Four councillors lose seats in Bailieboro

The contest for the seven seats in the Bailieborough electoral area was always regarded as being one of the most closely contested in the election to Cavan County Council. This election was no different and it threw up the biggest surprises and shocks with four outgoing councillors losing their seats. It was also creating the news by virtue of the performance of a number of new candidates who made a dramatic and impressive entrance on to the local political stage. Early tallies showed young, new candidates performing well. When the first count did come at around 5pm, it revealed that Niamh Smyth had 1,019 first preferences, David Blake was next on 952, while Cllr. Aidan Boyle (FG) was third on 911. The strong first count performances of Smyth and Blake were the big surprises of the election and the early talking point in the count centre. Those three were closely followed by John O"Hare from Shercock on 882 whose high vote was to put Fine Gael in the hunt for that extra seat. In fact there were eight candidates including six outgoing councillors who had votes ranging from the early 700s to the late 800s and the closeness of this block of candidates guaranteed a long night ahead in determining the result. The elmination of Alex Ivanov of the Green Party at the end of the first count and the distribution of his 294 votes did not alter the position dramatically. Winston Turner was eliminated on the second count and the distribution of his votes in the third count was predicted to create something of a shake out in the count. Cllrs. Freddie Kettyle (FG), Sean McKiernan (FG) and Paddy McDonald (SF) were the main beneficiaries here. Still no candidate was yet within reach of the quota of 1,273 with the result that Cllr. Francis McDermott was eliminated at the end of the third count. This marked the start of a succession of surprises over the remainder of the count. The fourth count distribution of McDermott"s votes elected Niamh Smyth. There were scenes of great jubilation as Ms Smyth was declared elected with the new candidate, her family and supporters being congratulated on their achievement. However, at this stage, Fianna Fáil party strategists were also taking a sombre view of their position. The majority of Cllr. McDermott"s transfers went to John O"Hare (FG) and Paddy McDonald (SF) and not across party lines to Clifford Kelly and Michael McCarey. At the end of the fifth count, Cllr. Freddie Kettyle (FG) was eliminated. This was undoubtedly another surprise of the afternoon as Cllr. Kettyle would have been regarded as one of the more secure of candidates. His vote was down slightly on his 2004 performance and he would have been affected by the Fianna Fáil strategy of running one of its young candidates in the southern end of the electoral area. The sixth count distribution of Kettyle"s votes elected fellow party man, Sean McKiernan. Aidan Boyle fared next best receiving 144 bringing him up to 1,133. The personality factor as distinct from party loyalty is always evident in local politics. In this instance it was once again apparent with Fergal Curtin of Fianna Fáil gaining 103 of Mr. Kettyle"s transfers bringing his vote up 1,006. The transfer pattern of Mr. Kettyle"s votes then reverted back to Fine Gael again with John O"Hare receiving 92 bringing him to 1,188 while David Blake gained 61 increasing his vote to 1,104. Clifford Kelly received nine and Michael McCarey obtained 38. Mr. McCarey was now at the bottom of the field of the seven remaining candidates seeking the five remaining seats and he was excluded from the contest at the end of the sixth count, becoming the latest casualty where sitting councillors were concerned. The seventh count distribution of Mr. McCarey"s votes would decide the outcome. A sizeable chunk of 409 votes went across party lines to fellow Cootehill man Aidan Boyle, taking him well in excess of the quota with 1,542 votes. Fianna Fáil"s Fergal Curtin was next best off receiving 179 increasing his vote to 1,185; Clifford Kelly gained 99 bringing him up to 1,069; while Paddy McDonald benefited from a transfer of 62 increasing his vote to 1,122. John O"Hare gained 38 taking him to 1,226. O"Hare was elected on the eight count after receiving votes from Boyle"s surplus. Curtin again received a significant transfer of Boyle"s votes (65) taking him to 1,250, just 23 short of the quota. Paddy McDonald benefited from 43 taking him to 1165 while David Blake gained 34 bringing him to 1151 and Clifford Kelly obtained 42 taking him to 1111. At this stage Cllr. Kelly was eliminated and Mr. Curtin, Cllr. McDonald and Mr. Blake were declared elected. It was a dramatic finale to a marathon count. Four councillors lost their seats in what was a closely fought contest. Although co-opted on to Cavan County Council when Joe O"Reilly was elected to the Seanad, this was Sean McKiernan"s first electoral contest and he was delighted with the result. All of the new councillors were elated by their election as were the outgoing members who were safely returned. The upshot of the contest in the Bailieborough Electoral Area is that Fine Gael have gained an extra seat from Fianna Fáil. The state of the parties here is: Fine Gael, four; Fianna Fáil, two and Sinn Fein, one.