WITH opening of boxes at the halfway mark in the county, an early tally at the count centre in Limerick Racecourse is allowing some of the incumbents to breathe a sigh of relief.
In Newcastle West at 2pm, Fine Gael’s Liam Galvin was leading the pack with 1,469 first preference votes, followed closely by his former party colleague, Jerome Scanlon (IND) with 1,250 first preferences.
Likely to be eliminated on the first count is Animal Party candidate Gerben Uunk, who had just 48 first preferences on the first tally.
In Cappamore- the leader is Independent political veteran Eddie Ryan, followed closely by Fine Gael’s Martin Conway, who polled 1,059 first preference votes, according to the tally.
The half-way tally in Adare-Rathkeale has Adam Tesky (FG) in the lead with 1,111 votes followed by Bridie Collins (FF) coming up behind him 1,040 first preferences.
Counting proper is expected to begin around 5pm and will go on into Sunday and possibly Monday.
