Emotional scenes: Following the allocation of the final seat in The Moor, which resulted in all three Sinn Féin candidates for the ward Patricia Logue, Aisling Hutton and Emma McGinley being elected, the three candidates hugged after Colr. Logue dedicated Sinn Féin's success to the late Donncha Mac Niallais and Raymond Griffin.

Emotional scenes: Following the allocation of the final seat in The Moor, which resulted in all three Sinn Féin candidates for the ward Patricia Logue, Aisling Hutton and Emma McGinley being elected, the three candidates hugged after Colr. Logue dedicated Sinn Féin's success to the late Donncha Mac Niallais and Raymond Griffin.

47 scenes from Derry City & Strabane District Council 2023 election count centre at Foyle Arena

By Brendan McDaid, Daire N Chanáin, Kevin Mullan & George Sweeney

Published 21st May 2023, 11:54 GMT

Updated 21st May 2023, 11:55 GMT

There were emotional scenes of congratulations, commiserations and solidarity as the 70 candidates who stood in the local government elections gathered to hear the results of the count at Derry’s Foyle Arena on Friday and Saturday.

Photos and coverage by Kevin Mullan, Daire Ní Chanáin, Brendan McDaid and George Sweeney.

Emotional scenes: Following the allocation of the final seat in The Moor, which resulted in all three Sinn Féin candidates for the ward Patricia Logue, Aisling Hutton and Emma McGinley being elected, the three candidates hugged after Colr. Logue dedicated Sinn Féin's success to the late Donncha Mac Niallais and Raymond Griffin.

. DJ

Emotional scenes: Following the allocation of the final seat in The Moor, which resulted in all three Sinn Féin candidates for the ward Patricia Logue, Aisling Hutton and Emma McGinley being elected, the three candidates hugged after Colr. Logue dedicated Sinn Féin's success to the late Donncha Mac Niallais and Raymond Griffin. Photo: DJ

The count gets under way at Foyle Arena.

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The count gets under way at Foyle Arena. Photo: George Sweeney

Sinn Féin First Minister designate Michelle O'Neill with some of the 18 SF candidates elected at the Count Centre at Foyle Arena on Saturday.

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Sinn Féin First Minister designate Michelle O'Neill with some of the 18 SF candidates elected at the Count Centre at Foyle Arena on Saturday. Photo: DJ

And its 3 for 3 for the SDLP in Ballyarnett as SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood joins Rory Farrell, Brian Tierney and Catherine McDaid after they were all deemed elected.

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And its 3 for 3 for the SDLP in Ballyarnett as SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood joins Rory Farrell, Brian Tierney and Catherine McDaid after they were all deemed elected. Photo: DJ

DUP Aldermen Chelsea Cooke and Niree McMorris elected to represet the Waterside.

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DUP Aldermen Chelsea Cooke and Niree McMorris elected to represet the Waterside. Photo: DJ

People gathered in Foyle Arena as candidates await the results.

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People gathered in Foyle Arena as candidates await the results. Photo: DJ

Derry City & Strabane Council Mayor, Sinn Féin Councillor Sandra Duffy tops the poll in Ballyarnett and is deemed elected on the first count.

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Derry City & Strabane Council Mayor, Sinn Féin Councillor Sandra Duffy tops the poll in Ballyarnett and is deemed elected on the first count. Photo: DJ

Independent Councillor Gary Donnelly tops the poll and is deemed elected in The Moor ward.

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Independent Councillor Gary Donnelly tops the poll and is deemed elected in The Moor ward. Photo: DJ

People Before Profit celebrate the re-election of Shaun Harkin to represent the people of Foyleside.

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People Before Profit celebrate the re-election of Shaun Harkin to represent the people of Foyleside. Photo: DJ

SInn Féin Councillor Patricia Logue with young relatives following her re-election in The Moor ward.

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SInn Féin Councillor Patricia Logue with young relatives following her re-election in The Moor ward. Photo: none

SDLP Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr celebrates with SDLP Leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood and MLAs Mark H Durkan and Sinéad McLaughlin and Councillor Brian Tierney following her re-election alongside fellow SDLP Councillor Shauna Cusack to represent the people of Foyleside.

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SDLP Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr celebrates with SDLP Leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood and MLAs Mark H Durkan and Sinéad McLaughlin and Councillor Brian Tierney following her re-election alongside fellow SDLP Councillor Shauna Cusack to represent the people of Foyleside. Photo: DJ

The count centre at Foyle Arena.

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The count centre at Foyle Arena. Photo: George Sweeney

Sinn Féin's Brian Barney Harte, Fergal Leonard and Paul Boggs celebrate being elected for Sperrin.

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Sinn Féin's Brian Barney Harte, Fergal Leonard and Paul Boggs celebrate being elected for Sperrin. Photo: DJ

UUP Alderman Derek Hussey is re-elected in Sperrin.

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UUP Alderman Derek Hussey is re-elected in Sperrin. Photo: DJ

SDLP Councillors Sean Mooney and Martin Reilly are re-elected to represent the people of the Waterside.

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SDLP Councillors Sean Mooney and Martin Reilly are re-elected to represent the people of the Waterside. Photo: DJ

Sinn Féin candidate Caitlin Deeney tops the poll in the Waterside.

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Sinn Féin candidate Caitlin Deeney tops the poll in the Waterside. Photo: DJ

The count under way at Foyle Arena.

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The count under way at Foyle Arena. Photo: George Sweeney

DUP Alderman Keith Kerrigan tops the poll in Derg.

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DUP Alderman Keith Kerrigan tops the poll in Derg. Photo: DJ

SDLP candidate Declan Norris is elected in Faughan.

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SDLP candidate Declan Norris is elected in Faughan. Photo: DJ

Sinn Féin First Minister designate Michelle O'Neill congratulates Grace Uí Niallais following her election to represent the people in Foyleside.

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Sinn Féin First Minister designate Michelle O'Neill congratulates Grace Uí Niallais following her election to represent the people in Foyleside. Photo: DJ

Sinn Féin's Ruarí MCHugh elected on the first count pictured with Mayor of Derry & Strabane Sandra Duffy.

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Sinn Féin's Ruarí MCHugh elected on the first count pictured with Mayor of Derry & Strabane Sandra Duffy. Photo: DJ

The count gets under way at Foyle Arena.

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The count gets under way at Foyle Arena. Photo: George Sweeney

The count gets under way at Foyle Arena.

1. election 9

The count gets under way at Foyle Arena. Photo: George Sweeney

Sinn Féin First Minister designate Michelle O'Neill with some of the 18 SF candidates elected at the Count Centre at Foyle Arena on Saturday.

2. election 32

Sinn Féin First Minister designate Michelle O'Neill with some of the 18 SF candidates elected at the Count Centre at Foyle Arena on Saturday. Photo: DJ

And its 3 for 3 for the SDLP in Ballyarnett as SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood joins Rory Farrell, Brian Tierney and Catherine McDaid after they were all deemed elected.

3. election 37

And its 3 for 3 for the SDLP in Ballyarnett as SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood joins Rory Farrell, Brian Tierney and Catherine McDaid after they were all deemed elected. Photo: DJ

DUP Aldermen Chelsea Cooke and Niree McMorris elected to represet the Waterside.

4. election 14

DUP Aldermen Chelsea Cooke and Niree McMorris elected to represet the Waterside. Photo: DJ

Strabane District Council Derry City Brendan McDaid