Independent and SF candidates out-poll other four combined in Ballinasloe Area

WITH only nine candidates competing for six seats, the Ballinasloe Electoral Area still threw up some surprising results. The first was the magnificent showing by sitting Independent Cllr Tim Broderick who polled such a high first-preference vote (3,275) that he might well have brought in a running mate. The next surprise was what is being seen as the failure of the Connaughton magic to rub off on their man Kevin Ryan, who lost his seat.
And, as a barometer of change on the national political scene, it is interesting to note that an Independent and a Sinn Féin candidate polled a combined 5,335 first preferences out of a valid poll of 11,746, while the other four elected candidates from FF and FG polled a total of just 4,298 between them.
As expected, Sinn Féin’s Dermot Connolly polled very well, exceeding the quota of 1,679 and being elected on the first count with 2,059 first preferences. The Sinn Féin surge won’t have hurt Connolly, but his track record of work on the ground has obviously impressed and this as much as any national trend accounts for his impressive performance.
Connolly will be Sinn Féin’s candidate in the newly created Galway East three-seater at the next election, but there are already whispers regarding Broderick’s prospects of repeating this vote-harvesting coup in a general election.
Woodlawn hurling star Aidan Donohue’s inclusion on the FG ticket ruffled feathers within the party, especially irking sitting Cllr Michael Finnerty. But in this game of political musical chairs, Finnerty had his seat when the music stopped and it was Ryan who lost out