53.4 per cent vote for Higgins in Galway East
TURNOUT in Galway East for last week’s Presidential election was higher than the national average, with 48.5 per cent of the electorate casting their ballot.
The result from the count centre in Headford was the first in the country to be declared on Saturday afternoon, as Michael D Higgins went on to secure a second term in office with 55.8 per cent of the vote nationally.
President Higgins won 53.4 per cent of the vote in Galway East. Businessman Peter Casey, whose controversial comments about Travellers in the run up to polling day caused widespread criticism, came second with 33.3 per cent of the vote, a significant increase on his national result of 23.3 per cent. Pieta House founder Joan Freeman came third in the constituency.
Senator Freeman was the only candidate to visit Galway East during her campaign.
The result from the count centre in Headford was the first in the country to be declared on Saturday afternoon, as Michael D Higgins went on to secure a second term in office with 55.8 per cent of the vote nationally.
President Higgins won 53.4 per cent of the vote in Galway East. Businessman Peter Casey, whose controversial comments about Travellers in the run up to polling day caused widespread criticism, came second with 33.3 per cent of the vote, a significant increase on his national result of 23.3 per cent. Pieta House founder Joan Freeman came third in the constituency.
Senator Freeman was the only candidate to visit Galway East during her campaign.