Local Elections 2024 Kerry: Full reaction and analysis from around the Kingdom (2024)

Get all the reaction from our writers at the links below:

6.04pm: Count Eight is complete in Killarney and no-one has been elected. Tim Clifford of the Social Democrats has now been eliminated and his final vote 479 will be distributed.

5pm: Cllr Norma Moriarty (FF) has now been elected in the Kenmare Electoral Area in the 7th count.

This is the third seat to be filled out of 6 seats. Counting began on Saturday morning and is still continuing today.

Her surplus of 34 votes is now being distributed.

Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae (Independent) and Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) were both elected on the first count.

4:50pm: Anne O’Sullivan from Fianna Fáil has taken the seventh seat in the Tralee LEA, over 24 hours after the first count commenced at the john Mitchel’s GAA Centre.

O’Sullivan pipped Thomas McEllistrim by just six votes following the recount. Seven votes separated the candidates when a recount was called for at 2am on Monday.

The count commenced at 11am and shortly after 4:30pm McEllistrim conceded. Anne O’Sullivan finished on 1,251 votes, to Thomas McEllistrim’s 1,245 votes.

4pm: The re-examination of ballot papers in the Kenmare Electoral Area has not identified any significant errors which materially impact the results.

Count 7 in now underway with the distribution of Patrick Lyne’s vote as he has now been eliminated. This is 1,426 votes and will take some time to sort.

This is going to be another long day.

11am: Day three is underway in Killarney and a full recount underway in Killarney after Social Democrat candidate calls for the votes to be rechecked in the Kenmare Electoral Area where the party candidate Tim Clifford ran. This will take some hours this morning. There are still four seats to be filled out of six in the Kenmare Electoral Area.

2.30am Cllr Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan and Cllr Marie Moloney (Labour) have been been elected in the Killarney Electoral area on the 11th and final count without reaching the quota. Cllr O’Callaghan got a final vote 1,599 votes and Cllr Moloney 1,575 votes. The quota was 1,785.

The final make-up of Killarney is:

7 Seats – Independents (4) FF (1) Labour (1) and Kerry Independent Alliance Party (1)

Cllr Maura Healy-Rae (Independent)

Cllr Martin Grady (Independent)

Cllr John O’Donoghue (KIA)

Cllr Brendan Cronin (Independent)

Cllr Niall Kelleher (FF)

Cllr Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan (Independent)

Cllr Marie Moloney (Labour)

1:22: The final frame has been set in the Listowel LEA with the remaining seats going to Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.

Tom Barry took the seat for Sinn Féin with 2,051, while Jimmy Moloney secured 1,784 votes.

The final result in the Listowel LEA is: Mike Kennelly (FG), Liam ‘Speedy’ Nolan, Michael Foley (FF), Michael Leane (FF), Tom Barry (SF) and Jimmy Moloney (FF).

1.05am Fianna Fail Cllr Niall Kelleher has been elected on Count 9 in the Killarney Electoral Area taking the fourth seat in the seven seater. He has surpassed the quota with a final vote of 1,804. He is the current Cathaoirleach of Killarney Municipal and his election this time around brings him to his third term.

Iqbal Mahmud (Independent) has now been eliminated and his vote of 369 will be distributed as counting continues in Killarney

00.58: Full Recount called for Kenmare Electoral Area. Counting has been suspended and this will begin at 9am in the morning.

0:49: First-timer Michael Leane (FF) landed a final vote of 2,213 to take a seat for Fianna Fáil in the Listowel LEA.

“It means a lot to me. I’ve been Fianna Fáil all my life and it just means so much. The people backed me and I’m just delighted to have won a seat. It will be good to have two Fianna Fáil,” said Michael Leane.

0:37: First-time candidate Paul Daly (SF) amassed an impressive haul of 1935 votes to get elected to Tralee LEA on the twelfth count. Sam Locke (Ind) has also retained his seat with a vote of 1725.

