Full recount ordered for Tullow LEA, counting suspended for Carlow LEA

They say one vote can make all the difference and just before 10pm on Sunday night, one vote was enough to suspend activities at the Carlow Youth Centre for the night following the result of the 13th count for the Tullow LEA.

Our reporter in Carlow, Alan O’Reilly, was at the counting centre with the details.

A full recount for Tullow will begin at 10am tomorrow as only 3 votes separate the 3 candidates for 2 seats. Carlow Town is also suspended and will resume tomorrow. #Carlow #LE24 pic.twitter.com/tbZMxsKdNc

— Alan O’Reilly (@saloreilly) June 9, 2024

At around 9:30 p.m., returning officer Eamonn Brophy declared Brian O’Donoghue (FG) and Jim Deane (SF) elected without the quota being reached.

With newly elected candidate Ben Ward’s surplus set to decide the final seats for the Tullow LEA, O’Donoghue received 895 votes, Deane 893 votes and Catherine Callaghan (FG) 892 votes.

With only three votes separating the three candidates and only one vote separating Deane and Callaghan, the result was considered too close to predict a winner and was not officially declared by the returning officer.

By 9:50pm, the “next steps” had been determined and a full recount had been ordered for the Tullow LEA. In addition, the Carlow LEA count was suspended after a tenth round.

The final score for Carlow on the night is 10.

Nicoleta Chiorean of SF was eliminated after Molly Aylesbury’s 283 votes were distributed.

There are 8 left to fill 4 seats. Counting will resume on Monday at 10am.

More: https://t.co/X5FJMsRcIS pic.twitter.com/LcSMYTp8CZ

— KCL 96FM (@kclr96fm) June 9, 2024

Sinn Féin candidate Nicolete Chiorean was eliminated in the tenth count; the votes will be distributed tomorrow morning.

Counting will resume in Carlow at 10am.