LE2024 Meath: The Story of the Ashbourne Count

Sally Harding

Published: Sun 9 Jun 2024, 6:20 PM

Last updated: Tue 11 Jun 2024, 9:19 AM

All six councillors have now been elected to the Ashbourne electoral area on the eleventh count with all sitting candidates retaining their seats.

Independent Cllr Joe Bonner was re elected to Meath County Council yesterday topping the poll in the Ashbourne area with 2,685 votes. In 2019 Bonner also topped the poll with 2,140 first preference votes.

Independent Cllr Amanda Smith was also elected yesterday with 1546 votes in the second count.

In 2019, Smith was co opted on to Meath County Council after Independent candidate, Sharon Keogan who ran in both the Laytown/Bettystown and Ashbourne electoral areas, won a seat in both areas. Keogan nominated Amanda Smith to take the seat she won in Ashbourne. Her sister Geraldine took her seat in Laytown/Bettystown

Meanwhile today, Fine Gael sitting Cllr Suzanne Jamal was elected on the tenth count in Simonstown Count Centre, Navan. Her colleague Alan Tobin also retained his seat.

Fianna Fail's Conor Tormey was re elected without reaching the quota with 1395 votes.

Ashbourne auctioneer Tormey returned as a member of Meath County Council in 2018 after a 14-year absence. The councillor was formally co-opted to the 40-member council to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Cllr Sean Smith who emigrated with his family to the United States. He had previously been a councillor from 1999 to 2004 and was Cathaoirleach in 2001.

Meanwhile Sinn Fein's Helen Meyer was elected for the first time also without meeting the quota after her co-option earlier this year to replace Cllr Aisling O'Neill who stepped down due to work commitments.

Joe Bonner has completed his fourth term as a councillor being first elected to Meath County Council in 2004.

Speaking on his runaway success this year's local election Cllr Bonner said:

"I feel honoured and it's a humbling experience to have so many people come out to vote for you.

"To think that people got up in the morning and decided to come down and give me 2,666 votes it is such an honour."

Commenting on why he thinks he has made such an impact with constituents, the independent Cllr said:

"My intention was to go out there and tell the truth and keep people informed and listened to what they had to say and I think the people have rewarded me for that."

Ashbourne Electoral area

Total Poll: 10,887

Quota: 1532

Spoiled votes: 166

Valid Poll: 10,721

Seats: Six

FIRST COUNT:

Joe Bonner (Ind) 2,685

Amanda Smith (Ind) 1514

Suzanne Jamal (FG) 1244

Alan Tobin (FG) 1119

Conor Tormey (FF) 773

Helen Meyer (SF) 539

Bryan Mallon (FF) 567

Paul Nolan (Soc Dem) 453

Maria Ui Ruairc (SF) 434

Brandon Scott (Aontu) 564

Jean Murray (NP) 247

Sivakumar Murutadoss (Ind) 172

Cathal Ashbourne-Loftus (Ind) 73

Charles Bobbett (Ind) 154

Marcin Czekalski (Ind) 19

Martina Eskdale (Green) 164

9.10pm: Independent Cllr Amanda Smith is the second councillor to be elected to Meath County Council in the Ashbourne area with 1546 votes.

Marcin Czekalski (Ind) and Cathal Ashbourne-Loftus (Ind) received the fewest votes and have been eliminated.

Independent Cllr Amanda Smith (centre) is the second councillor to be elected to Meath County Council in the Ashbourne area with 1546 votes.

Now elected as a councillor in her own right, Smith says she plans to continue her work representing the people of the area.

"I'm really happy," said Smith.

"For people to come out and back me and give me their number one vote, 1500 people supported me, I am just thrilled given the fact it was the first time to run myself," she added.

The independent Cllr said the past few years representing her community have been "absolutely brilliant."

"It took me a while to find my feet but I just got with the work, that's really what it was about working for the people, being on the ground when they need you, I promised I would and I did that for the last five years and I'm just delighted that I got the backing from the people that I won the seat," said Smith.

Speaking on her plans for the term ahead as an elected councillor she said:

"I need to get the playground in Stamullen delivered, the money is there, we just need to get the project moving forward.

"That's something that should have been delivered ten years ago. But I 'd like to see more, I'd like to see a village green and the roads are a big thing for me."

Suzanne Jamal (FG) received 1299 votes, Alan Tobin (FG) secured 1391 and Conor Tormey (FF) is at 949. Meanwhile Helen Meyer (SF) has obtained 635 votes.

