Birthday girl Donna Sheridan seals Mayo council seat for FG

FINE Gael newcomer Donna Sheridan has been elected to Mayo County Council on her birthday.

Sheridan, who was added to the ticket by party HQ in the Castlebar electoral area, took the third seat for her party on the 13th count without reaching the quota.

It was a memorable achievement by Sheridan on her political debut.

Also elected on the last count without reaching the quota shortly after 4 a.m. on Sunday were outgoing councillors Cyril Burke (FG) and Martin McLoughlin (FF) as independent candidate Harry Barrett missed out by a margin of over 90 votes.

Their final votes were Burke 1,609, Sheridan 1,450, McLoughlin 1,396 and Barrett 1,303.

Fine Gael supporters sang 'Happy Birthday' to Ms. Sheridan when her election was confirmed by the returning officer John Condon following the marathon count at the TF Royal Hotel.

The winners of the other Castlebar seats were Michael Kilcoyne (Ind), Blackie Gavin (FF), Al McDonnell (FF) and Ger Deere (FG), the latter of whom took a seat on the council for the first time.

That resulted in FF and FG both taking three seats with Kilcoyne being the only non-party representative elected.

Outgoing Sinn Fèin Councillor Joe McHale lost his seat.

After the first day of election counts in which three areas, Belmullet, Castlebar and Swinford, were completed, the state of the parties is FF 7, FG 5, SF 1, Independents 1.

The counts in Ballina, Claremorris and Westport take place on Sunday.