LE2024 Meath: The Story of the Kells Count
All seats have now been filled in the Kells Electoral Area with Independent David Gilroy, Mike Bray (FF), Michael Gallagher (SF) and Peter Caffrey (SF) all elected on the tenth count to fill the remaining four seats.
Gilroy and Bray made the quota while Sinn Fein's Peter Caffrey and Michael Gallagher was deemed elected without reaching the quota after finishing ahead of party colleague Oliver 'Figgy' Curran.
They joined Sarah Reilly (FG), Eugene Cassidy (FG) and Sean Drew (FF) who were elected having reached the quota.
Sitting councillor Paul McCabe lost his seat and the new face in the area is Sinn Fein councillor Peter Caffrey from Oldcastle.
Reilly topped the poll with 2,077 votes to be elected on the first count with Cassidy elected on the second count.
After the sixth count today, just two votes separated the bottom two candidates- sitting councillor Paul McCabe (FF) and Aontú candidate Peter Devin with Devin ahead.
A re-check of their votes resulted in this count being amended and the order reversed with Devin finishing two votes behind McCabe to be eliminated first with McCabe subsequently eliminated on the seventh count.
The other candidates to be eliminated were: Colm Mac an tSionnaigh on the second count, Cormac Corr (Ind) on the third count, Paddy Rennick (FF) on the fourth count, and Seamus McGee (FG) on the ninth count.
This time the poll-topper in Kells LEA was Sarah Reilly, who is the only female candidate. She was also elected on the first count on the last outing with 1,966 votes and managed to increase her vote by over 100 votes this time round.
Speaking after being elected, Cllr Reilly said: “I am absolutely thrilled and it is all down to the hard work of amazing and super team and family I’ve had around me for the last few months. It’s as big a day for them as much as me.”
Running mate Eugene Cassidy (FG) polled 1,833 first preferences and was elected on the second count. This is Cassidy's fifth term as a councillor having first being elected in 2004.
Cllr Cassidy, who had just three votes to spare when he was elected on the second count, said he was "absolutely delighted" to get across the line and joked that he likes to be "economical" with his votes and hates wasting them.
However, his surplus of just three votes was called upon in the sixth count as just two votes separated the two lowest candidates Peter Devin on 900 and Paul McCabe on 898. The amended sixth count changed the order to leave McCabe on 899 and Devin on 897 with the Aontú candidate eliminated.
Party colleague Seamus McGee, a first time candidate, performed well with 798 first preferences and lasted until the ninth count when he was eliminated.
Fianna Fáil’s Sean Drew, who topped the poll in 2019 with 30 more votes than Reilly, polled in third place with 1,476 votes and was elected on the eighth count, while party colleague Mike Bray was next with 1,328 and gained a second seat for the party.
Sinn Féin’s vote performed well in Kells where the party ran three candidates and won two seats. Michael Gallagher polled 1,258 first preferences, Peter Caffrey with 987 and Oliver ‘Figgy’ Curran with 955. The party currently has one councillor and has gained a second seat in Peter Caffrey who was elected on the final count without reaching the quota.
Independent David Gilroy, a sitting councillor, achieved 1,231 first preferences and was re-elected on the tenth count.
KELLS:
Electorate: 27,565
Total Poll 15,171
Quota: 1,871
Spoiled votes: 206
Valid Poll: 14,965
Seats: 7
FIRST COUNT
Reilly, Sarah (FG) 2,077
Cassidy, Eugene (FG) 1,833
Drew, Sean (FF) 1,476
Bray, Mike (FF) 1,328
Gallagher, Michael (SF) 1,258
Gilroy, David (Ind) 1,231
Caffrey, Peter (SF) 987
Curran, Oliver ‘Figgy’ (SF) 955
McGee, Seamus (FG) 798
McCabe, Paul (FF) 797
Rennick, Paddy (FF) 712
Devin, Peter (Aontu) 709
Corr, Cormac (Ind) 547
Mac an tSionnaigh, Colm (Ind Ireland) 257
SECOND COUNT (Distribution of Reilly's surplus)
Cassidy +41 1,874
Drew +30 1,506
Bray +19 1,347
Gallagher + 6 1,264
Gilroy +8 1,239
Caffrey+4 991
Curran + 5 960
McGee+47 845
McCabe+17 814
Devin +8 717
Rennick+9 721
Corr +11 558
Mac an tSionnaigh+1 258
Cassidy elected. Mac an tSionnaigh eliminated
THIRD COUNT (Distribution of Mac an tSionnaigh's votes)
Drew +7 1,513
Bray +8 1,355
Gilroy +70 1,309
Gallagher +15 1,279
Caffrey +4 995
Curran +8 968
McGee +3 848
McCabe +0 814
Devin +67 784
Rennick +1 722
Corr +30 588
Cormac Corr eliminated
FOURTH COUNT (Distribution of Corr's vote)
Drew +81 1,594
Gilroy +118 1,427
Bray +33 1,388
Gallagher +25 1,304
Curran +79 1,047
Caffrey +18 1,013
McGee +30 878
Devin +88 872
McCabe +29 843
Rennick +6 728
Paddy Rennick (FF) eliminated.
FIFTH COUNT (Distribution of Paddy Rennick vote):
Drew +45 1,639
Gilroy +15 1,442
Bray +92 1,480
Gallagher +6 1,310
Caffrey +256 1,269
Curran +6 1,053
McGee +146 1,024
Devin +28 900
McCabe +55 898
No candidate elected or eliminated.
SIXTH COUNT (Distribution of Cassidy's surplus of 3 votes)
Drew + 0 1,639
Gilroy + 0 1,442
Bray + 0 1,480
Gallagher +1 1,311
Caffrey +0 1,269
Curran + 0 1,053
McGee + 2 1,026
Devin +0 900
McCabe +0 898
SIXTH COUNT (amended following a re-check of McCabe and Devin's votes)
Drew + 0 1,639
Bray + 0 1,480
Gilroy + 0 1,442
Gallagher +1 1,311
Caffrey +0 1,269
Curran + 0 1,053
McGee + 2 1,026
McCabe +0 899
Devin +0 897
Devin eliminated.
SEVENTH COUNT (Distribution of Devin's votes)
Drew + 65 1704
Gilroy +246 1,688
Bray + 48 1,528
Gallagher +128 1,439
Caffrey +51 1,320
Curran + 66 1,119
McGee + 31 1,057
McCabe +42 941
McCabe eliminated.
EIGHTH COUNT (Distribution of McCabe's vote)
Drew + 235 1,939
Gilroy +47 1,735
Bray + 202 1,730
Gallagher +105 1,544
Caffrey +12 1,332
Curran + 53 1,172
McGee + 82 1,139
Drew elected.
NINTH COUNT (Distribution of Drew's Surplus)
Gilroy +3 1,738
Bray + 45 1,775
Gallagher +6 1,550
Caffrey +3 1,335
Curran + 6 1,178
McGee + 5 1,144
McGee eliminated
TENTH COUNT (Distribution of McGee's votes)
Bray + 311 2,086
Gilroy + 138 1,876
Gallagher + 41 1,591
Caffrey + 189 1,524
Curran + 56 1,234