LIVE: Election 2024 in Cork — Micheál Martin set to top South ...

4.20pm: From a record-vote in the local elections last summer to a TD this weekend — it's been a remarkable six months for Seamus McGrath, writes Eoin English. 

The Carrigaline-based Fianna Fáil county councillor got the highest first-preference vote of any candidate in the June local elections. But tallies predict he will be elected a TD for Cork South Central this weekend, at his first attempt.

Mr McGrath said he was very pleased when final tallies showed he had secured the second highest first preference vote in the five-seat constituency, behind his party leader and Tánaiste Micheál Martin.

A brother of Michael, the former finance minister and incoming European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law, he was selected in October in a bid to retain the seat held by Michael.

While there is still a long way to go in the count, Seamus said he is satisfied that he will win a seat. 

“It was a difficult campaign in a tough constituency with 22 candidates,” he said. “But I am very pleased to come in with what appears to be the second highest preference vote in the constituency. That is very satisfying on a personal level.

Brothers Seamus and Michael McGrath. Picture: Larry Cummins

“I had a fantastic vote in the local elections and that was very humbling for me as a candidate, but I always made the point during this campaign that that vote wasn’t transferable. I know it was being said that I was safe, that I was going to fly it. But that’s never the case in a general election, especially when you have 22 candidates.”

4.15pm: Over in Cork South West, the final tally has Independent Ireland's Michael Collins on 23.5%, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns on 20%, Fianna Fail's Christopher O'Sullivan on 19.2%, Fine Gael's Noel O'Donovan on 13.1%, his party colleague Tim Lombard on 9.8%, and Independent candidate Alan Coleman on 5.1% All other candidates in the constituency are below the 2% mark.

3.55pm: The country is still waiting for the first counts to come in. While we've been waiting, political editor Elaine Loughlin joined Mick Clifford on The Mick Clifford Podcast to look at the key takeaways from the first few hours of the election. 

Listen to the podcast in full here.

3pm: Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is set to top the poll in Cork South Central and be elected on the first count, according to final tallies. 

With all 153 boxes tallied in the five-seat constituency, Mr Martin holds just over 23% of first preference votes, while his party colleague Seamus McGrath is on 12.5%, putting Fianna Fáil on track to retain two seats.

Sinn Féin’s Donnchadha Ó Laoghaire is also expected to hold his seat, polling just over 11%.

Counting at the counting of the ballots for general election 2024 at Nemo Rangers, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Fine Gael faces an internal battle for the seat vacated by Simon Coveney, with Senator Jerry Buttimer and councillor Shane O’Callaghan separated by less than 1%, making transfers crucial.

Social Democrats councillor Padraig Rice has performed strongly with nearly 9%, positioning him as a contender for the fifth seat. 

He faces competition from Independent Mick Finn (just under 6%) and Labour’s Laura Harmon (just under 5%), with transfers likely to determine the outcome.

2.45pm: Three candidates are tied on 12% of the vote in Cork East, according to the final tally.

First-time candidate Mark Stanton (FG), son of outgoing TD David Stanton, looks set to secure one of the first seats. Fianna Fáil’s James O’Connor and Sinn Féin’s Pat Buckley, who topped the poll last time, are also on 12%.

Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre O’Brien and Fine Gael’s Noel McCarthy follow on 11%, while Social Democrats’ Liam Quaide and independent William O’Leary are close behind on 10%, keeping them in the race depending on transfers. Independent Mary Linehan Foley is on 8%.

Party vote shares show FF and FG tied at 23%, with independents on 27%, Sinn Féin at 13%, the Social Democrats on 10%, and the Greens at 3%.

This four-seat constituency has seen two incumbents step down, opening the door for new faces.

Count staff member Cian O'Connor wearing a T-Shirt with the mesaage 'Maybe I like the Misery' at the counting of the ballots for general election 2024 at Nemo Rangers, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

2.30pm: Turnout figures for Cork’s three county constituencies have been confirmed: Cork South West at 63.5%, Cork North West at 64%, and Cork East at 57%.

2pm: With the tallies completed in Cork North Central three outgoing TDs are set to be returned to the Dáil while Mick Barry is in a fight for his political future as Independent Ireland councillor Ken O'Flynn has stormed his way to become a frontrunner.

Fianna Fáil's Pádraig O'Sullivan topped the poll and along with Sinn Féin's Thomas Gould and Fine Gael's Colm Burke as all will comfortably hold their seats.

The big surprise here is Independent Ireland and Cork city councillor Ken O'Flynn claiming 5,558 first preference votes. Mr O'Flynn is coming off the back of a hugely successful local election earlier this year.

There are three main contenders for the fifth and final seat but of these, Solidarity People Before Profit TD Mick Barry is trailing.

North central candidate Cllr Tony Fitzgerald on the tally count at the counting of the ballots for general election 2024 at Nemo Rangers, Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Tony Fitzgerald, former lord mayor and Fianna Fáil councillor, has come out of the first count with 7% while Mr Barry is neck-and-neck with Labour's Eoghan Kenny.

