Re-examination of ballots nearing conclusion on fourth day of Offaly count

AT the Birr Electoral Area recount in Mucklagh, nearly all of the candidates' ballot papers have been re-examined.

Returning officer Monica Cleary has announced that "most" of the candidates' votes have been examined and staff are now moving on to the ballots of John Clendennen and John Leahy.

With seven seats filled in the Tullamore Electoral Area and six in the Edenderry Electoral Area filled by Monday, the entire count looked to have concluded before midnight after the 12th count in the Birr Electoral Area six-seater.

At that point Audrey Hennessy Kennedy, Fianna Fail and Sean Maher, Sinn Fein, had come in ahead of sitting Social Democrats councillor Clare Claffey.

Peter Ormond, Fianna Fail, John Leahy, Independent, John Clendennen and Hugh Egan, both Fine Gael had already been elected.

It appeared that Hennessy Kennedy and Maher had taken the last two seats but with the gap to Maher just 27 votes, the Social Democrats called for a recount and it began at 2pm today (Tuesday).

If there is no change, the state of the parties in the whole county will be - Fianna Fail 8 (no change), Fine Gael 5 (up one), Sinn Fein 3 (up three), Independent Ireland 1 (up one), Independents 2.

Again, unless the recount changes matters the new councillors are Ollie Bryant, Tullamore, Audrey Hennessy Kennedy, Birr and Claire Murray, Edenderry (all Fianna Fail); Hugh Egan, Birr (Fine Gael); Aoife Masterson, Tullamore and Claire Murray, Sinn Fein, Edenderry (both Sinn Fein).

Sean Maher, Sinn Fein, will have regained a seat lost in 2019 and ex-councillor and Independent Fergus McDonnell, Edenderry, has regained a seat as an Independent Ireland candidate.

The sitting councillors re-elected are Peter Ormond, Frank Moran, Declan Harvey, Tony McCormack and Eddie Fitzpatrick (all Fianna Fail); Neil Feighery, John Clendennen, Liam Quinn and Noel Cribbin (all Fine Gael); John Leahy and Sean O'Brien (both Independent).

The councillors who have lost their seats are Sandy Feehan Smollen, Tullamore Area (Independent), Robert McDermott, Edenderry (Fianna Fail), Mark Hackett, Edenderry (Green Party) and unless she recovers in the recount, Clare Claffey, Birr (Social Democrats).

Three of the councillors elected five years ago have retired, Eamon Dooley, Birr and Danny Owens, Tullamore (both Fianna Fail) and John Foley (Independent, formerly Fianna Fail), Edenderry.