Donegal General Election 2024 update: 100% Redress' Charles ...

Seats filled: 5

2am: and that’s the end!

Charles Ward of the 100% Redress Party and Fianna Fáil Minister Charlie McConalogue have been elected in Donegal.

Charles Ward (11,714) was elected to the fourth seat while Charlie McConalogue (11,683) took the fifth seat.

Both were elected without reaching the quota of 12,771.

Outgoing TD Thomas Pringle failed to retain his seat.

Following his defeat, he said it has been a pleasure to represent the people of Donegal.

All five seats have now been filled and the election has concluded.

12.30am: Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher elected to third seat in Donegal

Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher has been elected on count 15 in Donegal.

The Fianna Fáil political veteran said his return to the Daíl is a major achievement for him and his team, ‘Team Cope’.

He was elected with 13,660 votes, after receiving 1,350 transfers from Fine Gael’s Nikki Bradley.

His surplus is now being transferred with Charlie McConalogue and Charles Ward set to be elected on the next count.

Outgoing TD Thomas Pringle is set to lose out on his seat.

Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher (FF) 13,660

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 11,019

Thomas Pringle (NP) 10,255

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 11,629

11.15pm: Thomas Pringle jumps ahead of McConalogue but lead expected to be short lived

Independent candidate Thomas Pringle has jumped ahead of Charlie McConalogue thanks to Noel Jordan’s transfers.

Outgoing TD Pringle has been behind on the race for the fifth seat until the fourteenth count when he received 2,147 transfers, leaving him 341 votes ahead of McConalogue (9,172).

However, Pringle’s lead is expected to be short lived as Fine Gael candidate Nikki Bradley’s 6,176 votes are now being distributed and will be transfer friendly to Charlie McConalogue, pushing him into the fifth seat.

Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher (12,310) and Charles Ward (10,855) are expected to be elected at the next count.

Nikki Bradley (FG) 6,176

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 12,310

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 9,127

Thomas Pringle (NP) 9,513

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 10,855

10pm: Sinn Féin’s Noel Jordan eliminated on the thirteenth count.

Sinn Féin’s third candidate Noel Jordan has been eliminated on count 13. No candidates have been elected since Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty and Padraig MacLochliann on the first and second count.

Mr Jordan’s votes will now be distributed.

Nikki Bradley (FG) 6,001

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 11,751

Noel Jordan (SF) 5,513

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 9,029

Thomas Pringle (NP) 7,366

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 9,909

8pm: Transfers from Mary T Sweeney sees Charles Ward overtake Charlie McConalogue as the battle for the fourth seat heats up.

In the twelfth seat, Charles Ward was gifted 1,318 votes, taking his vote to 9,784 and leaving him in the lead for the fourth seat in Donegal.

Fianna Fáil’s Charlie McConalogue is now behind Ward for the first time in the race with 8,771 votes.

The fifth seat is set to be a tight race between McConalogue and Independent Thomas Pringle.

Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher will take the third seat. He recently arrived in the count centre.

Fine Gael’s John McNulty was eliminated and his votes are now being distributed.

Nikki Bradley (FG) 4,280

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 11,294

Noel Jordan (SF) 5,339

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,771

John McNulty (FG) 3,434

Thomas Pringle (NP) 6,795

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 9,784

7.30pm: Mary T Sweeney has sought a recheck of Niall McConnell’s votes.

The request has been prompted by the fact that there is only three votes between Ms Sweeney and Fine Gael’s John McNulty.

Ms Sweeney was eliminated on the eleventh count and her vote is still being distributed.

She is currently speaking with Aontú colleagues about her next course of action. No official decision has been made.

6.30pm: Mary T Sweeney eliminated as 100% Redress make further gains

Count 11 in the Donegal count and still just two TDs elected.

Aontú’s Mary T Sweeney has been eliminated after receiving 3,376 votes. It was a close call as there was just three votes between Ms Sweeney and Fine Gael’s John McNulty (3,379).

