General Election 2016: Fianna Fail's Charlie McConalogue 'delighted and humbled' as he's elected on first count

Fianna Fail's Charlie McConalogue has said he is 'delighted and humbled' after he was elected on the first count in the Donegal constituency with 12,533 votes on a quota of 12,218.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Feb 2016, 20:47 BST
Updated 29th Feb 2016, 14:19 BST
Supporters of Charlie McConalogue (centre) surround him as they wait for the results of the first count.Supporters of Charlie McConalogue (centre) surround him as they wait for the results of the first count.
Supporters of Charlie McConalogue (centre) surround him as they wait for the results of the first count.

The total valid poll was 73,303 out of a total electorate of 117,675.

Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty polled 10,300 votes, followed by Fianna Fail’s Pat the Cope Gallagher with 10,198 votes. Fine Gael’s Joe McHugh received 8,412 votes with Independent Thomas Pringle on 6,220. Sinn Fein’s Padraig MacLochlainn received 5,742 and the party’s Gary Doherty polled 4,136. Independent Tim Jackson received 3,580 and Fine Gael’s Paddy Harte received 2,831, Independent candidate Frank McBrearty received 1,914 first preference votes while Ian McGarvey, also an independent candidate, picked up 982. Green Party’s Paula Flanagan received 428 votes with Michael Mooney, also an independent candidate polling 397. Independent candidate Cordelia Nic Fhearraigh received 70 votes.

Deputy McConalogue arrived at the count centre on Saturday afternoon to a rapturous welcome and told the ‘Journal’ the vote he received “surpassed all expectations.”

Related topics:DonegalSinn Fein