The Callan Electoral Area was the only area that gained a seat in the new electoral area boundary changes made in time for this year’s local elections.
It was no surprise that all three sitting councillors hung on to their seats in ths area and that the new seat was filled by an Independent - robbing Joe Brennan of the seat who polled a healthy 901 first preference votes for Fianna Fail.
It was no ordinary independent however, and Kells doctor Pat Crowley easily took his seat exceeding the quota with 1,461 votes on the third and final count on the distribution of Labour’s Brian Harris’ votes.
Dr Crowley is the only Independent elected to either of the Kilkenny Local Authorities after a record number of candidates ran in the race for the local government positions.
Kilkenny Borough Council had five Independents running, however, none of them made the cut.
Dr Pat Crowley garnered a very acceptable vote and it will be interesting to see which way he will lean when it comes to voting on the issues on the Kilkenny County Council in the future.
John Eardly was the second Independent running in the Callan Electoral Area — however, he received only 394 first preferences in comparison to Pat Crowley who polled 1,183 on the first count indicating his popularity from early on in the race.
Fine Gael’s Billy Ireland was the first to reach the quota in the second count and was elected. He was followed closely by Tommy Maher also of Fine Gael and by Matt Doran of Fianna Fail who both reached the quota in the third count.
Finally Fianna Fail’s Joe Brennan never reached the quota and was eliminated on the third count.
Callan Electoral Area ended up with two Fine Gael representative, one Fianna Fail and one Independent.
Callan Electoral Area
The five elected councillors:
Billy Ireland (FG ),
Pat Crowley (Ind ),
Tom Maher (FG ),
Matt Doran (FF )
FIRST COUNT:
Joe Brennan (FF ): 901
Patrick Crowley (Ind ): 1,183
Matt Doran (FF ): 1,205
John Eardley (Ind ): 394
Brian Harris (Lab ): 512
Billy Ireland (FG ): 1,269
Tom Maher (FG ): 1,150
Eardley is eliminated
SECOND COUNT: Distribution of Eardley's 394 votes:
Joe Brennan (FF ): +66 = 967
Patrick Crowley (Ind ): +94 = 1,277
Matt Doran (FF ): +28 = 1,233
Brian Harris (Lab ): +46 = 558
Billy Ireland (FG ): +95 = 1,364 ELECTED
Tom Maher (FG ): +31 = 1,181
Ireland is elected. Harris is eliminated
THIRD COUNT: Distribution of Harris's 558 votes:
Joe Brennan (FF ): +40 = 1,007
Patrick Crowley (Ind ): +185 = 1,461 ELECTED
Matt Doran (FF ): +33 = 1,266 ELECTED
Tom Maher (FG ): +186 = 1,367 ELECTED
Crowley, Maher and Doran elected