: The first Sinn Fein Candidate in the Killarney Electoral Area has been eliminated on Count 8. Caroline Kenneally’s vote of 335 will now be distributed and should shake things up here in Killarney where only four seats of seven has been filled.

The vote of Kamaruzzaman Abdul Kadir of 210 failed to elect anyone after his elimination on Count 7.

Cllr Nialll Kelleher (FF) is now only five votes short of the 1,785 quota.

23:38: Cathal Foley (SF) has been eliminated on the tenth count of the Tralee LEA. Having secured a final result of 1,054, Foley vacates the seat he held since being co-opted to Tralee LEA after Toiréasa Ferris retired in 2019, Cathal Foley was first elected to Tralee Urban Council in 1999.

23.20: It has been a long evening here in Killarney but finally a fourth seat has been filled in the Killarney Electoral Area with Cllr Brendan Cronin (IND) reaching the quota on Count 7 at Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre. There are three remaining seats to be filled and counting will continue tonight.

Cllr Cronin has served 25 years on the council and is now heading for another five year term. He says the key to his long-term success is ‘honesty and hard work’.

23:05: Sonny Foran (AO) has been eliminated on the seventh count in the Listowel LEA. Foran finished on 1,084 votes.

His vote is now being distributed to determine who will take the final three seats.

Tom Barry (SF) 1,933, and Michael Leane (FF) 1,884 are within touching distance of being elected.

Things look a little tighter for the final seat, likely to be between Jimmy Moloney (FF) 1,645, and Marion Falvey O’Sullivan (SF) on 1,528.

22.45 No-one elected in Count 6 in the Kenmare Electoral Area following the distribution of Cllr Michael Cahill’s surplus of 28 votes.

Cllr Norma Moriarty (FF) now just 110 votes short of the quota.

Patrick Lyne (Independent) has now been eliminated and his votes of 460 will now be distributed.

22.35: No-one elected in Killarney on Count 6. This was the distribution of the 125 votes of Alan O’Connor of the Irish People Party. Interestingly 35 of these votes went to FF candidate Niall Kelleher.

Cllr Brendan Cronin is now just one vote short of the quota.

The county’s Ukrainian candidate Natalia Krasnenkova has now been eliminated and her 157 votes will be distributed.

22.05 Another candidate has been eliminated on Count 5 in the Killarney Electoral Area. Alan O’Connor of the Irish People Party is now out and his 125 votes will be distributed.

Cllr Brendan Cronin (Independent) is just 29 votes short of the quota of 1,785.

21.40: Two candidates have been eliminated in Count 4 in Killarney. William Leen and Dermot McGuckin both Independent candidates are out of the race and their combined 50 votes are now being distributed. They are unlikely to make any change to the current situation in Killarney where just three candidates have been elected out of the seven seats.

Currently two Independent candidates have been elected and the only candidate for the Kerry Independent Alliance party has also been elected.

21:25pm: Anluan Dunne (GP) has been eliminated from the Tralee LEA after the ninth count.

He finished with a final tally of 899 having received 61 votes in transfers from Sinéad Donnelly’s final haul of 794. No one was elected on the ninth count.

Anluan Dunne said he enjoyed the election campaign and will continue to offer a voice on green issues locally with an eye on contesting future elections.

“It’s been a great experience and I’m very happy with how I did. I will definitely go again,” Anluan said.

21.10 Count 5 completed in Kenmare Electoral Area. No-body was elected on the distribution of the Aontú vote from Catherina O’Sullivan. Podge Foley (Independent) got the most from this distribution with 45 votes going to him.

The surplus of Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) of 28 votes who was elected on the first count is now being distributed.

20:50pm: Thomas Harrington (SF) has been eliminated on the fifth count in the Listowel LEA. Still three seats to be filled.

20:25: The Tralee LEA is akin to the waiting game at the moment as the last three counts have passed without a candidate being elected. However, Sinéad Donnelly (FG) has been eliminated on the eight count.

