The people of the Ballyragget Electoral Area appeared to be content with what they had as they returned the five sitting councillors on Kilkenny County Council once again this year.
It was a landslide victory for Labour in this notoriously Labour supportive area, as Castlecomer’s Cllr Maurice Shorthall not only got elected on first count but he also exceeded the quota by 550 votes with 2,004 first preferences.
Mary Hilde Cavanagh of Johnstown was not too far behind and also exceeded the quota on first count with 1,824 first preferences, exceeding the quota by almost 400 votes.
Fianna Fail were not to be affected in this area either and Pat Millea illustrated his popularity in his area by polling 1,268 in the first count. He was elected following the distribution of both Shorthall and Cavanagh’s surpluses and on the elimination of Independent Ger Ferris and Sinn Fein’s Ray Quinlan.
This was always going to be an interesting election for this area as former Fianna Fail Councillor Martin Carroll went against the ranks and chose to run as an Independent in protest at the process that Fianna Fail used to select their candidates this year. Mr Carroll polled an admirable 601 first preference votes but it was not enough to knock any of the sitting councillors off their perches.
Ger Ferris, also former Fianna Fail, only polled 316 first preferences along with Sinn Fein’s Ray Quinlan who polled 311 on first count. Fianna Fail’s Brid Mooney Doyle polled 581 first preferences but was eliminated on the fifth count.
Fine Gael hung on to their two seats with Jenkinstown’s Catherine Connery grabbing 955 votes on first preferences while Clogh’s John Brennan (Bogman ) also took 856 first preferences.
Both were elected together on the sixth and final count with Cllr Brennan reaching the quota. Cllr Connery was elected on 1, 259 votes. Martin Carroll was the last to be eliminated which makes one wonder would he have polled a little better and reached the mark if he had had the Fianna Fail party behind him.
Ballyragget Electoral Area
Total poll: 8,870
Spoiled votes: 154
Valid poll: 8,716
Quota: 1,453
5 seats
The five elected councillors:
Maurice Shortall (Lab ),
Mary Hilda Cavanagh (FG ),
Pat Millea (FF ),
John Brennan (FG ),
Catherine Connery (FG )
FIRST COUNT:
John Brennan (FG ): 856
Martin Carroll (Ind ): 601
Mary Hilda Cavanagh (FG ): 1,824 ELECTED
Catherine Connery (FG ): 955
Ger Ferris (Ind ): 316
Pat Millea (FF ): 1,268
Brid Mooney-Doyle (FF ): 581
Ray Quinlan (SF ): 311
Maurice Shortall (Lab ): 2,004 ELECTED
Shortall and Cavanagh ELECTED.
SECOND COUNT: Distribution of Shortall's surplus:
John Brennan (FG ): +180 = 1,036
Martin Carroll (Ind ): +116 = 717
Catherine Connery (FG ): +66 = 1,021
Ger Ferris (Ind ): +74 = 390
Pat Millea (FF ): +27 = 1,295
Brid Mooney-Doyle (FF ): +46 = 627
Ray Quinlan (SF ): +42 = 353
(non-transferrable = 0 )
THIRD COUNT: Distribution of Cavanagh's surplus of 371 votes:
John Brennan (FG ): +62 = 1,098
Martin Carroll (Ind ): +16 = 733
Catherine Connery (FG ): +108 = 1,129
Ger Ferris (Ind ): +15 = 405
Pat Millea (FF ): +96 = 1,391
Brid Mooney-Doyle (FF ): +15 = 642
Ray Quinlan (SF ): +59 = 412
Ferris eliminated
FOURTH COUNT: Distribution of Ferris's 405 votes:
John Brennan (FG ): +101 = 1,199
Martin Carroll (Ind ): +104 = 837
Catherine Connery (FG ): +40 = 1,169
Pat Millea (FF ): +36 = 1,421
Brid Mooney-Doyle (FF ): +38 = 680
Ray Quinlan (SF ): +25 = 437
Quinlan eliminated
FIFTH COUNT: Distribution of Quinlan's 437 votes:
John Brennan (FG ): +53 = 1,252
Martin Carroll (Ind ): +84 = 921
Catherine Connery (FG ): +34 = 1,202
Pat Millea (FF ): +74 = 1,501 ELECTED
Brid Mooney-Doyle (FF ): +38 = 718
Pat Millea elected. Mooney-Doyle eliminated.
SIXTH AND FINAL COUNT: Distribution of Mooney-Doyle's 718 votes
John Brennan (FG ): +215 = 1,467 ELECTED
Martin Carroll (Ind ): +190 = 1,111
Catherine Connery (FG ): +57 = 1,259 ELECTED
Brennan and Connery ELECTED
