THERE have been some
big changes in the make-up of Inishowen's local
councils following Friday's elections. Some of the
biggest surprises have come in Buncrana with
long-serving Fine Gael councillor and EuroSpar
proprietor, Paul Bradley, losing his seat. Fianna
Fáil lost one of its long-held three seats in the
seaside town. However, one of the biggest surprises
of Saturday's count was when newcomer Lee Tedstone
topped the poll for Fine Gael in his home town. The
outcome was finally declared in a packed Inishowen
Gateway Hotel shortly before 9pm on Saturday. The
result was as follows:
Cllr Lee Tedstone (Fine Gael)
Cllr Padraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Féin)
Cllr Nicholas Crossan (Independent)
Cllr Michael Grant (Independent)
Cllr Joe Doherty (Fianna Fáil)
Cllr James Gill (Fianna Fáil)
Cllr Michelle 'Wadge' Bradley (Fine Gael)
Cllr Daren Lalor (Sinn Féin)
Cllr Peter McLaughlin (Fine Gael)
Meanwhile, counting continued late last night for
the seven seats in the Inishowen electoral area of
Donegal County Council. Cllr Pádraig MacLochlainn of
Sinn Féin topped the poll and was the first to be
declared elected followed by Cllr Bernard McGuinness
of Fine Gael. However, it was evident early in the
day that there would be at least four new faces in
the new-look Inishowen electoral area committee.
There was heartbreak for Moville's Cllr Marian
McDonald who failed to hold on to her seat.
Finally, as the night
wore on, it went to the wire for Paul Canning of
Fianna Fáil and Labour's Martin Farren who were
neck-and-neck after transfers for the final seat.
Both Martin Farrren and Paul Canning were on 1440
votes after the ninth count. However, at the end,
after the twelfth count Martin Farren was successful
in taking the last seat. |
