Focus turns to avoiding the drop zone

Bailieborough Cootehill Electoral Area Count #3

With only 54 votes available, count #2 of Bailieborough Cootehill has seen us commence a holding formation for the next while.

Now with the exclusion of Marina McEntee (SF) 315, Fiona McCormack (Ind) 204, and John Sean O'Reilly (Ind) 60 there will be 579 votes up for grabs in count #3. The McCormack transfers in particular surely must see Carmel Brady (FG) elected to join Sarah O' Reilly (Aon) in the council. She is likely to be the only one elected as her Fine Gael running mate, currently in third position, remains some 300 votes shy of the 1,716 quota.

McEntee was a first time candidate for Sinn Féin fighting for votes in a crowded Kingscourt field at the edge of the electoral area. While her mentor Paddy McDonald had joined her on the canvas and should pick up a percentage of her votes, Sinn Féin's strategy had been to request transfers to fellow first time runner Stiofán Conaty. However, some of her votes could migrate to fellow Kingsourtians Kristofer Shekleton (II) and Clifford Kelly (FF), who, sitting on 1,238 is in fourth position and in strong contention to retain his seat.

John 'Sean' O'Reilly announced his candidacy very late in the day and his pro-house building, loosening of planning regulations, and pro-environment campaign failed to take off.

Again he's a Kingscourt native, so it's likely at least some of his 60 votes will find a home locally.

Independent Fiona McCormack had entered the race having been active alongside Garry Cosgrove in the protests in Cootehill and standing against what they believe is an 'uncontrolled level of inward migration'.

Therefore it looks likely that the next candidate eliminated will be between Cosgrove and Shekleton, so it is imperative to not be bottom at the end of count three. Will McEntee/O'Reilly's 373 generate enough transfers to save Shekleton who is currently on 653? Or will Fiona McCormack's 204 keep Garry Cosgrove - currently on 613 in the fray?

Whoever, stays in will have Paddy McDonald in their sights.

This article focussed on those towards the top and bottom - for the lie of the land for the rest, click here.