Power struggle in Cavan but Sinn Féin bucks national trend to make gains in the Breffni county

After two long days of counting in County Cavan, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil tied for six seats each; Sinn Féin returned three candidates, one in each LEA; while Aontú, Independent Ireland and a strong non-party candidate will each take a place in the council chamber later this month when they first meet for the AGM.

In the Ballyjameduff LEA, Fine Gael put in a strong performance to return their three sitting councillors – Trevor Smith, Winston Bennett and T.P. O’Reilly. Sinn Féin retained the seat they lost in 2019 with Noel Connell back on the local authority. Fianna Fáil were the big losers in this area - only winning one seat compared to three secured last time out.

Cathaoirleach Philip ‘Gunner’ Brady was the only candidate to make it across the line, getting home on the seventh count. Cllr Shane P O’Reilly resigned the party whip in June 2020 but made history by topping the poll in Ballyjamesduff, and in the county overall, for Independent Ireland on the first count.

Cllr Craig Lovett opted not to seek re-election for Fianna Fáil and Nathan Galligan, who ran in his place, was eliminated on the sixth count. Analysts said the party made a big mistake in not securing a third candidate in the east to mop up votes. Perhaps the biggest story in the LEA, however, was dark horse Lester Gordon for the Irish People who remained in the race, only falling at the final hurdle. The tale in Cavan Belturbet was almost a reverse of Ballyjamesduff in that Fianna Fáil got three candidates elected. It was a bitter sweet moment for Fianna Fáil’s Áine Smith when she topped the poll to be elected on the first count in the Cavan Belturbet. Although already a sitting councillor, it was her first time to face the electorate – having been co-opted on to her late father’s council seat early last year. Her running mates Cllr John Paul Feeley and Patricia Walsh were elected on the last count without meeting the quota.

Once again Sinn Féin won back the seat it lost in 2019 with Damien Brady heading back to the council chamber. He took the third seat in the fifth count.

It was a disappointing election for sitting Fine Gael Cllr Peter McVitty who lost his seat on the sixth and final count. However newcomer Niamh Brady won a seat for the party – that vaccated by her mum Cllr Madeleine Argue who retired. Niamh is the granddaughter of former Cavan Senator Andy O’Brien.

Perhaps the most exciting and hotly contested LEA in County Cavan was Bailieborough-Cootehill where two sitting councillors lost their seats. Aontú’s Sarah O’Reilly topped the poll here to keep her seat on the first count. She was followed by Fine Gael’s Carmel Brady in the third count on Sunday morning.

However, the votes of the two lowest remaining candidates had to be recounted following count four when it emerged they were tied. The recount saw Garry Cosgrove (Ind) eliminated – just one vote behind Independent Ireland’s Kristofer Shekelton.

After two decades on Cavan County Council Cllr Paddy McDonald (SF) lost his seat on the sixth count.

He was the only Sinn Féin councillor returned in County Cavan on the last occasion. However, his running mate Stiofán Conaty finished in third to hold the seat for the party off the back of McDonald’s transfers.

Also on that seventh and final count, the last seat seats were filled. They went to sitting councillors Cllr Clifford Kelly (FF) and Val Smith (FG); and newcomer Niall Smith (FF), a cousin of Deputy Niamh Smyth. That translated to two seats each for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in the LEA and one each for Aontú and Sinn Féin.