IT’S BEEN a long day for some, but for two Limerick TDs the night may have just begun as jubilant celebrations rang out across the count centre at Limerick Racecourse.
Within only minutes of one another, veteran Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea and Independent Ireland co-founder Richard O’Donoghue confirmed their passes for Dáil Éireann having been successfully elected in General Election 2024.
For O’Dea, it was a case of first past the post for the former Minister of Defence, who became the first candidate to be returned in Limerick City not long before midnight at Limerick Racecourse.
The Fianna Fáil stalwart has sat in every Dáil since 1982. This time around, he was returned on count six with 8,523 votes – just ahead of the 8,435 quota that he flirted with since topping the polls in the first count.
Independent Ireland’s Richard O’Donoghue, for whom its been a doubly busy day having attended two weddings before coming to the count, was returned on count nine. Decked out in a pink tie and a light blue suit, the returning county TD may well also be presented the Best Dressed award at Limerick Racecourse were he there on any other day.
O’Donoghue was returned to the Dáil after passing the 11,385 quota in the county with 11,468 votes. He joins Fine Gael’s Patrick O’Donovan, who took the first Limerick County seat.
Fianna Fáil’s Niall Collins looks set to reclaim the third seat in the three-seater constituency.
As deputy returning officer Vincent Murray calls time on the Limerick City constituency count for the night, there may be another round or so in the county yet.
