The John Count McCormack Centre at Athlone Institute of Technology has been confirmed as the General Election count centre for the constituency of Longford/Westmeath following polling day on Saturday, February 8.
Longford/Westmeath Returning Officer, Bridin Concannon issued the news on Monday morning following much speculation that the formal counting of candidate votes would be moved from St. Dominic's Community Centre in Keenagh, County Longford, the chosen venue, on numerous occasions, for previous General Election counts, but was the source of much difficulty for the media pertaining to the access of sufficient broadband and phone coverage.
With Wednesday at midday (January 22 ) being the closing date for candidate nominations to contest the General Election ballot papers, to date, there are seventeen aspirants contesting for four seats in the Longford/Westmeath constituency.
Sitting TDs, Robert Troy (FF ), Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Ind ), Peter Burke (FG ) are hopeful of seat retention with outgoing TD, Willie Penrose (Lab ) not seeking re-election this time out.
The remaining fourteen candidates who will continue their Longford/Westmeath constituency canvass in the coming weeks are Cllr. Joe Flaherty (FF ), Senator Gab McFadden (FG ), Cllr. Michael Carrigy (FG ), Alan Mangan (Lab ), Cllr. Louise Heavin (Green Party ), Sorca Clarke (SF ), James Reynolds (National Party ), Barbara Smyth (People Before Profit ), Tony Reilly (Ind ), Frank Kilbride (Ind ), Donal Jackson (Ind ), Dom Parker (Solidarity ), Anna Kavanagh (Alliance of Birth Mothers Campaigning for Justice ) and Seamus Burke (Aontu ).
It is expected that following the casting of ballot paper votes by the general public, the General Election count will commence on the morning of Sunday, February 9.
