Counting underway in the Seanad elections with Garbhán Downey and Elisha McCallion to learn fates this week

Counting is underway in the National University of Ireland (NUI) constituency to elect three Senators to the 26th Seanad with Derry university campaigner Garbhán Downey one of the hopeful candidates.
By Kevin Mullan
Published 31st Mar 2020, 13:45 BST
Garbhn DowneyGarbhn Downey
Garbhn Downey

The counting of postal votes got underway after the polls closed at 11 a.m. on Tuesday and count one is now underway in the RDS in Dublin.

Mr. Downey is one of 19 candidates running for the Senate in the NUI constituency.

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The Derry journalist and author co-founded the Derry University Group in 2013 in order to campaign for better third level provision in the city.

If he is elected Mr. Downey has said he will work to "end the North West’s 60-year wait for an independent university, which will reverse the higher education deficit, stimulate economic recovery and deliver equality".

Envelopes are now being opened as count one progresses in Dublin. NUI is streaming the count live at http://www.nui.ie/news/2020/SE2020Live.aspCounting is expected to last until Thursday and potentially even Friday.

Meanwhile, counting in the election to the Seanad's Industrial & Commercial panel, in which former Derry Mayor, MLA and MP Elisha McCallion is a candidate, is due to get underway on Thursday at 9.30 a.m.

Related topics:Derry