THE COUNT continues at Limerick Racecourse across this morning, with some preliminary shapes of show General Election 2024 has shaken out in Limerick’s two constituencies.
In the Limerick City constituency, as it currently stands, 29 of 137 boxes have been tallied and is showing in the four-seater constituency that three outgoing TDs Willie O’Dea (FF), a grandfather of the Dáil, Kieran O’Donnell (FG), and Maurice Quinlivan (SF) are the frontrunners with O’Dea on 20 per cent of the votes tallied and threatening to top the poll, O’Donnell on 14 per cent and Quinlivan on 12 per cent.
Outgoing Green Party TD Brian Leddin is struggling on 5 per cent.
Those in the hunt for Leddin’s seat are Maria Byrne (FG) who is showing on 8 per cent and with a lot of her own areas yet to be opened. Three other candidates are also in the shape for a real dog fight for the final seat who are currently placed with 7 per cent including Dee Ryan (FF), Conor Sheehan (LAB), and Elisa O’Donovan (Soc Dems).
Independent candidate Frankie Daly, who just lost out on a seat in 2020, is trailing on 5 per cent but a number of his areas have also yet to be opened.
25 per cent of boxes have been opened in the Limerick County constituency and things look much like they were in 2020.
The three outgoing TDs are running ahead of the rest, with Independent Ireland’s Richard O’Donoghue on 26 per cent of the tally, followed by Niall Collins (FF) 24 per cent, and Patrick O’Donovan (FG) on 21 per cent.
Many were surprised by first time candidate Joanne Collins (SF) who is in fourth place in this three-seater constituency on 12 per cent.
Following yesterday’s ballot faux pas in the city constituency with an error in the alphabetic run order of the ballot, at 9am the count centre was told that the city count would go ahead despite candidates not appearing in alphabetical order – this may be challenged at a later stage depending on how results come out.
So far that has been the only drama here at Limerick Racecourse this morning, and it looks like little is changing in political faces across Limerick City or Limerick County. Stay tuned for more as it comes.