The state of play is Paul Daly (SF) at 1,268 votes, and Sam Locke (Ind) 1,325. Both looked poised to take the fourth and fifth seats.

The remaining two seats is where the battle will be fought with Angie Baily (FG) at 924, Anne O’Sullivan (FF) at 978, Thomas McEllistrim (Ind) 988, Cathal Foley (SF) 898, and Anluan Dunne (GP) 838.

Deirdre Ferris’ surplus of 35 votes is now being distributed.

20.15: No-one elected in Killarney on Count 3 following the distribution of Cllr Martin Grady’s surplus of 268.

Cllr Niall ‘Botty’ O’Callaghan (IND) gained the majority of this with 61 votes and Cllr Marie Moloney (Labour) garnered 46 more votes but have not yet reached the quota.

The surplus of Cllr John O’Donoghue (KIA) will now be distributed

20.10 Still no-one elected in Kenmare Electoral area following the distribution of Oliver O’Neill’s vote of 215.

Aontú candidate Catherina O’Sullivan has now been eliminated and her vote of 301 will now be distributed.

19.05: No-one has been elected on count 3 in Kenmare following the distribution of votes from the Irish People party candidate.

However, Oliver O’Neill, from Kilgarvan, who ran mainly on a farming platform, has now been eliminated and his vote of 215 will be distributed.

It is unlikely anyone will be elected on this distribution of votes either so it may take a few more counts before we see another seat filled in this electoral area.

18.20: Cllr John O’Donoghue of Kerry Independent Alliance – the nephew of former Cllr Michael Gleeson - has been elected on the second count in the Killarney Electoral Area with a final vote of 1,812. He garnered 238 votes from the surplus of 1,600 from Cllr Maura Healy-Rae. This was his first time contesting an election as he was co-opted to his uncle’s seat during this election term.

Cllr Brendan Cronin gained the most from Cllr Healy-Rae’s surplus with 276 votes. He now stands at 1,699.

Three of the seven seats are now filled in the area.

The surplus of Cllr Martin Grady is now being distributed.

18:00: No candidate elected in the Kenmare Electoral Area on the second count following the distribution of Cllr Johnny Healy Rae's surplus of 1,307.

The majority of his surplus votes went to Independent candidate Dan McCarthy who got 354 votes to bring his total to 1,183. 230 votes went to Fine Gael candidate Teddy O’Sullivan Casey to bring him to 1,384 and 112 went to Ken O’Sullivan of FF to bring him to a total of 932.

William O’Brien of the Irish People Party has now been eliminated and his 145 votes will now be distributed.

The quota is 2,134.

17:28: Sinn Féin Cllr Deirdre Ferris has taken the third seat in the Tralee LEA after securing 1,723 in votes.

Three of the seven seats have now been filled as Ferris received 96 transfers from party colleague Paddy Kevane, whose surplus was 386.

“I definitely think we have to start challenging the government and the establishment on the lack of autonomy local government has and the starvation of funding,” Cllr Ferris said.

“One of the biggest frustrations for me is the consistent bureaucracy around grant funding for local projects,” she said.

The lowest remaining candidate in the Tralee LEA – Mistura Oyebanji of the Social Democrats – has been eliminated. Her vote of 471 will now be distributed.

16:45: Cllr Michael Foley (FG) has taken the third seat in the Listowel LEA after the second count.

The Ballylongford man exceeded the quota of 2,095 having polled just 53 votes short after the first count. Foley’s final vote was 2,131 after receiving what he needed courtesy of Cllr Mike Kennelly’s surplus.

“I ran a good campaign and it’s all thanks to my family and supporters that I got elected. They have been behind me- all the way. I have worked hard for my community,” he said.