Mr Fitzgerald will be expected to receive a boost with transfers coming from running mate Mr O'Sullivan.

The first count may be done but this constituency remains too close to call.

1pm: The tally is complete in the three-seat Cork South West constituency, with Independent Michael Collins set to top the poll at 23.5%. Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has polled strongly at 20%, while Fianna Fáil’s Christopher O’Sullivan holds third place with 19.2%.

Fine Gael’s Noel O’Donovan is at 13.1%, ahead of party colleague Tim Lombard on 9.8%. Independent Alan Coleman is the only other candidate to exceed 5%, finishing at 5.1%.

Meanwhile, the tally is also complete in the three-seat Cork North West constituency, with Fianna Fáil’s Aindrias Moynihan narrowly leading on 18.85%, followed by party colleague Michael Moynihan at 17.67%.

Fine Gael’s John Paul O’Shea is in third with 17.56%, closely trailed by running mate Michael Creed on 16.9%. Sinn Féin’s Nicole Ryan has made a strong showing at 12.79%, notable in a constituency the party did not contest in 2020.

12.30pm: In Cork South West, with 66% of boxes tallied, all three incumbents look set to retain their seats.

Independent Michael Collins leads with 25%, followed by Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns on 20.1%.

Fianna Fáil’s Christopher O’Sullivan is polling at 19.2%. Fine Gael’s Noel O’Donovan (12.9%) and Tim Lombard (9%) collectively hold 22%, potentially influencing transfers in later rounds.

In Cork East, where two incumbents are not contesting, 29% of boxes are tallied. Fianna Fáil’s Deirdre O’Brien leads with 14.7%, followed by independent Mary Linehan Foley (11.6%), Sinn Féin’s Pat Buckley (11.4%), and Fine Gael’s Noel McCarthy (10.8%). 

Fianna Fáil’s James O’Connor is close behind on 10.4%, with Fine Gael’s Mark Stanton (9.1%) and Social Democrats’ Liam Quaide (9%) also in the mix.

In Cork North West, with 74% of boxes counted, Fianna Fáil’s Aindrias Moynihan leads on 21.3%, followed by Fine Gael’s Michael Creed (18.7%) and John Paul O’Shea (17%).

However, Fianna Fáil TD Michael Moynihan’s seat is at risk, polling at 13.75%.

11.50pm: The count in Cork North Central is speeding along now as we near lunchtime with over 60% of boxes tallied.

It is of little surprise that incumbents Pádraig O'Sullivan (FF), Thomas Gould (SF) and Colm Burke (FG) are all set to retain their seats.

Interestingly, Independent Ireland and Cork city councillor Ken O'Flynn is polling very well currently in fourth place. He looks increasingly likely to secure a seat after performing very well in the local elections earlier this year.

Solidarity People Before Profit TD Mick Barry looks like he may be in danger of losing his seat.

He is currently fighting it out for the fifth and final seat with former lord mayor Tony Fitzgerald of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's Garret Kelleher.

11.30pm: Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin looks set to retain his seat in Cork South Central with one of his running mates, county councillor Seamus McGrath, also poised to win a seat in the five-seater, very early tallies suggest.

With about a third of the constituency’s 153 boxes tallied by 11.30am, Mr Martin has 24% of the first preference vote, with Mr McGrath on just over 16%.

But most of the boxes tallied are from their political heartlands.

Their running mate, Bishopstown-based Margaret Kenneally, is on less than 1% but most of the boxes from her side of the constituency have yet to be tallied.

Counting the Cork North-West votes at the Mallow Count Centre in the GAA Complex, Mallow, Co Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

Outgoing Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O Laoighaire also looks set to retain his seat with 1,285 of the first preference votes, with his running mate, Michelle Cowhey Sahid on just under 5%.

Social Democrats city councillor Padraig Rice, on 8%, and Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer, on 7%, are also performing well at this very early stage.

Fine Gael Cllr Shane O’Callaghan, his running mate, Una McCarthy, Labour Cllr Laura Harmon, Independent Mick Finn, Green Party candidate, Monica Oikeh, are also in the mix.

11.25am: Counting is now well underway in Mallow GAA ground where votes from the three Cork county constituencies are being counted.

Fianna Fáil TD Aindrias Moynihan said that initial tallies show “a lot of uncertainty” regarding the retention of his seat.

“It’s all up in the air. It’s really scary at this stage, just watching those boxes being opened," he said.

"I've seen a few snapshots and it's really tight at this stage."

“Everything” for him is riding on winning a seat, he said.

The three constituencies being counted in Mallow are the four seat constituency of Cork East and the three seat constituencies of Cork North West and Cork South West.

“It’s really scary at this stage, just watching the boxes being opened,” Cork North West Fianna Fáil TD Aindrias Moynihan on the tally at Mallow GAA #GE24 ⁦@irishexaminer⁩ pic.twitter.com/CjMI8k3Di3

— Liz Dunphy (@LizDunphy1) November 30, 2024

11am: With 50 of 160 boxes tallied in Cork North Central, Independent Ken O’Flynn, son of former Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn, is gaining ground and looks well-positioned for a seat.

