Ryan tops the poll in Thurles

Outgoing Independent councillor in the five-seat Thurles Electoral Area Jim Ryan had a fine performance to top the poll in the Local Elections.

It was a huge change of fortune for Cllr Ryan who five years ago had to wait until the seventh and last count to get elected.

Back then he polled 1,329 first preference votes, but he went reasonably close to doubling that vote time around, securing 2,435 first preferences.

In the last election in 2019 there were 11 candidates in the field, which spread the votes widely. But with only six candidates on this occasion there were more votes to go around to contestants and it obviously favoured Jim Ryan

His impressive performance put him ahead of Lowry Team councillor Micheál Lowry who was the poll-topper in Thurles in the last local elections five years ago when he secured 1,710 first preferences. This time Cllr Lowry got 2,184, which again assured his election in the first count.

Fianna Fáil newcomer Kay Cahill Skehan, who has spent years canvassing for her brother, the local party TD Jackie Cahill, had amassed the credentials for political success.

And this she achieved on securing an impressive 1,368 first preference votes and getting elected on the second count.

Ms Cahill Skehan was put on the Fianna Fáil ticket following the retirement of her consistently successful party colleague Seamus Hanafin, who announced his retirement from politics last year before stepping down last month as a member of the outgoing council.

Fianna Fáil retained its two seats in Thurles with Ms Cahill Skehan's running mate Sean Ryan getting elected on the first count - a huge improvement on five years ago when he had to wait until the seventh and final count to get elected without reaching the quota.

Fine Gael also regained its only seat in Thurles. Peggy Ryan, who was co-opted onto the outgoing council in place of her brother Peter, was well ahead of the only other candidate Dan Harty of Sinn Féin when she was elected on the fourth and final count.

THURLES COUNT

Electorate: 16,971

Spoiled Votes: 89

Valid Poll: 9,313

Seats: 5

Quota: 1,553

Turnout: 56%

COUNT 1

Cahill Skehan Kay (FF): 1,368

Harty Dan (SF): 742

Lowry Micheál (Ind): 2,184, elected

Ryan Peggy (FG): 928

Ryan Sean (FF): 1,638, elected

Ryan Jim (Ind): , 2,435, elected

COUNT 2

Distribution of Jim Ryan’s surplus

votes

Cahill Skehan Kay: (391) 1, 777,

elected

Harty Dan: (322) 1,064

Ryan Peggy: (169) 1,097

COUNT 3

Distribution of Micheál Lowry’s

surplus

Harty Dan: (224) 1,288

Ryan Peggy: (407) 1,504

COUNT 4

Distribution of Kay Cahill Skehan’s

surplus

Harty Dan (88) 1,376

Ryan Peggy: (136) 1,640, elected