16.30pm: The results of the first count in the Killarney Electoral Area see Cllr Maura Healy-Rae (Independent), the daughter of TD Danny Healy-Rae, top the poll with 3,385 almost double the quota and with 300 more votes than 2019. Cllr Martin Grady (Independent) has also been elected on the first count with a surplus of 268 votes.

Electorate: 23,159

Total Poll: 14,410

Spoiled/Invalid Votes: 132

Valid Poll: 14,278

Quota: 1,785

Number of Seats: 7

First count results:

Abdul Kadir, Kamaruzzaman (Independent) 184

Cronin, Brendan (Independent) 1423

Grady, Martin (Independent) 2055

Griffin, Diarmuid (GP) 329

Healy-Dermot (FG) 653

Healy-Rae, Maura (Independent) 3,385

Kelleher, Niall (FF) 1,307

Kenneally, Caroline (SF) 248

Krasnenkova, Natalia (Independent) 146

Leen, William (Independent) 20

Mahmud, Iqbal (Independent) 304

McGuckin, Diarmuid (Independent) 12

Moloney, Marie (Labour) 1,044

O’Callaghan, Niall (Independent) 1,156

O’Connor, Alan (IP) 101

O’Donoghue, John (KIA) 1,574

Switzer, Damien (SF) 339

The surplus of Maura Healy-Rae of 1,600 votes will now be redistributed.

3.50pm Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae (Independent) son of TD Danny Healy-Rae has been topped the poll in the Kenmare Electoral Area with 3,441 first preference votes – 1,307 more than the required quota and has been deemed elected as has Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) Kerry's longest serving councillor with 2,162 first preference votes – 72 above the quota

The results of the first count in the Kenmare Electoral Area:

Electorate: 23,922

Total Poll: 15,043

Spoiled/Invalid Votes: 109

Total Valid Poll: 14,934

Quota: 2,134

Number of Seats: 6

First count in Kenmare Electoral Area:

Cahill, Michael (FF) 2,162

Clifford, Tim (SD) 434

Donnelly, Tony (FG) 770

Foley, Podge (Independent) 1,154

Healy-Rae, Johnny (Independent) 3,441

Lyne, Patrick (FG) 372

McCarthy, Dan (Independent) 829

Moriarty, Norma (FF) 1,805

Murphy, Cleo (GP) 462

O’Brien, William (IP) 136

O’Neill, Oliver (Independent) 158

O’Shea, Stephanie (SF) 431

O’Sullivan, Catherina (Aontu) 207

O’Sullivan, Ken (FF) 820

O’Sullivan Casey, Teddy (FG) 1,154

Quigg Damian (SF) 599

The surplus of Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae of 1307 will now be distributed

3:15: Labour Party councillor Terry O’Brien has retained his seat in the Tralee LEA when elected on the third count after transfers from party colleague Ben Slimm brought him past the magic quota mark of 1,688.

O’Brien received 84 extra votes bringing his final tally to 1,721. The Labour candidate filled the second seat in the seven-seater Tralee LEA.

The lowest remaining candidate, Eddie O’Grady (Ind) has been eliminated and his surplus of 324 is being distributed.

“I’m thrilled and very thankful to get the vote I got. I was hoping to get around a 1000 or 1,100 votes, but this is very satisfying,” Cllr O’Brien said.

“It just felt it was a very strange canvass this time around and with 16 candidates, you never know. But I’m extremely happy and grateful for what I got,” he said.

2:44pm: Mike Kennelly (FG) and Liam ‘Speedy’ Nolan (Ind) have both been elected on the first count in the Listowel LEA.

Kennelly secured 2,301 votes putting him 206 over the quota of 2,095. It was equally a bold show by Nolan who secured 2,223 votes making him the first independent in several decades to be elected to the Listowel LEA.

Four seats remain to be filled in the constituency. Kennelly’s surplus of 206 votes is now being distributed.

1:34 Cllr Terry O’Brien (Lab) is just 51 votes short of the quota following the distribution of Cllr Mikey Sheehy’s (FF) surplus of 426 votes.

