General Election: Celebrations as MacLochlainn elected on the second count


By Diarmaid Doherty It’s been a night of celebration for Sinn Fein in Donegal with two party candidates elected in Donegal. Pearse Doherty’s election was confirmed after the first count as he passed the quota with over 6,000 votes to spare. Advertisement The second count saw the distribution of his quota and Padraig MacLochlainn received […]


Will Padraig MacLochlainn get elected on the 2nd count?


It’s possible he will, but of course also possible that he won’t. Here’s why.  Pearse Doherty was elected on the first count with 18,898 votes, which put him 6,127 over the quota of 12,771.  That surplus of 6,127 is now being distributed, most of which is sure to go to Padraig MacLochlainn.  Advertisement Padraig MacLochlainn […]


Pringle dismisses fifth seat battle prediction


by Louise Doyle OUTGOING Independent TD  Thomas Pringle has dismissed a prediction that the fifth seat in Donegal will come down to himself and 100% Redress Party candidate Charles Ward. “I would say those predictions are wrong, they have been wrong before,” Mr Pringle told the Donegal News. Advertisement “The fifth seat could be between […]


General Election: Counting staff discover wedding ring among voting papers


By Diarmaid Doherty Counting staff discovered a wedding ring among the voting papers when they opened a ballot box at the Aura Leisure Centre this morning. A note neatly taped to the top of the box indicated that a voter’s wedding ring had dropped into their ballot box when they cast their vote on Friday. […]


‘Why are we not voting for female candidates?’ – Cllr Niamh Kennedy


BY JEROME HUGHES THE Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council is raising the difficult question of why the electorate is choosing not to vote for female candidates at election time. Cllr Niamh Kennedy recently became only the fourth woman to be elected Chairperson of Donegal County Council in the local authority’s 125 history, and the first […]


Defective concrete scandal remains ‘top priority’ for McBrearty Jnr


by Louise Doyle INDEPENDENT councillor Frank McBrearty Jnr has described his re-election to Donegal County Council as being ‘vindicated in the court of public opinion’. The Raphoe-based councillor was re-elected to Lifford-Stranorlar Local Electoral Area (LEA) on Sunday in Finn Valley Leisure Centre. He secured 1,199 first preference votes and was re-elected on the seventh count with 1,939 […]


ELECTION 2024: Brogan’s delight at retaining council seat


By Dionne Meehan FIANNA FÁIL candidate Ciaran Brogan has retained his seat on Donegal County Council. His election was confirmed this evening following a second recount of the votes in the Letterkenny LEA. Advertisement Fine Gael Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh has also been elected. As the count continues, Cllr Donal Coyle and Mary T Sweeney are […]


ELECTION 2024: Quiet start to the day in the Aura


THERE has been a quiet start to the morning here in the Aura Leisure Centre as count staff are busy organising votes, including postal votes. Of course, two counts are taking place out here today. In the Milford Local Electoral Area, there are nine candidates contesting the three seats up for grabs. Advertisement They are […]


ELECTION 2024: Tally figures show Declan Meehan could top poll in Milford area


By Dionne Meehan  INDEPENDENT candidate Declan Meehan could top the poll in the Milford area according to today’s tally. After failing to secure a seat in the 2019 elections, Declan said he is delighted with his tally which was nearly triple of his votes in the previous election. Advertisement “I am very happy that I […]


ELECTION 2024:  Battle royale expected for final seats


Fianna Fáil look set to take the first two seats in Letterkenny with the tally figures predicting that Cllr Donal Mandy Kelly will exceed the quota on the first count. With the quota predicted to be at around 1,603, Cllr Kelly, according to the tallies, will get 1,791 first preference votes. He will be followed […]