Mary T’s votes are now being distributed.

Nikki Bradley (FG) 4,134

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,922

Noel Jordan (SF) 5,155

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,531

John McNulty (FG) 3,379

Thomas Pringle (NP) 6,457

Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 3,376

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 8,466

5.45pm: Gap narrowing between Charles Ward and Charlie McConalogue

Count ten sees Castlefinn man Niall McConnell eliminated. His 2,156 votes are being distributed.

With the help of the transfers, 100% Redress party candidate Charles Ward has closed the gap between himself and former Minister Charlie McConalogue to 602 votes.

Still three seats to be filled here.

Nikki Bradley (FG) 4,080

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,798

Noel Jordan (SF) 5,013

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,470

Niall McConnell (NP) 2,185

John McNulty (FG) 3,349

Thomas Pringle (NP) 6,179

Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,883

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,868

4.45pm: Two candidates eliminated

Count nine sees Naula Carr (Green Party) and Carol Gallagher (People before Profit) eliminated from the process.

Their votes are currently being distributed as the fight continues for three seats.

Ahead of the tenth count, Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher is edging closer to the quota and claiming a seat.

The fourth and fifth seat remain tight in Donegal with former Minister Charlie McConalogue, former Deputy Thomas Pringle and 100% Redress Party candidate Charles Ward all in contention.

Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,830

Nuala Carr (Green) 931

Carol Gallagher (PBP) 707

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,680

Noel Jordan (SF) 4,733

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,338

Niall McConnell (NP) 2,156

John McNulty (FG) 3,306

Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,825

Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,808

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,632

3.45pm: Kim McMenamin eliminated on eighth count

Still three seats up for grabs in Donegal as no candidate elected on the eighth count.

Kim McMenamin of the The Irish People party was eliminated and his 621 votes will now be distributed.

Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,823

Nuala Carr (Green) 930

Carol Gallagher (PBP) 699

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,675

Noel Jordan (SF) 4,709

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,315

Niall McConnell (NP) 1,910

Kim McMenamin (TIP) 621

John McNulty (FG) 3,302

Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,798

Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,685

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,522

3pm: Eamon McGee eliminated as no further candidate elected on count 7

Eamon McGee of the Irish Freedom Party has been eliminated on count seven in Donegal.

His votes will now be distributed. No candidate was elected.

Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,818

Nuala Carr (Green) 930

Carol Gallagher (PBP) 692

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,667

Noel Jordan (SF) 4,695

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,310

Niall McConnell (NP) 1,751

Eamon McGee (IFP) 422

Kim McMenamin (TIP) 554

John McNulty (FG) 3,297

Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,776

Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,637

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,469

2pm: The wait continues…

No candidate has been elected in Donegal on the sixth count, following the distribution of Frank O’Donnell’s 370 votes.

Independent candidate Gerry McKeever has been eliminated and his votes will now be distributed.

Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,782

Nuala Carr (Green) 917

Carol Gallagher (PBP) 691

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,636

Noel Jordan (SF) 4,673

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,261

Niall McConnell (NP) 1,728

Eamon McGee (IFP) 417

Gerry McKeever (NP) 378

Kim McMenamin (TIP) 550

John McNulty (FG) 3,293

Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,740

Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,589

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,378

1.30pm: The counts are coming fast in Co Donegal now, but the elections are slow.

No candidate was elected on the fifth count after Claudia Kennedy’s votes were distributed.

Independent Candidate Frank O’Donnell was eliminated. His votes will now be distributed.

Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,761

Nuala Carr (Green) 913

Carol Gallagher (PBP) 688

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,604

Noel Jordan (SF) 4,638

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,233

Niall McConnell (NP) 1,708

Eamon McGee (IFP) 409

Gerry McKeever (NP) 359

Kim McMenamin (TIP) 547

John McNulty (FG) 3,293

Frank O'Donnell (NP) 337

Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,708

Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,561

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,300

12.40pm: No candidates elected on count four in Donegal.

