Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
Danny Healy-Rae is back in the Dáil.
The experienced Independent candidate was elected in the 11th count after securing 261 transfers from Labour’s Mike Kennedy and that brought his tally to 13,239 which exceeded the quota by 156.
There were wild celebrations in the count centre at Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre with Healy-Rae’s supporters breaking into song and the declaration from returning officer Padraig Burke was held up while the successful candidate addressed his supporters.
Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
Danny will now join his younger brother, Michael, in the 34th Dáil and there is mounting speculation that they could be invited to talk to both FF leader Micheál Martin and FG leader Simon Harris as they set about trying to form a new government.
In what was a masterful vote-winning performance in what was, essentially, his former county councilelectoralarea, Danny Healy-Rae was deemed elected at 7.40pm this Sunday night, joining Michael and Sinn Fein’s Pa Daly in getting past the winning post.
Aontu’s Catherina O’Sullivan has now been eliminated and Fianna Fáil’s Norma Foley is hoping that a favourable transfer can help her to make up to 559 votes she still needs to get elected.
After that all eyes will be on the battle for the fifth and final seat with Fianna Fáil’s Michael Cahill and Fine Gael’s Billy O’Shea the two contenders.
Cahill is currently on 10,047 votes with O’Shea over 900 behind on 9,137 so the advantage is very much in favour of the veteran Rossbeign councillor.
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