LE2024 Review: Sinn Fein bucked the trend with gains alongside surge of support for Independents

Sinn Fein bucked the trend in Meath to double their number of seats on the council, in an election that saw a phenomenal surge in support for Independent candidates, a dramatic increase in the Aontu vote and losses for traditional parties.

Thirty three of the 40 seats on the council had been completed last night, Monday, while a full recount of the seven seater Navan Electoral area is taking place today in the Simonstown GAA Centre. Prior to the granting of the recount at the request of Fianna Fail's Kashif Ali, Sinn Fein's Eddie Fennessy and Aontu's Emer Toibin had both been elected on the first count.

With counting in five of the six electoral areas completed, Sinn Fein increased their number of councillors from three to six, Aontu has seen an increase from one to two while Fianna Fail has lost two councillors but gained one and Fine Gael has lost two.

Votes for Independents were particularly strong with Noel French in Trim and Gillian Toole, in Ratoath - two former Fine Gael councillors - achieving well over double quotas.

Trim's Trevor Golden was the only independent to lose his seat whil Carol Lennon is the newly elected Independent councillor in Laytown/Bettystown.

Other new faces on Meath County Council include Sinn Fein's Peter Caffrey in Kells, Maria White in Laytown/Bettytown and Fionnan Blake in Dunshaughlin, Aontu's David Boyne and Fianna Fail's Padraig Coffey in Trim.

Councillors who lost their seats were Fianna Fail's Paul McCabe and Tom Behan, Fine Gael's Niamh Souhan, Labour's Elaine McGinty and Independent,Trevor Golden.

Sinn Fein will have six members on the new counccil, up three from 2019.

Director of Elections Darren O'Rourke said they were very happy with the outcome.

"We had a brilliant result in Kells, electing two candidates and Figgy Curran came very close. Fionnan Blake will make a great councillor for Ratoath as will Maria White in Laytown.

"Our three sitting councillors were re-elected which is reflective of their hard work. Eddie Fennessy topped the poll, Michael Gallagheer standing on his work record won back the seat he lost in 2019, and Helen Meyer after just seven months as a councillor had a great performance.

"It was a tough election for Sinn Fein but we bucked the trend here in Meath and that was down to working as a team, They came together on numerous occasions, set out their targets and objectives and that team approach made a big difference. A feature of out whole campaign was the impeccable transfer of votes to running mates" he said.

It was the success of the independents that was the major story of this election in Meath, with Noel French, who had been elected as a FG councillor in 2019, but stood as an Independent this year, maintaining his huge support.

Gillian Toole, who was elected as a Fine Gael councillor in 2014, but was elected as an Independent in 2019, also received more than a double quota while Brian Fitzgerald who has been a member of Meath County Council since 1985 and Nick Killian who was first elected in 1999 make up the three Independents in the Ratoath Electoral area.

In the Ashbourne LEA, Joe Bonner, who was first elected in 2004, once again topped the poll with 2,685 votes. Independent councillor Amanda Smith was also elected on Sunday with 1,546 votes in the second count. In 2019, Smith was co opted on to Meath County Council after Independent candidate, Sharon Keogan who ran in both the Laytown/Bettystown and Ashbourne electoral areas, won a seat in both areas.

Geraldine Keogan, a sister of Sharon Keogan, was co-opted to the council in 2020 on her siste'rs election to Seanad Eireann. She was re-elected in Laytown Bettystown along with fellow Independent candidate, Carol Lennon.

David Gilroy as re-elected as an Independent for the Kells area and while the Navan recount is ongoing, the independent councillors, Alan lawes and Francis Deane look set to hold their seats.

Aontu also had a great election with Dave Boyne taking the party's first seat in Trim. He will now join Emer Toibin, who was elected for the party in 2019, on the council.

Of the 33 seats now filled, Fianna Fail have eight councillors, Fine Gael have nine, there are nine independents, Aontu have one, the Social Democrats have one and Sinn Fein have six.

Justice Minister Helen MCEntee says Fine Gael's success in this local election campaign is down to councillors "working hard and delivering projects."

Minister Thomas Byrne said it was disappointing for Fianna Fail to have lost two seats, but he was happy to see the party gaining a seat in Trim.

"I want to pay tribute to Paul McCabe and Tom Behan who worked very hard or their areas and I am sure there is a future for them in politics in Meath.

"I am proud of John Donohoe and Brian Mallon who performed exceptionally well as first time candidates."

Sitting councillor Ronan Moore, the only Social Democrat councillor on Meath County Council held his seat and improved on his vote share to be elected on the final count.

Labour will be disappointed with the loss of Elaine McGinty's seat in Latyown Bettystown, while the performance of Eilish Bafle in the Ratoath Electoral area saw her come very close to taking the last seat in that tightly fought electoral area.

Seven seats remain to be filled on Meath County Council as a full recount of the Navan poll, takes place today (Tuesday).

Two seats had been filled before the recount was called. Outgoing Mayor of Navan, Eddie Fennessy (SF) and Emer Toibin (Aontu) were elected on the first count.

With 18 candidates on the ballot paper, after 11 counts, five seats were still up for grabs, with Independents Francis Deane and Alan Lawes, Yemi Adenuga and Linda Nelson Murray of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail's, Padraig, Fitzsimons, Tommy Reilly and Kashif Ali, and Sinn Féin''s Caoimhe Ni Shluain all still in the race. At the end of the 11th count, Ní Shluáin had 881 votes, just seven ahead of Kashif Ali on 874, who was eliminated.

Ali requested a recount, which was granted by returning officer, Dara McGowan, in light of the very narrow margin. The count began at 10am on Tuesday morning and was wrapped up at the close of business, with the revelation that long-standing councillor, Tommy Reilly (FF) had lost his seat.