Fianna Fáil’s Claudia Kennedy has been eliminated.

Fourth Vote:

Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,729

Nuala Carr (Green) 905

Carol Gallagher (PBP) 684

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,528

Noel Jordan (SF) 4,623

Claudia Kennedy (FF) 292

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,149

Niall McConnell (NP) 1,705

Eamon McGee (IFP) 408

Gerry McKeever (NP) 359

Kim McMenamin (TIP) 545

John McNulty (FG) 3,283

Frank O'Donnell (NP) 336

Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,693

Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,550

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,283

Fianna Fáil’s Claudia Kennedy’s votes will now be distributed.

11.45am

No candidate was elected on the third count in Donegal.

Vincent J Bradley (NP) and Arthur Desmond McGuinness (NP) were eliminated.

Count three:

Vincent J Bradley (NP) 116

Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,722

Nuala Carr (Green) 904

Pearse Doherty (SF)*

Carol Gallagher (PBP) 674

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) 10,517

Noel Jordan (SF) 4,620

Claudia Kennedy (FF) 291

Padraig Mac Lochlainn (SF)*

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,137

Niall McConnell (NP) 1,667

Eamon McGee (IFP) 400

Arthur Desmond McGuinness (NP) 35

Gerry McKeever (NP) 355

Kim McMenamin (TIP) 544

John McNulty (FG) 3,277

Frank O'Donnell (NP) 330

Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,691

Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,534

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,268

Arthur Desmond McGuinness and Vincent Bradley’s votes will now be distributed.

11.30am: Fate of 100% Redress Party candidate Charles Ward depending on transfers

100% Redress Party candidate Charles Ward is in for a tense wait at the Aura Leisure Centre.

His fate and the fate of his new party will come down to transfers.

As things stands, Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) is now sitting with 10,504 votes, while Charlie McConalogue (FF) has 8,127 and remains in line for the fourth seat.

Charles Ward (100% Redress) has 7,236 votes and is in the running for the fifth seat but Thomas Pringle is closely behind with 5,664 votes.

Mr Ward has arrived in the count centre for day two of the count and is anxiously waiting on the results.

“It is all about transfers. We have to keep at it and hopefully the transfers will be favourable.

“This is the end stages where we try to make history and take the fight to Dublin.

“There are 10,000 families affected – it is an humanitarian crisis and we had no choice but to run.

“Our voice is not getting heard in Dublin,” said Mr Ward.

Sunday, 10.30am: Counting underway in day two of the count

Counting is underway at the Donegal Count Centre with three seats still to be filled.

Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher is expected to be elected to the third seat, while it is all to play for with former Fianna Fáil Minister Charlie McConalogue, outgoing TD Thomas Pringle and 100% Redress Party’s Charles Ward vying for the final two seats.

2am: Double celebrations for Sinn Fein in Donegal as Padraig MacLochlainn elected on count two

Padraig MacLochlainn has been elected on the second count in Donegal.

The Sinn Fein TD received 9,799 first preference votes before Pearse Doherty’s surplus votes were distributed.

He received 3,296 of Doherty’s surplus votes and he was pushed over the line to retain his seat.

Doherty topped the poll in the county with 18,898 first preferences, greatly exceeding the quota of 12,771 by more than 6,000 votes.

Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) is now sitting with 10,504 votes, while Charlie McConalogue (FF) has 8,127 and remains in line for the fourth seat.

Charles Ward (100% Redress) has 7,236 votes and is in the running for the fifth seat but Thomas Pringle is closely behind with 5,664 votes.

The count has now been adjourned to the morning and will resume at 10am with the distribution of MacLochlainn’s surplus.