He is followed in the race for a seat by Cllr Deirdre Ferris (SF) who moved to 1,592 votes having received 32 extra votes.

The lowest remaining candidates, Ben Slimm (Lab) and Ame Abdurahman (Ind), have been eliminated and their surplus of 229 votes is being counted.

It’s expected that Terry O’Brien will be elected in the third count off the strength of fellow Labour Party member Ben Slimm’s transfers.

12pm: Fianna Fáil Cllr Mikey Sheehy has been elected on the first count in the Tralee LEA at the John Mitchel’s count centre.

Sheehy secured 2,114 votes and was elected to his second stint as councillor, putting him 426 votes above the quota of 1,688.

The other candidates that polled well are Cllr Deirdre Ferris (SF) 1,560, and Cllr Terry O’Brien (Lab) 1,537.

Sheehy’s surplus vote of 426 is being distributed.

11.30pm TD Michael Healy-Rae has says the "next election has already begun" following a superb vote for the dynasty in Kerry the local elections. His son Jackie Healy-Rae topped the poll and was elected in the Castleisland Electoral Area yesterday and it looks like brother and sister Johnny Healy-Rae and Maura Healy-Rae, the son and daughter of TD Danny Healy-Rae, will top the poll in their respective areas and with an increased vote in all areas.

"We take our job in politics very seriously. With very vote you get comes responsibility as you must keep and earn the trust of that person," he said.

"What that vote tells me is that the young Healy-Rae's are working and are diligent and committed. They are what I can real politicians," said Deputy Healy-Rae.

The Kilgarvan TD has also praised the performance of Liam ‘Speedy’ Nolan who is a close allay of the family and who is set to be elected in Listowel.

With his election and if Cllr Sammy Locke is re-elected the Healy-Rae family could be said to have representatives in all municipal districts in Kerry.

"For Speedy Nolan to come along and build up a representation and take on the might of the political parties and come within .3 of 1% of heading the poll that is magnificent achievement for him.”

9:26am: Counting is underway in Kerry with a Tralee first count expected by mid-morning. Events finished up near to 1am yesterday with the Castleisland LEA bringing proceedings to a close. There is a sense that a speedier finish is the order of the day.

Sorting of the Listowel ballots is also underway, as is counting of votes for the Kenmare and Killarney Electoral Areas and a vote is expected in these areas around lunch-time.

0:38am: Fianna Fáil candidate Fionnán Fitzgerald has taken the third seat in the Castleisland LEA. He was elected on the fifth count, thanks to a vote surplus of 257 from Sinn Féin candidate Deirdre Bell. Fitzgerald’s final vote is 2,104,

The final seat in the constituency went to Bobby O’Connell of Fine Gael, also in the fifth count, who finished on 1,910 votes after receiving 189 from Bell’s distribution.

The full result of the Castleisland LEA is as follows: Jackie Healy-Rae (Ind), Charlie Farrelly (Ind), Fionnán Fitzgerald (FF), and Bobby O’Connell (FG).

11:05pm: No candidate reached the quota in the third count of the Castleisland LEA following the distribution of Charlie Farrelly’s surplus of 181 votes. 54 votes went to Bobby O’Connell (FG) to bring him to 1,682, while the next highest allocation (53 votes) went to Fionnán Fitzgerald (FF) bringing him to 1,794.

The lowest remaining candidates - Paul Bowler (GP) and Cáit Ní Ríordáin (Aóntu) – have been eliminated and their combined vote of 311 is now being distributed. The quota is 1,936.

9.15pm: The second seat in the Castleisand LEA has gone to Independent candidate Charlie Farrelly who was pushed over the line by Jackie Healy-Rae’s surplus of 954 votes, of which Farrelly received 314, bringing his total vote to 2,117.

Farrelly’s surplus of 181 votes is now being distributed as two of the four seats have been filled in the Castleisand LEA.

