Peter Ormond leaps into first place after opening of Shinrone boxes in Birr LEA

Mid-afternoon in the Count Centre in Birr and Fianna Fail's Peter Ormond has jumped into first place in the Birr LEA tallies after the opening of the Shinrone boxes.

He now moves ahead of John Clendennen for the first time in the day's tallies. Peter experienced a stunning surge of support in the figures as the boxes from his home area were opened.

Early this morning The Midland Tribune was chatting to a seasoned local election campaigner who predicted that Ormond would top the poll. As it stands now it looks likely that his prediction will come true.

77.5% of the Birr LEA boxes have been opened and tallied in the Birr Count Centre and Ormond stands at 1,514 votes. Clendennen is on 1,331 votes while John Leahy is doing very well with 1,290 votes. Ormond, Clendennen and Leahy now seem certain to regain their Council seats. The big question is who will win the remaining three seats in this big Local Electoral Area where 15 candidates are in the running?

Talking to the Sinn Fein tally people on the floor of the Count Centre they feel Sean Maher stands a very good chance of winning a seat after the transfers happen. Maher is currently tallied at 752 votes. According to the Fianna Fail camp they believe Audrey Hennessy-Kennedy and Barbara Daly both stand a good chance of winning through. They are on 701 and 602 respectively. In Fine Gael they are pointing to Hugh Egan's good showing, who is now on 717, but there's a worry that he mightn't get enough transfers.

Clare Claffey from Banagher looks to be in trouble. She's now on 328.

The other tallies are: Mike Boylan (Independent) 204, Martin Buckley (Independent) 289, Aubrey Claffey (Aontu) 100, Michael Deegan (Independent) 286, Gareth Kelly (Independent) 49, Ekaterina Koneva (Green Party) 69, Jonathan O'Meara (Independent) 326.