Count 2:

Vincent J Bradley (NP) 116

Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,719

Nuala Carr (Green) 903

Pearse Doherty (SF)

Carol Gallagher (PBP) 669

Pat 'the Cope'Gallagher (FF) 10,504

Noel Jordan (SF) 4,405

Claudia Kennedy (FF) 290

Padraig Mac Lochlainn (SF) 13,095

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,127

Niall McConnell (NP) 1,661

Eamon McGee (IFP) 399

Arthur Desmond McGuinness (NP) 35

Gerry McKeever (NP) 354

Kim McMenamin (TIP) 542

John McNulty (FG) 3,276

Frank O'Donnell (NP) 328

Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,664

Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,530

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 7,236

11.30pm: Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty elected on first count.

After a long evening, celebrations are underway in Letterkenny as Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty has been elected on the first count.

Pearse Doherty topped the poll in the county with 18,898 first preferences, greatly exceeding the quota of 12,771 by more than 6,000 votes.

Doherty is followed by Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher (FF) with 10,024 votes and Padraig MacLochlainn is in the running for a second Sinn Fein seat with 9,799 votes.

Former Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue is in fourth position with 8,019 votes while the fifth seat will be hotly contested by Charles Ward of 100% Redress (6,862) and outgoing Independent TD Thomas Pringle (5,289).

Doherty’s surplus votes are now being distributed.

Costituency: Donegal Count: 1

Electorate: 131,306 Total Poll: 77,321 Spoiled: 697 Valid Poll: 76,624 Quota: 12,771

Vincent J Bradley (NP) 111

Nikki Bradley (FG) 3,658

Nuala Carr (Green) 880

Pearse Doherty (SF) 18,898

Carol Gallagher (PBP) 606

Pat 'the Cope'Gallagher (FF) 10,024

Noel Jordan (SF) 3,321

Claudia Kennedy (FF) 273

Padraig Mac Lochlainn (SF) 9,799

Charlie McConalogue (FF) 8,019

Niall McConnell (NP) 1,565

Eamon McGee (IFP) 383

Arthur Desmond McGuinness (NP) 34

Gerry McKeever (NP) 342

Kim McMenamin (TIP) 531

John McNulty (FG) 3,247

Frank O'Donnell (NP) 313

Thomas Pringle (NP) 5,289

Mary T. Sweeney (Aontu) 2,469

Charles Ward (100% Redress) 6,862

10.10pm: First count results expected around 10.30pm.

After a long lull and very little movement, the results of the first count in Co Donegal are expected to be announced shortly. Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty is expected to claim the first seat in the county.

The count is then expected to be adjourned for the night. It will resume at 9am tomorrow morning, Sunday.

7.40pm: ‘I thought I got the P60, but it was only the P45’ – Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher delights at likely election

Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher could not keep the smile off his face this evening as he walked around the Aura Leisure Centre.

The Burtonport man has polled well and is set to be elected as a TD once again.

Mr Gallagher served as a Donegal County Councillor from 1979 and was first elected as a TD in 1981.

He boasts a long standing political career having served as a TD from 1981 to 1997, 2002 to 2009 and 2016 to 2020, Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2016 to 2020 and as a Minister of State from 1987 to 1994 and from 2002 to 2008.

He also served as an MEP from 1994 to 2002 and from 2009 to 2014.

He lost his seat in 2020 but he announced his intention to run again for Fianna Fáil earlier this year. He said he is delighted with the outcome of yesterday’s vote.

“I am very happy that I am going to be declared elected.

“To me, it is a major achievement.

“Not just for me but for the organisation around me, Team Cope,” said Mr Gallagher.

The shock is the Sinn Fein vote

6.30pm

Thomas Pringle and Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher have arrived in the count centre in Letterkenny.

Pringle said he is confident he will pick up enough transfers from candidates from the south of the county who are due to be eliminated to pass out 100pc Redress candidate Charles Ward and retain his seat.

Tallies show Ward in fifth place in five-seater Donegal with Pringle in sixth place, some 1,500 votes behind.

