INDEPENDENT TD Thomas Pringle is back in the frame as the 2020 General Election count in the Donegal Constituency heats up.
Pringle is neck-and-neck with the two Fianna Fáil candidates and outgoing Minister for Education Joe McHugh. Pringle was the big winner from the distribution of poll-topper Pearse Doherty’s surplus.
The Killybegs-based Independent took a distribution of 2,798 from Doherty – a 34 per cent share of the Doherty surplus.
Pringle now stands right on the coat tails of Charlie McConalogue and Pat The Cope Gallagher as the race for the final three seats intensifies, with McHugh firmly in the shake-up.
There are only 778 votes now separating the four candidates.
Counting has been adjourned for the night and will resume at 10am in the morning with the distribution of Pádraig Mac Lochlainn’s 982 surplus.
Doherty and Mac Lochlainn were elected on the first count, some six hours after the final tally figures had their election as a mere formality.
From early on Sunday, it was clear that the momentum was with Sinn Féin.
Four years ago, a three-candidate strategy didn’t work and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn lost his seat in Dáil Éireann to Thomas Pringle.
Pearse Doherty and Padraig MacLochlainn are carried high by supporters when they were deemed elected in Donegal. (North West Newspix)
The margin of just 184 votes hit hard, but Sinn Féin, in line with a national surge in their favour, were the big winners in Donegal.
Pearse Doherty topped the poll with 20,909 first preferences – 27 per cent of the total votes. Doherty’s tally was 731 more than the entire party obtained four years ago – and Mac Lochlainn was elected alongside his party colleague on the first county.
“It is phenomenal,” Deputy Doherty said.
“It’s an absolutely fantastic achievement for Sinn Féin to take two seats.”
It was a particularly sweet moment for Mac Lochlainn, who was visibly emotional in the moments after his election.
“I’m overjoyed,” Mac Lochlainn said.
“It’s incredibly humbling to look at those votes coming in. It’s a huge moment. I’m delighted for all of our team. This is beyond our wildest dreams.”
In 2016, Fianna Fáil’s Charlie McConalogue was the poll-topper with 12,533 votes.
McConalogue’s vote dropped by over 4,000, although the Inishowen TD was third when it came to first preferences, claiming 8,347.
“I hope with the transfer process that it will be enough to be returned to the Dáil,” McConalogue said.
Outgoing Minister for Education McHugh admitted that the count process was ‘nerve-wrecking’.
McHugh’s team suggest that they expect a 50 per cent share from Martin Harley’s distribution.
He said: “I’m 21 years in politics and every count fascinates me. This is the first time we’ve had such a large surplus in Donegal. While it’s fascinating, it’s also nerve-wrecking.”
