Limerick City: the story of the count

Despite two days of counting of votes in the Limerick City constituency, there was only one new face on the political landscape as three outgoing TDs were returned to the Dail, joined by first-time general election candidate Conor Sheehan, Labour.

The counting of votes was almost over before beginning, after it emerged last Friday there was a discrepancy with ballot papers, fuelling speculation of possible court proceedings and a revote.

However, at 9am on Saturday, Deputy Returning Officer Vincent Murray firmly shut down any such prospect and informed candidates, counters, and election connoisseurs waiting at the Limerick Racecourse Count Centre that “the count should proceed”.

And so, the starting gun fired at the Limerick Racecourse venue, and the drama followed.

A dogged two-horse race played out into Sunday night as the hunt for the constituency’s fourth and final seat, involving Labour turk Sheehan, and Elisa O’Donovan, Social Democrats, heated up.

At one stage, late on, there was a single vote between the two local sitting councillors.

However, shortly before 9pm, Cllr Donovan conceded to Sheehan, (31), who told reporters: “It is the honour of my life.”

“I am honoured and grateful beyond belief to the people of Limerick City, the greatest city on earth, for electing me to represent them in the 34th Dáil,” added Sheehan who also paid tribute to his mother Mary, and his father Peter who was his director of elections.

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On Saturday night, outgoing Fianna Fáil TD, Willie O’Dea, was first past the post, followed by outgoing deputy’s Kieran O’Donnell, FG, and Maurice Quinlivan on Sunday.

Despite topping the poll, O’Dea required six counts to make up the 211 votes he needed to reach the 8,435 quota.

After finally crossing the line Saturday night, O’Dea said it had been a long wait “and I’m taking my supporters for a drink”.

Kieran O’Donnell, who was elected on Count 11 after counting resumed on Sunday, said: “I very much enjoy what I do, and I’m delighted to be able to continue to deliver and work on behalf of the people of Limerick City.”

Limerick’s only Sinn Fein TD, Maurice Quinlivan, topped the poll in 2020, but had to wait 13 counts to re-gain his seat, which he said was “an honour and a privilege” and “humbling”.

Quinlivan said he was not disappointed with his party’s performance nationally but, “what I might be disappointed about is that some of the government parties don’t include us in discussions”.

“I think it is really important that even if they don’t want to do a deal with us, they have talk to us, because my voters are as important as any body else’s voters and it’s really important that people who vote for Sinn Féin are treated equally in this country,” Quinlivan added.

Outgoing Green Party TD Brian Leddin, elected to the Dáil for the first time in 2020, lost his seat.