8.41pm: The final seat in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA has gone to Breandán Fitzgerald of Fianna Fáil.

Breandán took the seat with a final vote of 1,866 that put him ahead of party colleague Michael O’Shea who finished on 1,596 votes.

“I’m very proud and thankful to all who voted for me. It’s a privilege to have the trust of the people in your own home area. I’ve worked hard. It’s part of what I am and it’s part of what my family has always done,” Breandán Fitzgerald said.

The seats filled are Robert Brosnan (SF), Tommy Griffin (FG), and Breandán Fitzgerald (FF).

8pm: Kenmare tallies are now complete and once again a Healy-Rae has topped the poll with Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae set to be elected on the first count with 23% of the vote.

Two new faces are set to be elected in the area and tallies are showing one of those to be first-time Independent candidate Podge Foley with 7.6% of the vote. Also here could be Fine Gael candidate Teddy O'Sullivan Casey (7.7%) who replaced Cllr Patrick Connor Scarteen who retired this year.

In the mix also is Fianna Fail candidate Ken O'Sullivan on 5.5%. Transfers as they are say are everything.

Dan McCarthy (Independent) also holding on according to tallies with 5.7% of the vote and the fight is likely to be between him and Mr O’Sullivan for the last seat.

Kerry's longest serving Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) with 34 years on the council is also set to be elected again and Cllr Norma Moriarty (FF).

The estimated poll is 2,132. The electorate is 22,794 and the turn-out is 65.4%

7.20pm Killarney Electoral Tallies show no change in this electoral area with Maura Healy-Rae set to top the poll with an increased vote from last time around and with 24.2% of the vote.

This time around however, Martin Grady, who co-opted to his father's seat since 2019 has taken 14.7% of the vote. This is a significant increase on his father's vote in 2010.

John O'Donoghue (KIA) who was also co-opted since 2019 also polled well although lower than his uncle Micheal Gleeson's vote in 2019.

Tallies are showing that Niall 'Botty' O'Callaghan (Independent) increased his vote slightly and Cllrs Niall Kelleher although only marginally and based on tallies.

Cllr Brendan Cronin (Independent) and Cllr Marie Moloney (Labour) also to be elected based on tallies.

The estimated quota is 1,704. The electorate is 22,266 and turn-out is 61.2%

7:09pm: Sinn Féin candidate Robert Brosnan has made the breakthrough that his party has worked towards for decades by winning a seat in the fourth count in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA.

With a final vote of 2,131, Brosnan exceeded the quota after transfers from Peadar Ó Fionnáin were distributed. The surplus of Robert Brosnan will now be counted.

6.56pm: Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae has been elected to the Castleisland LEA on the first count with a staggering 2,890 votes, 954 votes more than the quota of 1,936.

The second highest candidate in the four-seater constituency is Charlie Farrelly (Ind) on 1,803; Fionnán Fitzgerald (FF) with 1,541, and Bobby O’Connell (FG) on 1,466 votes.

Jackie Healy-Rae’s surplus of 954 is now being distributed.

6.15pm First time candidate Liam 'Speedy' Nolan is the big news in the Listowel Electoral Area according to the tallies.

The Independent candidate - a very close ally of the Healy-Rae's and long-time campaigner for the family - has garnered 15.3% of the vote.

He is just behind FG candidate and sitting councillor Mike Kennelly who is set to top the poll with 15.6% of the vote. His party colleague Michael Foley (FG) is also likely to keep his seat with 14.1% of the vote.

Another first time candidate for FF Michael Leane is also making news here and has outpolled sitting FF Cllr Jimmy Moloney. Mr Leane has 12% of the vote according to tallies with Cllr Moloney on 9.2%. He may struggle to keep his seat and could be in a battle with new SF candidate Marion O'Sullivan Falvey on 8.8%.

Cllr Tom Barry (SF) is likely to keep his seat on 11.4% of the vote. But of course everything comes down to transfers in the end.

