PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: 59.1% TURN-OUT AS… GALLAGHER LED IN CAVAN/MONAGHAN

By PATSY McARDLE

A 59.1 per cent turn-out was recorded in Cavan/Monaghan for last week’s Presidential Election and Referenda, which saw some polling stations in both counties without a single voter turning up for periods of over an hour-and-half last Thursday morning, as the booths opened at 7 a.m and closed at 10 p.m.
Independent candidate Sean Gallagher led the poll in the Border constituency with a first preference tally of 26,150. After transfers, he ended up with 32,420 votes.
Sinn Fein contender Martin McGuinness came in at second place with 11,940 first preferences, and he ended up, before being eliminated, with 12,509 .
McGuinness’ vote in Cavan/Monaghan was ahead of eventual winner and President-elect Michael D Higgins, whose first preferences of 11,471 left him in third position. Higgins’ final vote after transfers in Cavan/Monaghan was 20,309.
The overall returns from the other constituencies collated at the national count centre in Dublin, sent Higgins soaring ahead to win the race.
EXCITEMENT WAS LOW KEY
Excitement remained at a low key at the Cavan/Monaghan count centre in Cavan after the first tally figures emerged last Friday.
Sinn Fein conducted a highly efficient tally, using a computerised system at the count, and it was conducted with the co-operation, and in conjunction with Fine Gael and Labour, both of whom had a lesser presence at the count centre.
Cavan Fine Gael deputy Joe O’Reilly and Cavan/Monaghan deputy Sean Conlan were among the early arrivals. Monaghan Fine Gael councilors present included Cllr. Hugh McElvaney, national chairman of the Local Authority Members Association.
Fine Gael representatives were clearly disappointed by the low vote secured by Gay Mitchell which totaled only 4,109 first preferences for the two counties.
Deputy Conlan insisted however that Mitchell’s vote was not a reflection on Fine Gael as, he claimed, the post of President was “not a political position”.
He said he still felt that Mr. Mitchell was the best choice of candidate and best qualified for the position despite that fact that some others obviously thought differently.
Full report in The Northern Standard