SECOND COUNT

(Distribution of Joe Bonner's surplus 1153)

Amanda Smith (Ind) +32 1546 - elected

Suzanne Jamal (FG) +55 1299

Alan Tobin (FG) + 272 1391

Conor Tormey (FF) + 176 949

Helen Meyer (SF) + 96 635

Bryan Mallon (FF) + 17 584

Paul Nolan (Soc Dem) +141 594

Maria Ui Ruairc (SF) +24 458

Brandon Scott (Aontu) + 57 621

Jean Murray (NP) + 38 285

Sivakumar Murutadoss (Ind) + 46 218

Cathal Ashbourne-Loftus (Ind)+ 54 127

Charles Bobbett (Ind) + 116 270

Marcin Czekalski (Ind) + 13 32

Martina Eskdale (Green) + 16 180

THIRD COUNT:

No candidate was elected on the third count. Martina Eskdale (Green) has been eliminated

Alan Tobin (FG) + 18 1409

Suzanne Jamal (FG) + 4 1303

Conor Tormey (FF) + 6 955

Helen Meyer (SF) + 8 643

Bryan Mallon (FF) + 3 587

Paul Nolan (Soc Dem) + 9 603

Maria Ui Ruairc (SF) + 6 464

Brandon Scott (Aontu) + 17 638

Jean Murray (NP) + 5 290

Sivakumar Murutadoss (Ind) + 12 230

Charles Bobbett (Ind) + 52 322

Martina Eskdale (Green) + 1 181

FOURTH COUNT

No candidate was elected on the fourth count. Sivakumar Murutadoss (Ind) has been eliminated.

Alan Tobin (FG) + 19 1,479

Suzanne Jamal (FG) + 31 1334

Conor Tormey (FF) + 2 957

Helen Meyer (SF) + 16 603

Bryan Mallon (FF) + 16 603

Paul Nolan (Soc Dem) + 43 646

Maria Ui Ruairc (SF) +6 470

Brandon Scott (Aontu) + 11 649

Jean Murray (NP) + 5 295

Charles Bobbett (Ind) + 2 324

FIFTH COUNT

No candidate has been elected on the fifth count. Jean Murray (IND) has been eliminated.

Alan Tobin (FG) + 51 1,479

Suzanne Jamal (FG) + 21 1355

Conor Tormey (FF) + 18 975

Helen Meyer (SF) + 7 654

Bryan Mallon (FF) + 4 607

Paul Nolan (Soc Dem) + 44 690

Maria Ui Ruairc (SF) +6 476

Brandon Scott (Aontu) + 9 658

Jean Murray (NP) + 3 298

Charles Bobbett (Ind) + 26 350

SIXTH COUNT (Distribution of Jean Murray (IND) surplus)

No candidate was elected on the 6th count. Charles Bobbett (Ind) has been eliminated.

Alan Tobin (FG) + 4 1483

Suzanne Jamal (FG) + 2 1397

Conor Tormey (FF) + 4 979

Helen Meyer (SF) + 10 664

Bryan Mallon (FF) + 6 613

Paul Nolan (Soc Dem) + 20 710

Maria Ui Ruairc (SF) + 10 486

Brandon Scott (Aontu) + 99 757

Charles Bobbett (Ind) + 61 411

SEVENTH COUNT

No candidate has been elected on the 7th count.

Alan Tobin (FG) + 46

Suzanne Jamal (FG) +33 1390

Conor Tormey (FF) + 38 1017

Helen Meyer (SF) + 21 685

Bryan Mallon (FF) + 16 629

Paul Nolan (Soc Dem) + 43 753

Maria Ui Ruairc (SF) + 16 502

Brandon Scott (Aontu) + 54 811

EIGHTH COUNT

No candidate has been elected on the 8th count. Maria Ui Ruairc (SF) has been eliminated.

Alan Tobin (FG) + 2 1531

Suzanne Jamal (FG) +4 1394

Conor Tormey (FF) + 2 1019

Helen Meyer (SF) + 1 686

Bryan Mallon (FF) + 0 629

Paul Nolan (Soc Dem) + 2 755

Maria Ui Ruairc (SF) + 1 503

Brandon Scott (Aontu) + 2 813

NINTH COUNT (Distribution of Maria Ui Ruairc (SF) Surplus)

Fine Gael Cllr Alan Tobin has been re elected. Bryan Mallon (FF) has been eliminated

Alan Tobin (FG) + 13 1544

Suzanne Jamal (FG) +38 1432

Conor Tormey (FF) + 17 1036

Helen Meyer (SF) + 286 972

Bryan Mallon (FF) + 23 652

Paul Nolan (Soc Dem) + 24 779

Brandon Scott (Aontu) + 49 862

TENTH COUNT (Distribution of Bryan Mallon (FF) surplus.)

Fine Gael Cllr Suzanne Jamal has been re elected.

"I'm absolutely honoured, overwhelmed and absolutely thrilled that so many people of my rural area in the Ashbourne district came out in their droves to vote me in again and I want to say a big thank you to each and every person who came out and gave me their number one vote," said Jamal.