The first count is still ongoing and the spoiled votes are currently being scrutinised.

5.45pm: Fine Gael’s Nikki Bradley disappointed in party’s election performance

Letterkenny Fine Gael candidate Nikki Bradley who was appointed as a Senator earlier this year, admitted it is a ‘real shame’ that the county could lose its Fine Gael TD.

She believes there is room for change within certain parts of the party.

“I have visited some of the branches and I have listened to them. Some of them feel they have not been listened too.

“In certain parts, we do need to start again.

“We certainly need to have people coming up from Dublin sitting down and having those very open conservations and as a Senator, I will be as involved in that as I can.

“I really want Fine Gael to still exist in this county. We have so much going for us and so much work to do,” said Senator Bradley.

4.10pm: First count is underway

After a long and interesting morning, the first count is now underway in Donegal, starting with Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty.

3.20pm: Final tallies are in!

The final tallies are in for Donegal and there is a strong indication that Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil will claim two seats each.

According to the tallies, Sinn Féin are set to top the poll with Pearse Doherty, closely followed by Padraig MacLochlainn, while Fianna Fáil are breathing a sigh of relief as Charlie McConalogue and Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher look set to claim two seats following a morning of uncertainty.

Independent TD Thomas Pringle and 100% Redress Party Candidate Charles Ward look set to battle it out for the fifth seat.

Padraig MacLochlainn SF – 9,879 (12.7%)

Pearse Doherty SF- 19,213 (24.7%)

Charlie McConalogue FF – 8,100 (10.4%)

Pat the Cope Gallagher FF – 10,262 (13.2%)

Charles Ward 100% Redress – 6,857 (8.8%)

Thomas Pringle Ind – 5,344 (6.9%)

Noel Jordan SF – 3,382 (4.4%)

Nikki Bradley FG – 3,680 (4.7%)

John Mc Nulty FG – 3,365 (4.3%)

Mary T Sweeney Aontu – 2,481 (3.2%)

Niall McConnell Ind- 1,572 (2%)

Nuala Carr GP - 895 (1.2%)

Carol Gallagher PBPS- 602 (0.8%)

Kim McMenamin IP – 540 (0.7%)

Eamon McGee IFP – 384 (0.5%)

Claudia Kennedy FF- 297 (0.4%)

Arthur McGuinness - Ind – 61(0.1%)

Frank O'donnell IND – 328 (0.4%)

Vincent Bradley Ind - 141 (0.2%)

Gerry McKeever IND – 364 (0.5%)

2.10pm: Fine Gael look set to be without a seat in Donegal

According to the latest tallies, Senator Nikki Bradley currently has a 5% share of the vote. In her local area of Milford, Senator Bradley recorded 781 votes and 10.2% of the tally.

Meanwhile, newcomer John McNulty has recorded 2,679 votes overall, 4.3% of the tally.

TD Joe McHugh has been a Fine Gael TD for Donegal since 2016, having been a TD in the Donegal North-East constituency between 2007 and 2016.

In July 2022, Deputy McHugh resigned the party whip after voting against the Government's defective blocks Bill.

He carried out the remaining government term as an Independent TD and he announced his decision not to contest the upcoming general election.

One source close to Fine Gael said ‘things have not gone well for the party.’

1.20pm: Doherty believes Sinn Fein has a mandate to try and form a government

Sinn Fein deputy leader Pearse Doherty said Sinn Fein “absolutely” has a mandate to try and form a government.

Doherty looks set to top the poll in Donegal, according to tallies.

“I've been in this count centre and these count centres for 22 years now, contesting elections, and I never thought I would be standing in a count centre and saying, potentially for the second time in a general election, according to the exit poll, that Sinn Fein is the most popular party and the party that most people support in the state.

"That would have been unheard of 20 years ago, indeed 10 years ago. So that gives you a mandate for government.

