BREAKING: Veteran Limerick councillor returned for a seventh straight occasion
Councillor remembers friends who have passed as he marks election
VETERAN Fianna Fail councillor Kieran O'Hanlon took time out to remember two of his canvassers as he celebrated a seventh straight election to Limerick Council.
The Garryowen councillor was returned in City North, securing 1,626 votes.
He passed the quota on the 12th count, thanks to a transfer from eliminated Fine Gael candidate Richard Delaney.
After being hoisted shoulder high by his supporters, Cllr O'Hanlon admitted the occasion was slightly bittersweet.
This is in light of the passing of his campaign manager, the former Mayor of Limerick Paddy Madden and John Lyne from Ballysimon, who tragically lost his life in an accident in Canada earlier this year.
Looking ahead, he said: "Here we go. I'm preparing for the next five years, and the next election too!"
Cllr O'Hanlon, a full-time public representative, was first elected to the old Limerick Corporation back in 1991.
He was returned at counts in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019.
Following the 12th count in Limerick City North, the surplus votes of Cllr O'Sullivan and Cllr O'Hanlon - 186 and 32 respectively - are now being checked for impact before any further elimination takes place.