Tuam's Sean Canney first elected in Galway East

INDEPENDENT Sean Canney has taken the first seat in Galway East with heading over the quota with 12,707 votes.
He was quickly followed by FFs Anne Rabbitte, who is now the first FF female TD elected in Galway East on 12,255 votes.
It was an emotional scene for Canney who embraced his wife Geraldine and sons Kenneth and Shane before being raised shoulder high to the delight of his jubilant supporters.
Just a minute later Returning Officer Derry Buckley announced the vote result of FF Anne Rabbitte who was also placed on the shoulders of her ecstatic campaigners.
It had been speculated that FG Ciaran Cannon might also be elected on this count but not so.Canney's surplus is now being distributed for the 7th count and even that might not bring the waiting TD across the finish line.
Counting has certainly been brisk in Galway East since boxes first opened at 9 am this morning and is the envy of those still waiting in count centres around the country.
The two new TDs for the constituency replace outgoing Deputies Paul Connaughton and Colm Keaveney. While Connaughton is hanging up his political hat for now, Keaveney wasn't ready to say where his political future lies at this point.

Sixth count Galway East 2016

Distribution of Colm Keaveney votes

Canney Sean IND +1738 12707
Cannon Ciaran FG +401 9920
Rabbitte Anne FF +3464 12255
Connaughton Paul FG +495 8361

Canney surplus to be distributed