General Election: McConnell eliminated - with huge increase in votes from 2020

Niall McConnell’s bid for a seat at the Dáil ended at the 10th count in the Donegal constituency.

McConnell, non-party, ended up with a total of 2,185, of which 1,565 were first preferences, which is a significant jump from the 2020 general election when he ended up with 580 votes.

Ten counts in and Donegal’s only elected representatives are Sinn Féin duo Pearse Doherty and Padraig MacLochlainn, who both made it over the line last night.

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Behind them, three seats remain, with seven candidates now remaining. At the minute, Pat the Cope Gallagher is leading the way towards that third seat. The experienced Fianna Fáil runner is looking to reclaim the seat he lost in 2020 and has made his way on 10,798.

There’s three into two then, with the transfers of Noel Jordan and John McNulty in particular, as well as Nikki Bradley and Mary T Sweeney, looking like they will be the making and breaking of Charlie McConalogue, Charles Ward and Thomas Pringle.

McConalogue, of Fianna Fáil, is now on 8,470 with the 100% Redress Party’s Ward on 7,868 and Pringle, Independent, sits on 6,179. With the quota at 12,771, McConnell’s 2,185 will be distributed in the 11th count.

The Castlefin native holds traditional values, standing by the mantra, “Ireland is full”, with his main policies including, cherishing Irish culture, traditions, faith, and language, standing up for farmers, supporting Irish families, creating good quality and highly paid employment, housing "our" people, cherishing elders, kickstart Donegal's tourism potential, address the North West's healthcare crisis, and, levelling up infrastructure and public transport.