Local elections: MacGiolla Easbuig, McClafferty elected on first count in Glenties

Independents Micheál Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig and Michael McClafferty have been elected to the next term of Donegal County Council.

Both were confirmed elected just after 3pm on Sunday in the Highlands Hotel in Glenties, where the count for the Glenties area is taking place.

Returning officer Paddy Doherty confirmed that both had exceeded the 1,883 quota and were, therefore, deemed elected on the first count.

MacGiolla Easbuig took 2,125 first preference votes to top the poll and comfortably retain his seat while McClafferty took 1,885 votes.

Celebrations were muted from MacGiolla Easbuig and his entourage. The sudden passing of Fíonán Mac Ruairí, a young man from Rannafast on Saturday, rocked his locality.

Councillor MacGiolla Easbuig did not make a speech or speak to the media after confirmation of his election. An emotional MacGiolla Easbuig also requested, out of respect for the deceased, no photos to be taken after his election.

MacGiolla Easbuig was first elected in 2014, getting in on the tenth count having polled 1,106 first preferences.

His vote has almost doubled in the last ten years and he has now topped the poll in the last two elections.

In 2019, he rocketed to the poll top with 2,007 votes and his lot increased again here.

Councillor McClafferty nearly doubled his first preferences, earning 1,885 here to confirm the retention of his seat.

In 2019, McClafferty was elected as a Fine Gael Councillor, but he quit the party less than a year later, citing what he branded a “legacy of broken promises”.

Glenties LEA – first count
Micheál Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig, Anagaire, Gan Pháirtí; 2,125
Michael McClafferty, Falcarragh, non-party; 1,885
Anthony Molloy, Ardara, Fianna Fáil; 1,409
Brian Carr, Glenties, Sinn Féin; 1,021
John Shéamais Ó Fearraigh, Brinalack PO, Sinn Féin; 970
Denis McGee, Gortahork, 100% Redress; 889
Kellie Rodgers, Kincasslagh, Sinn Féin; 798
Jonathan Stewart, Dungloe, non-party; 794
Joseph Molloy, Derrybeg, Fine Gael, 751
John Reilly, Burtonport, Fianna Fáil; 652
Kevin O’Donnell, Glenties, non-party; 581
Michael Harkin, Dunfanaghy, Aontú; 461
Anne Marie Rodgers, Dunfanaghy, Fianna Fáil; 369
Jimmy Duffy, Carrickfinn, Kincasslagh, The Labour Party; 287
Anthony Matthew Doohan, Falcarragh, non-party; 106
Ann Sweeney, Dunfanaghy, non-party; 76