5:42pm: Tommy Griffin of Fine Gael has been elected to the Corca Dhuibhne LEA after the third count at the John Mitchel’s GAA Club in Tralee.

He exceeded the quota of 1,966 after transfers from Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald gave him 197 in surplus votes to bring him to 2,041.

Surrounded by family, friends, and supporters, Tommy Griffin was the first to be lifted on the shoulders as a successful candidate in the Kerry elections. Having narrowly lost out on a seat in 2019, he is happy to have gone one better this time.

“We did five years of work, that’s what it is. We represent the people of this constituency,” he told The Kerryman.

“From west to east, after the last election I kept going. This day I felt was a long way away at the time, but it wasn’t long in coming around. I want to work and improve efficiency in the council,” he said.

Peadar Ó Fionnáin of the Green Party has been eliminated on 1,242 votes.

5.20pm Final tally for Tralee Electoral area indicates that sitting Fianna Fail councillor Mikey Sheehy with 15.4% of the vote will top the poll with a significant increase in his vote from 2019 and well above the quota.

Labour's Terry O'Brien also looks safe with 11.3% of the vote as does Deirdre Ferris (SF) with 10.5% of the vote.

The party is likely to get a second seat with the brother of TD Pa Daly, Paul Daly, on 8.2% of the vote polling well in tallies but his win could lead to the loss of the current councillor Cathal Foley.

The party ran four candidates in the electoral area but are unlikely to increase their number of seats according to the tallies at least.

Independent Cllr Sam Locke is at 8.1% of the vote and likely to keep his seat.

FG likely to hold a seat in the area but it remains unclear which of their two candidates will win with Angie Baily and Sinead Donnelly on similar votes though the tallies put Angie slightly ahead.

In a surprising vote former FF TD Tom McEllistrim, now running as an Independent, has polled relatively well in the Tralee area taking 5.7%.

There is 7 seats here but the final seat will really come down to transfers and Tommy Mac can’t be ruled out just yet.

The estimated quota is 1,562. The electorate is 25,473 and the turn-out is 49%

4:38pm: Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald (FG) has lost his seat after the second count in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA.

Tommy Griffin (FG) is still shy of the quota by 122 votes. He received just 37 from Mike Kennedy’s (Lab) surplus putting him at 1,844.

Sinn Féin’s Robert Brosnan picked up 134 votes and is on 1,563.

Green Party candidate Peadar Ó Fionnáin received 119 transfers and is at 1,143. Michael O’Shea (FF) and Fitzgerald, Breandán (FF) are on 1,373 and 1,110 respectively.

Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald’s (FG) transfers are now being distributed.

3:39: The results of the first count in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA have been announced.

• Brosnan, Robert (Sinn Féin) 1,429.
• Griffin, Tommy (Fine Gael) 1,807.
• Fitzgerald, Breandán (Fianna Fáil) 1,014.
• Fitzgerald, Séamus Cosaí (Fine Gael) 740.
• Kennedy, Mike (Labour) 508.
• Ó Fionnáin, Peadar (Green Party) 1,024
• O’Shea, Michael D. (Fianna Fáil) 1, 338.

Electorate: 12,578.

Total poll: 7,966.

Total valid poll: 7,860.

No. of candidates: 7.

No. of seats. 3.

Quota: 1,966.

As no candidate has reached the quota on the first count, the transfers of the lowest candidate will be counted. Mike Kennedy of the Labour Party has been excluded. Tommy Griffin is 159 votes short of the quota.

3:08pm: Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae has said he is pleased with the tally result that looks set to easily return him as a councillor for the Castleisland LEA.

Jackie arrived at the count centre shortly before 3pm ahead of the first count.

“I just said that I would be happy if I could hold my vote from the last time. That was my aim and you’d have to be happy with that,” he said.