No Ballincollig boxes have been opened yet, which explains why Sinn Féin's Joe Lynch and Garret Kelleher from Fine Gael are still trailing.

Independents are starting to push head in Cork North Central winning 19% of the vote coming in ahead of Sinn Féin while Fianna Fáil retains the top spot.

Fine Gael are starting to fall behind currently 10% behind leaders Fianna Fáil with 12.8%.

As of 11am, there are 31% of boxes tallied.

10.50am: With 38% of boxes opened in Cork South West, early tallies show Independent Michael Collins leading with 25%. Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns is at 20.2%, closely followed by Fianna Fáil’s Christopher O’Sullivan on 19.2%. 

Fine Gael’s Noel O’Donovan stands at 13.9%, ahead of party colleague Tim Lombard on 8.2%.

Holly Cairns doing well from early tallies as the ballot papers from the Temperance Hall, Kinsale are counted at the Mallow Count Centre in the GAA Complex, Mallow, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

10.45am: Early tallies from Cork South Central, with 20% of boxes open, show Micheál Martin and Seamus McGrath (FF) performing well, alongside Sinn Féin’s Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

The surprise so far is the Social Democrats' Padraig Rice, who is in contention for a seat.

In Fine Gael’s internal contest, Senator Jerry Buttimer is edging ahead of Shane O’Callaghan and Una McCarthy.

It’s still early days, with 80% of boxes yet to be counted.

10.30am: In Cork North Central, 12.5% of boxes have been opened at 10am and early indicators show Fianna Fáil winning the largest share of the vote followed closely by Sinn Féin and then Fine Gael.

Independents are doing well taking just under 15% combined of the first preference votes so far while the Green Party and Aontú are bringing up the rear.

Unsurprisingly, the four incumbents are topping the polls with 20 boxes tallied.

Sinn Féin's Thomas Gould is currently leading the pack at 13% while there is little separating Fine Gael's Colm Burke, Fianna Fáil's Pádraig O'Sullivan and Solidarity People Before Profit TD Mick Barry.

Ireland First candidate Derek Blighe who ran an unsuccessful campaign in the local elections earlier this year is sitting at the middle of the table with 3.5% of the vote.

Opening of the ballot boxes and the start of the count for general election ballots at Nemo Rangers on Saturday morning. Picture: Larry Cummins

The four independent candidates occupy the bottom of the board, all with under 1%.

There is a long way still to go until we have our first count as the staff have another 120 boxes to go.

10.20am: The early tally from Cork North Central comes with a big health warning, as the constituency covers a mix of areas. 

It now includes Ballincollig, Ireland's Tidiest Town, and Mallow in North Cork.

Local candidates like Fine Gael's Garret Kelleher and Sinn Féin's Joe Lynch  from Ballincollig, and Labour's Eoghan Kenny from Mallow, aren’t showing up yet because the tallies are from the Cork North East Ward, which includes areas like Mayfield and Montenotte.

10am: The incoming EU commissioner for democracy, justice and the rule of law says Ireland has enough checks and balances to deal with the Limerick ballot paper controversy.

It emerged last night that the names of candidates on the ballot paper in Limerick City were not listed in alphabetical order, casting doubt on the validity of the election process there.

Michael McGrath, former finance minister and Fianna Fáil TD, said he hadn’t come across such a situation before.

“I was very surprised at the reports,” he said.

“I think it is a matter now for the returning officer to complete the work at the count centre there and then of course the candidates have certain rights as well.” 

He was speaking at the Nemo Rangers Count Centre in Cork this morning, where he is watching early tallies for his brother, county councillor Seamus, who is a Fianna Fáil candidate in Cork South Central.

“We have the Electoral Commission who will be overseeing the electoral processes.

“We do have appropriate checks and balances in our system and we will allow those to do their work over the days ahead.

“It’s not for any individual to jump in and call for this, that or the other.

“We have the institutional arrangements in place with independent oversight and let’s allow that now to take its course.”

9.50am: Early tallies from Cork South Central suggest strong performances for Fianna Fáil’s Seamus McGrath and Fine Gael’s Una McCarthy in the Cork Harbour area, their home turf. 

Micheál Martin is also polling well locally, but the surprise so far is Padraig Rice of the Social Democrats, based in Ballyphehane, who is picking up a notable share of votes in the Harbour region.

9am: The counting of votes in Cork South Central has begun in the Nemo Rangers Sports Complex in Cork city.

Votes in the first of the constituency's 153 boxes are being sorted and tallied, with initial tally results expected around 11am.

A total of 22 candidates are running for election in the keenly contested constituency, which has increased from a four-seater to five seats.

Tanaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh Ó Laoighaoire are the only two outgoing TDs seeking re-election following the resignation of Fine Gael’s Simon Coveney and the nomination of FF’s Michael McGrath as an EU Commissioner.

Counting began at 9am and could last days so join us in Cork from the moment the ballot boxes are open until the very last candidate is elected.

Don’t miss live updates, results and analysis as the results in Cork come in.