Dolan elected on 26th birthday

Two seats filled, two to go

POLL-topper in Galway East Fianna Fáil’s Albert Dolan has been elected to the Dáil on his 26th birthday.

Dolan topped the poll yesterday in the four-seater with 10,140 votes but it has taken until the eighth count for him to pass the finish line.

He is the second TD elected to Galway East, following Independent TD Sean Canney who won the first seat late last night.

Madden has transferred heavily to her party colleagues but Ind Ireland’s Declan Geraghty remains slightly ahead of FG front runner Pete Roche. However, if Cllr Clodagh Higgins (FG) is eliminated in a further count – this will put him within distance of the seat.

Dolan’s surplus will mostly benefit FF Anne Rabbitte but it’s unlikely that it will be enough to keep her in the race.

SF’s O’Hara is now edging towards securing a seat.

EIGHTH COUNT

Distribution of Niamh Madden’s (FG) votes

Albert Dolan (FF) (+537) 11,249

*Seán Canney (IND) ELECTED (6th count)

Louis O’Hara (SF) (+123) 9,037

Peter Roche (FG) (+539) 6,367

Declan Geraghty (IND IRL) (+153) 6,445

*Anne Rabbitte (FF) (+445) 4,769

Clodagh Higgins (FG) (+1,122) 4,965

Non-transferable – 95

* Outgoing TD