 boxes included. The tally shows that Michael McMahon (SF) would appear to be leading with 1,116, followed closely by Michael Naughton (FF) on 1,086. Barry Sweeney (FG) is on 893, fractionally ahead of Pauric Kennedy (Ind) at 890. Outgoing Independent Cllr Niamh Kennedy is on 705, while Noel Jordan (SF) is on 718. Jimmy Brogan (Ind) is on 730 and Manus Boyle (FG) has 660, according to the latest tallies.

Cllr. Donal Mandy Kelly with his wife Aisling and Cllr. Pauric McGarvey with his wife Mari Claire at the count in Letterkenny. Picture: Declan Doherty

15:05pm

With 19 of the 28 Milford boxes tallied, sitting FF Cllr Liam Blaney is just ahead with 1,150, followed closely by Ind. Declan Meehan on 1,142. Sitting Independent councillor John O’Donnell is currently sitting at 683 on the tally sheet. Ind. Pauric McGarvey is on 615 and Maria Doherty SF has 536.

14:30 pm

European tallies

In the available tallies on how Donegal votes in the European elections at present it is showing an electorate of 29,889. The break downs available from votes cast is mainly by party but also for individuals who appear to be polling strongly. Aontú have received 1493 votes according to the tallies, Fianna Fáil 6921, Fine Geal 3048, Sinn Fein 6028, Luke Ming Flanaghan 5773, Ciaran Mullooly 455, Others 6171.

The tallies would suggest that Senator Niall Blaney polled well in his native Milford with Fianna Fáil taking 49 per cent and 27 per cent in Letterkenny. These are just tallies.

14.17pm

Early indications are that Declan Meehan (Ind) is polling well in the Fanad area.

13.51pm

With 13 Letterkenny town boxes opened, showing a total vote cast of 10,580, the leader according to the tallies at this stage is Fianna Fáil’s Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly with 1,594 votes. Coming up behind is Fianna Fáil’s Ciaran Brogan with 1,139. Close on his heels is Thomas Devine, 100% Redress, on 1,018. Independent Michael McBride is on 997. Fine Gael’s Jimmy Kavanagh 947. Gerry McMonagle of Sinn Féin 792, and Independent Kevin Bradly has 579.

The tally men and women are busy as the votes are sorted. Photo: Declan Doherty

13.40pm

Boxes for the Glenties, Milford and Finn Valley areas are expected to be opened shortly.

13.16

Mary T Sweeney, Aontú, for Letterkenny LEA currently has 5.4% of the vote.

1:15pm

With six Letterkenny town boxes opened, including three from the Public Service Centre, two from Ballyraine and one from the courthouse, Donal Mandy Kelly Fianna Fáil appears to be leading the charge at this stage with further local boxes to be opened, Tómas Devine of the 100% Redress Party is also polling well while Independent councillor Kevin Bradley is doing well as is Fianna Fáil councillor Ciaran Brogan.

1pm

In the Manorcunningham box the tally shows Sandra Haughery Sinn Fein on 86 votes, Donal Mandy Kelly Fianna Fáil on 50 votes as is Tomas Devine 100% Redress party and Gerry McMonagle Sinn Fein is on 21 votes.

12:30pm

A strong start for the 100% Redress Party so far. From the tally it looks like Joy Beard and Ali Farren have a good chance at securing a seat.

12 pm

So far in the Carndonagh tally, Labour party candidate Martin Farren is taking the lead followed closely by Fianna Fáil’s Martin McDermott. 100% Redress candidate Ali Farren is also polling well in the Carndonagh tally.

Minister Charlie McConalogue at the Aura on Saturday morning

11:40

Early indications show that Independent candidate Michael McBride is polling well in the Letterkenny tally.

11:30 am

The carpark at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny is full. Gardaí have urged motorists to find an alternative area in which to park. Spaces will still be available for those with a valid disabled permit.

11.15 am

Letterkenny boxes opened in Magherabeg and Glendowan areas. Next up are the boxes in the town areas, including Illistrin.

10:40 am

With two Carndonagh boxes tallied, Sinn Fein’s Albert Doherty and 100% Redress candidate Ali Farren are almost neck and neck taking the lead in the Carndonagh boxes that are opened. Fianna Fáil’s Martin McDermott also appears to be polling well. Independent Paul Barry McKinney is also polling reasonably well.

10:30 am

Joy Beard 100% Redress candidate in the initial tally of the Buncrana area appears to be in the lead, followed closely by Fionán Bradley Fianna Fáil with Sinn Fein’s Niamh McGuiness also getting a respectable vote from the initial tally, as is Sinn Fein’s Jack Murray.

10:20 am

Paul Canning has polled well in his local area of Killea with 149 votes according to the tally compared to 100 % Redress candidate Joy Beard with 14 votes and Sinn Fein candidate Jack Murray with 12.

Letterkenny ballot boxes have now been opened.

10 am

Early indications show that 100% Redress candidate Joy Beard is polling well in the Buncrana area. Sinn Fein candidate Jack Murray is also doing well.

9:50 am

There is a big media presence here at the Aura Leisure Centre, a lot of the candidates are also present.

9:10 am

The first ballot boxes have been opened at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny and the tallying has now commenced. The first boxes opened are from Buncrana.

9 am

Good morning from the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny. We’re settled in and ready for a long and busy day ahead as the votes from yesterday’s local and European elections are sorted. Our team at the Aura today includes reporters Dionne Meehan, Kate Heaney, Jerome Hughes and Diarmaid Doherty and photographers Brian McDaid and Declan Doherty.

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