The story so far from Kilkenny Local Elections: Everything we know after Day 1 of the count
Here's what happened yesterday/today at Lyrath count centre
It's been a long day at the Kilkenny count, with actual counting starting much later than was originally intended, and a lot still to get through. As we now face into Day 2, here's a quick round-up of what we know so far across the four LEAs:
1. Callan-Thomastown
Callan-Thomastown was the first up, and is the only area to be finished thus far. We now know who its councillors are. Peter 'Chap' Cleere (FF) topped the poll with a huge first preference vote, followed by first-time candidate Joe Sheridan (FF). Fine Gael's Joe Lyons took the third seat, and after the three mens' surpluses were transferred, sitting councillors Michael Doyle (FF) and Deirdre Cullen (FF) were also elected. The final seat came down to the wire, and it will be filled by Sinn Fein's Stephanie Doheny. She'll be the area's second female councillor and possibly one of the few positives for Sinn Fein to take from this local election.
2. Piltown/South Kilkenny
Two councillors got over the line in the first count here. They are Pat Dunphy (FG) and Tomas Breathnach (LAB). It's also looking good for Fidelis Doherty (FG) and Ger Frisby (FF), with the first pair's surpluses to be distributed first thing Sunday morning. There's a ways to go before the fifth and final seat is decided, but you'd be brave to back against one of the Fianna Fail duo of Jenny Catt Slattery or Maria Wall making a strong claim for it. One candidate, Benny McDonagh (Green Party) was eliminated on Count 2.
3. Castlecomer/North Kilkenny
No count here yet, but if the tallies are a good reflection of things, a barnstorming vote by Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick will see him top the poll. Maurice Shortall (IND) has also done enough to put himself in the frame for a seat on his first electoral outing. Fianna Fail's Michael McCarthy is in a strong position, and longest-serving councillor Mary Hilda Cavanagh (Fine Gael) is also well poised, along with party colleague John Brennan. The final seat will be a tussle between Sinn Fein's Denis Hynes and Fianna Fail's Michael Delaney. The surpluses of the likes of Pat Fitzpatrick may well prove decisive.
4. Kilkenny City
Twenty candidates for seven seats... This one could take a while. Again, no count, but the tallies suggest Andrew McGuinness will again top the poll. Independent Eugene McGuinness is on course to take the second seat, with Joe Malone (FF) and David Fitzgerald (FG) to feature in the seats also, and John Coonan (FF) - barring any major surprise. That leaves two seats for the up for grabs. With so many independent councillors in the race, transfers become hard to predict. The battle may very well be between Cllr Martin Brett (FG), the Green Party's Maria Dollard and Labour candidate Seán Ó hÁrgáin, who lost out in 2014 and is now in with a strong chance to make a comeback.