Galway Bay fm newsroom – Galway is on track to take two of the three available seats on the NUI Seanad panel.
The 24th count is now underway – with no-one yet elected, but the polls are currently being led by Ahascragh native Ronan Mullen who’s expected to take the first seat.
The outgoing Senator has so far received 8,569 votes, which places him comfortably ahead of his nearest rival Michael McDowell at 7,808 who will take the second seat.
Former Aer Arann chairman Pádraig Ó Céidigh is locked in a tight race with his fellow Galway candidate and daughter of the president Alice Mary Higgins for the third seat.
Connemara native O’Céidigh benefited hugely from the elimination of Galway-native Enda O’ Coineen earlier this afternoon – but Ms. Higgins has seen a surge in transfers during recent counts.
Pádraig Ó Céidigh is currently on 3,961 votes, while city-native Alice Mary Higgins follows closely behind with 3,656.
Former USI President Laura Harmon has been receiving strong transfers, and if the trend continues she could well become a viable contender for the third seat alongside Mr. Ó Céidigh and Ms Higgins.
Ballygar-based GP Martin Daly was eliminated following the 22nd count – while City Councillor Pearce Flannery was eliminated on the 15th count.
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