THE tallymen have done their job and now for the long wait until we get those figures confirmed in the shape of a first count.
While that official announcement isn’t expected before 7pm there are a number of things that we already know.
Fianna Fáil Deputy Charlie McConalogue has topped the poll and has also exceeded the quota while his party colleague Pat The Cope Gallagher, a former TD and MEP, is back in the Dáil.
Elsewhere outgoing Deputies Pearse Doherty (Sinn Féin) are also expected to take their places in the 32nd Dail leaving Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn (SF) and Deputy Thomas Pringle (Ind) in a fight for the fifth and final seat
Given the amount of time it will take to sort and count ballot papers – the first count is not expected until 7pm – we might be waiting until the early hours of Sunday morning before the destination of all five seats is finally decided.
Thomas Pringle Votes in the Aura, Letterkenny Count Centre on Saturday morning. Photo: Donna El Assaad
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