Emojis, Nilfisk hoovers and patrol vote transfers - a reflection on the Kildare local elections

With a week almost passed since the local elections, it's time to reflect on the weekend that was - June 7, 8,9... on into 12.

The domination of the two O’Dwyer ladies in the Newbridge area was phenomenal.

The Fine Gael tour de force duo hoovered up votes across the local electoral area, prompting one tally member to compare Tracey O’Dwyer’s vote securing machine to a Nilfisk!

With a jaw dropping 222 votes secured from one box alone in her native base of Brannockstown National School, there was an audible exhalation from those gathered around the tally HQ at the Curragh Racecourse last Saturday when the figure was called out. Such domination in one box is impressive.

With 90 candidates in the running for 40 Kildare County Council seats across eight electoral areas, the tally was a mammoth task.

It was a cross party affair, which was being calculated right up to 9pm. Led by Páidraig McEvoy (Ind) and election expert DJ Moore, the team fed in figures into spreadsheets while others gathered the information with clipboards in hand.

The rented van pulled up outside the Curragh base throughout the afternoon as gardai and count staff wheeled out the votes in black lidded boxes to be transferred to the count centre in Punchestown.

The vans pulled out with a garda escort in tow, on its way from racecourse to racecourse.

While the counting was underway, the horse racing theme continued as the races coincided with the count.

The Punchestown pavilion, with it’s glass walled trackside view provided the perfect spectacle of who the winners and losers were, both on and off the track.

Racehorses sped by outside, with many nervous candidates standing by inside for the final counts.

The spoiled votes provided a source of mirth with one voter plastering smiley emoji stickers all over their ballot paper.

Some voters opted to provide multiple number ones, while others decided to ‘x’ the boxes of their chosen candidates. Only ones, twos and threes and so forth are valid. Some decided to inscribe their views on those up for election, more bad than good! One person even wrote a letter.

Some even left the ballot paper blank, while others signed their name beside their top preference.

These local elections only come around every five years and many of the same faces turn up. You have the candidates, party colleagues, friends, family, the media and political anoraks.

Some come laden down with flasks of coffee and tea, sandwiches, fruit and bars of chocolate, knowing they could be in for a three day marathon count. Some even brought their own table cloths and cutlery.

When someone comes with a box of refreshments, it’s a communal affair, everyone digs in. It doesn’t matter what party or persuasion you are. Pizzas and rolls are doled out. The caffeine and sugar are a must to keep the energy levels up.

Children gathered around the centre, playing together.  Some preferred to sit quietly and read, equipped with their own deck chairs. Others reveled in the excitement and gathered in huddles beside their parents.

Some candidates came away disappointed, others elated. It can be a cruel, and joy inducing business in equal measure. With counts and recounts, it ended up being a five-day marathon.