TRANSFERS from Independent County Councillor John O’Donnell look set to hold the keys to Dáil Éireann for Donegal’s remaining election hopefuls.
Thomas Pringle (Ind), Charlie McConalogue (FF), Pat The Cope Gallagher (FF) and Joe McHugh (FG) are locked in an intense four-way battle for the final three seats.
All four are sitting TDs with one of them set to miss out.
Although there remains a bit to go and a lot of factors are still at play, McConalogue appears the most vulnerable at this stage.
The poll-topper in 2016, when he gained 12,533 first preference votes, looks to be in danger with the loss of 4,000 votes – around 3,000 in his home patch of Inishowen – potentially fatal for the Gleneely man’s hopes of retaining his post.
Pringle has been the big winner of the day. Having taken the sixth highest first preference vote, the Killybegs Independent now stands poised to be the third candidate elected.
Pringle is set to win the race to follow the Sinn Féin pair of Pearse Doherty and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, who were elected on the first count last night.
Pringle has been transfer friendly, taking 2,798 from Doherty and he was the highest beneficiary from the votes of Michael White (690) and Mary T Sweeney (604).
Four years ago,Pringle took the seat off Mac Lochlainn with just 184 votes to spare in a gripping tussle.
Fine Gael County Councillor Martin Harley was eliminated at the seventh count and the process of the distribution of his 3,896 votes has now commenced.
Party colleague McHugh – the outgoing Minister for Education – is expected to get a significant boost from the Harley distribution. Indications are that McHugh could take as many as 1,900.
Such a rise would ease the pressure on McHugh, who has had something of a sweat today with his seat in real danger for spells.
Geography could be at play in ensuring that Pringle also takes a health percentage from the Ballybofey businessman and Gallagher is likely to take as many as 600.
Kilmacrennan-based O’Donnell will be the next man eliminated from the running and will have in excess of 7,000 votes to share between Pringle, McConalogue, Gallagher and McHugh.
Again, geography will likely play a part in swinging a good percentage to McHugh.
Whatever happens over the next few hours, O’Donnell’s transfers will be the kingmakers at the Aura Leisure Centre.
Seventh count – distribution of Mary T Sweeney’s 3,600 votes
Thomas Pringle +604 10,241
Charlie McConalogue +421 10,054
Pat The Cope Gallagher +483 9,518
Joe McHugh +248 8,988
John O’Donnell +662 6,956
Martin Harley +125 3,896
