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Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher takes MEP seat in Ireland South

Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher has been elected as an MEP in Ireland South. He got over 130,000 vo...
Newstalk
Newstalk

20.08 29 May 2019


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Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher t...

Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher takes MEP seat in Ireland South

Newstalk
Newstalk

20.08 29 May 2019


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Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher has been elected as an MEP in Ireland South.

He got over 130,000 votes following the 17th count - becoming the second candidate to reach the quota after Fine Gael's Sean Kelly on Tuesday.

Independent Mick Wallace is expected to take the third seat.

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Fine Gael's Deirdre Clune, Sinn Féin's Liadh Ni Riada and the Green Party's Grace O'Sullivan appear to be in a battle for the remaining two seats.

Me Kelleher gave this reaction after his election.

He said: "Elated, honoured, humbled - it's democracy in action, isn't it.

"It's a wonderful feeling to be selected by your peers, by your citizens, the neighbours you know, the neighbours you don't know.

"People from across the constituency that you've never met - so it's a really humbling experience being quite truthful, and an emotional one".

Counting has concluded in the Midlands North West European constituency.

Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness was the first to be elected, topping the poll on the first count.

Independent Luke 'Ming' Flanagan was elected on Wednesday evening on 121,824 votes.

While Fine Gael's Maria Walsh and Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy were both deemed elected without reaching the quota.

Peter Casey was eliminated in the final count on 78,632 votes.

Counting in the local elections is also complete, with the last of 949 seats officially filled on Tuesday night.

Fianna Fáil will be the largest party in local government for the next five years, with 279 seats.

Fine Gael is 24 behind on 255 and Sinn Féin is the next highest, with 81 seats.

Reporting by Stephen Murphy


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Billy Kelleher Deirdre Clune Elected Grace O'Sullivan Ireland South Liadh Ni Riada MEP Mairead McGuinness Mick Wallace

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