Pat the Cope Gallagher and Joe McHugh have been elected on the eleventh count.
The two political heavyweights were raised on their supporter’s shoulders as the finally came over the line after a marathon count at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.
And now the battle for the last seat begins.
Both Thomas Pringle and Padraig MacLochlainn are in with a huge claim to take the seat – but there’s only one on offer!
Pat The Cope Gallagher’s surplus votes of 920 are up for grabs with the Sinn Fein man just 74 votes ahead.
It’s all to play for.
Donegal – ELEVENTH COUNT – PAT THE COPE GALLAGHER AND JOE McHUGH ELECTED
Electorate: 117,675
Poll: 73,957
Valid Poll: 73,303
Invalid : 654
Quota : 12,218
Pearse Doherty (SF) elected on eight count
Candidate First count, Second count, Third count, Fourth count, Fifth
count, Sixth count, Seventh count, eight count, ninth count, tenth count, eleventh count
Gary Doherty (SF) – 4,136, (+2) 4,138, (+4) 4142, (+41) 4,183, (+194)
4,377, (+43) 4,420, +36 4,456, E
Pearse Doherty- 10,300, (+5) 10,305, (+25) 10,330, (+194) 10,524,
(+346), 10,870, +183 11,053, +137 11,190, +3,410 14,600 Elected
Padraig MacLochlainn 5,741, (+1) 5,742, (+30) 5,773, (+120) 5,893,
(+68) 5,961, +47 6,008, +24 6,032, +535 6,567, + 1,942 8,509, +634 9,143, +573 9,716
Pat The Cope (FF) 10,198, (+5) 10,203, (+159) 10,362, (+142) 10,504,
(+190) 10,694, +247 10,941, +219 11,160, +107 11,267, +131 11,398, +434 11,832, +1,306 13,138
Paddy Harte (FG) 2,831, (+1) 2,832, (+6) 2,838, (+96) 2,934, (+199)
3,133, +111 3,244 E
Joe McHugh (FG) 8,412, (+2), 8,414, (+29) 8,443, (+261) 8,704, (+191)
8,795, +170 8,965, +2,051 11,016, +24 11,040, +21 11,061, +723 11,784, +685 12,469
Thomas Pringle (IND) 6,220, (+19) 6,239, (+8) 6,247, (+251) 6,498,
(+191) 6,689, +700 7,389, +133 7,522, +95 7,617, +105 7,722, +769 8,491, +1,151 9,642
Tim Jackson (IND) 3,580, (+5) 3,585, (+16) 3,601, (+151) 3,752, (+282)
4,034, +285 4,319, +205 4,524, +126 4,650, +140 4,790 Eliminated
Dessie Shiels (IND) 3,724, (+0) 3,724, (+15) 3,739, (+247) 3,986,
(+18) 4,166, +122 4,288, +175 4,463, +34 4,497, +43 4,540 Eliminated
Frank McBrearty (IND) 1,914, (+3), 1,917, (+4) 1,921, (+60) 1,981 E
Niamh Kennedy (IND) 1,836, (+6) 1,842, (+6) 1,848, (+135) 1,983 E
Ian McGarvey (IND) 982 (+0), 982, (+0 – E
Paula Flanagan (Green) 428, (+14) 442, +0 – E
Michael Mooney (IND) 397, (+5) 402, (+0 – E
Cordelia Nic Fhearraigh 70 eliminated after first count
Michael Mooney, Paula Flanagan and Ian McGarvey eliminated on the third count.
Frank McBrearty now eliminated on fourth count
Niamh Kennedy eliminated on fifth count.
Paddy Harte eliminated on sixth count.
Gary Doherty (SF) eliminated on seventh count
Pearse Doherty elected on the eight count
Dessie Shiels on ninth count
Tim Jackson eliminated
Now counting surplus of Pat The Cope Gallagher