"It will be interesting now to see how things play out over the next couple of days, but our job is to do what we set out to do in this election, which is to see if we can have a government without Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

"And therefore, if there is an option to deliver a government of change after the all the seats are filled, that's exactly what Sinn Fein will be trying to do.”

1pm: Niall Blaney says Sinn Fein’s vote is the real shock

Senator Niall Blaney, who is Charlie McConalogue and Pat the Cope Gallagher’s Director of Elections said the tallies revealed that Charlie McConalogue’s vote in Inishowen was down but his vote has increased in other areas such as Letterkenny.

Admitting Sinn Fein has had a good outing in the county, Senator Blaney said it is still all to play for but the party hopes to gain a seat in the county.

"For Charlie, Inishowen was down a bit and we were expecting that anyway, but as Milford and Letterkenny come through, Charlie is increasing his vote there.

"That is bringing him back closer to his vote in 2020 so we are still in there with a good fight.

"Sinn Féin have had a good outing but it is early days to decide where seats are going to fall,” said Senator Blaney.

He added Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher seems to have polled well and is expected to take a seat.

He said Sinn Féin’s performance in Donegal has been the shock of the election.

"A lot of people felt that the Mica candidate would be the shock of the election, but that is not fully transpiring yet.

"The shock is the Sinn Féin vote. They have taken a very strong vote and they are taking first and second seat and they could be in the running for a third and that is the shock of the day,” said Senator Blaney.

12pm: Wedding ring found in ballot box

A voter is casting a sigh of relief today after a wedding ring was found in a ballot box in Co Donegal.

A note taped to the top of the ballot box from Scoil Eoghain in Moville from the presiding officer alerted counting staff in Letterkenny this morning to the missing treasure among the cast ballots.

Count staff say they quickly found the ring this morning and contacted local 100pc Redress Councillor Ali Farren as per the note’s instruction.

Ali Farren, a 100pc Redress councillor in Donegal, said he was alerted to a man who lost his wedding ring in a ballot box in Donegal yesterday as he visited voting locations in the Inishowen area.

Farren was given the ring this morning by count staff in Letterkenny. As Farren is busying tallying votes for 100pc Redress candidate Charles Ward he has not had a chance to return the ring to its owner yet.

11am: Sinn Fein polling well, early tallies suggest

There are now over 40 boxes open in Co Donegal and early indications are suggesting that Sinn Fein is polling well.

The boxes from the Inishowen area indicating that Sinn Féin are on course to secure two seats in sitting TDs with Padraig MacLochlainn and Pearse Doherty leading the way.

Donegal Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue (FF), who is a native of Inishowen, and 100% Redress Party’s Charles Ward are following behind, while Fine Gael’s Nikki Bradley seems to have picked up the Party’s vote in Inishowen.

However, it is still all to play for in Donegal with over 200 boxes still to be opened.

10.15am: McConalogue and MacLochlainn neck in neck in Inishowen

There is concern among Fianna Fail activists about the seat of Minister of Agriculture to keep his seat in Donegal.

Fianna Fail operatives in the count centre in Letterkenny say they are confident that Pat “The Cope” Gallagher, the 76-year old former junior minister, will comfortably be elected on his return to front-line politics. However, Fianna Fail operatives say McConalogue “could be in trouble”.

Donegal is a five-seat constituency and Sinn Fein are expected to take two seats through Pearse Doherty and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn. The final two seats are expected to be a battle between independent Thomas Pringle, 100pc Redress Party candidate Charles Ward, one of the two Fine Gael candidates and McConalogue.

In Culdaff, which is close to McConalogue’s hometown of Gleneely, Sinn Feín’s Padraig MacLochlainn and McConalague are neck in neck, according to the tallies.

The first official tallies are expected soon.

9.15pm: Sorting gets underway

Sorting is underway in the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny as the first boxes from across Co Donegal have been opened.