3pm: Here is the state of play for the parties in Kerry after two completed tallies

Corca Dhuibhne tallies show FG at 32% with an increase from the 2019 result while FF are at 30% in this electoral area - a decrease from their 2019 result.

It has been a great day for the Sinn Fein party with a significant increase from the party's 2019 result in this area. According to tallies the party is on 19% here.

The Green party has also seen an increase from 2019 result standing at 13% of the vote.

It is a different state of play with the Castleisland Electoral area with Independents gaining here in this area standing at 59% of the tallied vote. All other parties have seen a decrease with FG on 15% and FF just ahead on 16% both down on 2019 results. Sinn Fein is on 8% of the vote according to the tallies.

2pm: Minister for Education Norma Foley (FF) says that the results will “come down to the wire.”

“Today reminds us that counts are a long long business. It will stretch over a couple days and it shows that ever vote counts. It really will go down the wire as we can see from the early tallies.”

“All boxes are open now and it adds to the high tension here…. There are a lot of candidates here and I admire that because personally I find the count really really trying. It is really difficult when you are a candidate.

12.22pm With counting underway in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA, early signs look particularly positive for Sinn Féin who did not win a seat in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA in 2019 but are on course to win one this time.

The battle for Fine Gael representation is interesting as Tommy Griffin tallied remarkably better than his party running mate, and incumbent councillor, Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald who looks to be in trouble.

A first result is expected in the early afternoon. Early predictions would suggest one seat for Sinn Féin and Fine Gael, with a battle for the final seat between two Fianna Fáil candidates, Breandán Fitzgerald and Michael O’Shea. Green Party candidate Peadar Ó Fionnáin is also in with shout.

11.15am The 34 Castleisland boxes have now been opened and tallied and once again Jackie Healy-Rae – the son of Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae – is set to top the poll with 30.2% of the vote and likely to have a quota and a half when final figures are tallied

It appears there is to be little change in this area with Cllr Charlie Farrelly (Independent) also set to retain his seat standing at 18.4% of the vote.

Fionnán Fitzgerald (FF) is also performing well and set to retain his seat at 15.7% of the vote following closed behind FG candidate and another sitting councillor Bobby O’Connell at 15.3% of the vote.

Controversial candidate Michelle Keane (Independent) has polled well taken 10.1% of the vote but is unlikely to get a seat but of course transfers are what it is all about.

Interestingly she polled well in Knocknogoshel where she is from but also outpolled Deirdre Bell (SF) who is from the same area.

Sinn Fein had a poor performance in this electoral area at 7.5% of the vote. It has also been a bad day for the Green Party and Aontú with just over 1% of the vote each.

The electorate is 15,082 and turn-out was 63.4%. The estimated quota is around 1,921,

10.30am: All 28 boxes in the Corca Dhuibhne Local Electoral Area have now been tallied and there is set to be changes ahead.

It appears likely that Tommy Griffin (FG) with 22.5% of the vote will top the poll according to tallies and win a seat.

So too will Sinn Fein with their candidate Robert Brosnan, on 18.6% of the vote. They both failed to get a seat in 2019.

Cllr Mike O’Shea (FF) has also polled well in the tallies with 17%. The Green party candidate has had a great performance with Peadar Ó Fionnán polling well with a current 12.9% of the vote. Both of these may end up fighting it out for a seat although transfers may not go towards the Greens.

Breandán Fitzgerald (FF) is on a par with the Green party candidate at 13% and will be in the battle too.

Sitting councillor Seamus Cosaí Fitzgerald (FG) with 9.4% of the vote could lose his seat.

Mike Kennedy, a local auctioneer, currently looks like he will be eliminated first with just 6.8% of the vote according to the tallies. He is a first time candidate.

There was a 60.5% turnout in area, which has an electorate of 12,324. The estimated quota is 1,911

Tallying is continuing with the Castleisland boxes now open.

Kerry has 77 candidates – the largest number in living memory – vying for 33 seats.