Voting 'brisk' in Mayo for first elections since the Covid pandemic

Voters have started going to the polling stations across Mayo with a reported brisk early turnout in the county town of Castlebar as well as other urban centres.

It is the first time elections are been held in the county since early February 2020, shortly before Covid-19 broke out, resulting in extended lockdowns.

Many believe the pandemic changed the national mood in some respects, but whether or not that will be reflected in the results of the elections remains to be seen.

However, many local and national observers are forecasting that change is imminent with a number of ougoing councilors and MEPs expected to lose their seats.

The electorate in Mayo are voting to elect 30 candidates to Mayo County Council in six electoral area areas. A total of 73 contenders are in the field.

For the first time in a local and European elections, people living on Mayo offshore islands are voting at the same time as those on the mainland.

Mayo voters are also invited to cast their franchise in the midlands north west constituency of the European Parliament elections were 27 candidates are seeking to win five seats.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 10 p.m. this evening.

Nationally, more than 3.7 million people are registered to vote in the local elections and nearly 3.6 million people are registered for the European elections.

Counting of votes n the local elections will begin at the count centre at the TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar, at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Castlebar will be the first area to be decided followed by Claremorris, Swinford, Belmulet, Ballina and Westport.

The count for the European elections is expected to start on Sunday.

The Connaught Telegraph will have detailed coverage from the count centre over the weekend on its social media platforms while a 16-page election supplement will be published in next Tuesday's print edition.

The full list of candidates in the Mayo County Council elections are as follows.

Belmullet Electoral Area (3 seats, 8 candidates)

Gerry Coyle, Geesala, Fine Gael

Pat Chambers, Newport, Fine Gael

Rosaleen Dixon Lally, Belmullet, Sinn Féin

John Paul Carey, Bangor Erris, Independent

Micheál Boxty Ó Conaill, Belmullet, Green Party

Paul McNamara, Achill, Fianna Fáil

Sean Carey, Belmullet, Fianna Fáil

Jay Heneghan, Inver, Independent

Ballina Electoral Area (6 seats, 15 candidates)

Jarlath Munnelly, Killala, Fine Gael

Hugh Rouse, Ballina, Fine Gael

Joe Doocey, Ballina

Una Morris, Killala, Sinn Féin

Antonio Cafolla, Ballina, Sinn Féin

Keith Howley, Ballina, Independent

Joe Faughnan, Foxford, Independent

Willie Nolan, Ballina, Independent

Garie Beattie, Ballina, Independent

Mark Duffy, Ballina, Independent

Jo Mullen, Bonniconlon, Independent

Michael Loftus, Crossmolina, Fianna Fáil

Annie May Reape, Ballina, Fianna Fáil

David Alexander, Ballina, Fianna Fáil

John O’Hara, Fine Gael.

Castlebar Electoral Area (7 seats, 19 candidates)

Ger Deere, Snugboro, Fine Gael

Donna Sheridan, Castlebar, Fine Gael

Maura O'Sullivan, Islandeady, Sinn Féin

Cyril Burke, Ballyglass, Fine Gael

Stephen Kerr, Castlebar

Donna Hyland, Manulla, Sinn Fein

Brendan Lavelle, Keenagh, Independent

Donal Geraghty, Castlebar, Independent Ireland

Aidan Browne, Lahardane, Social Democrats

Maksym Shalomon, Castlebar

Kamal Uddin, Castlebar, Labour Party

Gerry Loftus, Bofeenaun, Independent

Joe Daly, Castlebar, People Before Profit – Solidarity

Michael Kilcoyne, Castlebar, Independent.

Tom Moran, Castlebar, The Irish People Party

Blackie Gavin, Castlebar, Fianna Fáil

Al McDonnell, Ballyglass, Fianna Fáil

Martin McLoughlin, Castlebar, Fianna Fáil

Harry Barrett, Castlebar, Independent

Claremorris Electoral Area (6 seats, 13 candidates)

Michael Burke, Ballinrobe, Fine Gael

Tom Connolly, Claremorris, Fine Gael

Alma Gallagher, Ballyhaunis, Fine Gael

Eamon Phelan, Swinford, Sinn Féin

Patsy O’Brien, Hollymount, independent

Mark Devane, Irishtown, Independent Ireland

Áron Ceallaigh, Garrymore, The Irish People Party

Paul Lawless, Knock, Aontú

Richard Finn, Claremorris, Independent

Damian Ryan, Ballinrobe, Fianna Fáil

Stephen Nolan, Balyhaunis, Fianna Fáil

Sandra Sweetman, Claremorris, Independent

Geraldine Kelly, Ballinrobe, Independent

Swinford Electoral area (four seat, nine candidates)

Neil Cruise, Foxford, Fine Gael

Antoinette Peyton, Fine Gael, Swinford

Gerry Murray, Charlestown, Sinn Féin

Sean Forkin, Charlestown, non-party

John Sheahan, Swinford, Sinn Féin

Marion Gordon, Bohola, The Irish People Party

Tommy Horan, Kilmovee, Aontú

John Caulfield, Kilkelly, Fianna Fáil

Adrian Forkan, Kiltimagh, Fianna Fáil.

Westport Electoral Area (4 seats, 9 candidates)

Peter Flynn, Westport, Fine Gael

Kiera Keogh, Westport, Fine Gael

Karen Gallagher, Liscarney, Sinn Féin

Peter Nolan, Louisburgh, Green Party

Christy Hyland, Westport, Independent

John O’Malley, Carrowholly, Independent

Niall McCormack, Westport, Irish Freedom Party

Chris Maxwell, Louisburgh, Independent Ireland

Brendan Mulroy, Westport, Fianna Fail.

European Election contenders

The candidates contesting the five seats in the midlands north-west constituenct of the European Parliament elections are as follows.

Maria Walsh, Fine Gael: Incumbent MEP for Midlands-North-West

Chris MacManus, Sinn Féin: Incumbent MEP for Midlands-North-West

Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent: Incumbent MEP for Midlands-North-West

Barry Cowen, Fianna Fáil: TD for Laois-Offaly

Peadar Tóibín, Aontú: TD for Meath East

Niall Blaney, Fianna Fáil: Senator

Lisa Chambers, Fianna Fáil: Leader of the Seanad and Senator

Pauline O’Reilly, Green Party: Senator

Nina Carberry, Fine Gael: Farmer and ex-professional jockey

Fergal Landy, Labour Party: Social Worker

Michelle Gildernew, Sinn Féin: MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone

Brian O’Boyle, People Before Profit-Solidarity: Lecturer

Rory Hearne, Social Democrats: Academic and housing expert

Dr. Gerry Waters, Independent: Medical Doctor, GP

John Waters, Independent: Writer

Peter Casey, Independent: Businessman

Saoirse McHugh, Independent: Digital campaigner

Michelle Smith, Independent: Accountant

Stephen Garland, Independent: Event manager

Daniel Pocock, Independent: Software and AI engineer

Charlotte Keenan, Independent: Sports psychologist, songwriter and artist

Ciaran Mullooly, Independent Ireland: Community Tourism Officer and former RTÉ journalist

Anthony Cahill, The Irish People: Engineer

Hermann Kelly, The Irish Freedom Party: European Parliamentary Assistant

Margaret Alacoque Maguire, Ireland First: Property Developer

James Reynolds, The National Party: Farmer

Justin Barrett, The National Party: Accountant