With half of the 246 boxes open, Deputy Charlie McConalogue continues to lead the way in the race to become one of the five TDs who will represent Donegal in the 32rd Dáil.
According to the tallymen, the Inishowman man has secured 10,500 first perference votes and while he’s not expected to pick up too many more votes in the Donegal, Glenties or Stranorlar Electoral Areas – the heartlad of his running mate Pat The Cope Gallagher – he’s well on the way.
Interestingly, McConalogue picked up as many votes in Letterkenny (2,547) as the local Independent canddiate Dessie Shiels (2,500) while Joe McHugh (FG) also polled well (2,557).
Deputy Pearse Doherty (SF) and Pat The Cope Gallagher (FF) are expected to join McConalogue in the next Dail with McHugh (FG), MacLochlainn (SF) and Thomas Pringle (Ind) in a three-way battle for the two remaining seats.
However, as always, such predictions come with a health warning at this early stage of proceedings
Votes being counted in the Aura, Letterkenny Count Centre on Saturday morning. Photo: Donna El Assaad
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