Hugh Egan wins Fine Gael's fifth seat on Offaly County Council
Doon farmer exceeds quota on 11th count
HUGH Egan has won Fine Gael's second seat in the Birr Electoral Area and fifth on Offaly County Council.
The Doon-based farmer was elected on the 11th count after exceeding the quota with a massive transfer of 419 votes from the eliminated Barbara Daly of Fianna Fail.
That saw Egan amass 1,877, surpassing the quota of 1,712 by 165 votes.
He now joins Kinnitty publican John Clendennen on the County Council, along with Neil Feighery in the Tullamore Electoral Area and Liam Quinn and Noel Cribbin in Edenderry.
Egan ran in 2019 and was not successful but by securing a seat on this occasion he has reclaimed the ground formerly held by a Fine Gael standard bearer in west Offaly, Connie Hanniffy from Ballinahown.
Meanwhile, Audrey Hennessy Kennedy is within touching distance of winning a seat for Fianna Fail while Sean Maher, who is not as far ahead of Clare Claffey as he was, is still favoured to take the last seat for Sinn Fein.
The Social Democrats councillor has a 90-vote gap to bridge to be in with any chance of retaining her seat.
Hugh Egan's surplus of 165 votes is now being distributed.