The Dingle News Archive 2007-2009. For live news updates & events on Ireland's Dingle Peninsula visit www.DingleNews.com or follow us on Twitter @dinglenews
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Sean Kelly (FG) and Alan Kelly (Lab) take remaining Ireland South seats
Labour Senator Alan Kelly (pictured left) held off a late challenge from sitting Independent MEP, Kathy Sinnott to take the final seat in the Ireland South constituency on the eighth and final count. Mr Kelly from North Tipperay had looked to be set for a close contest for the last seat with Tralee's Toireasa Ferris of Sinn Fein who outpolled him on the first count by 12.98 per cent to 12.88 per cent remaining in contention right to the seventh count when she was dramatically overtaken by Ms Sinnott. This came following the distribution of Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly’s (pictured right) surplus of over 10,000 votes courtesy of running mate Colm Burke’s elimination. But although Ms Sinnott overtook Ms Ferris, she remained some 8,753 behind Alan Kelly and in the end it proved too big a gap to close. Alan Kelly received a total of 21,676 transfers from Ms Ferris to reach a final tally of 105,597 while Ms Sinnott received some 19,966 transfers from Ms Ferris to reach a final figure of 95,134, leaving Mr Kelly to take the final seat on the eighth count without reaching the quota. Former GAA President, Kerryman Sean Kelly of Fine Gael polled an impressive 92,579 or 18.58 per cent on the first count and was duly elected on the sixth count when he benefitted from a massive transfer of 36,318 from party colleague and sitting MEP, Colm Burke to carry him over the quota of 124,532. Afterwards, Sean Kelly said that he was both “humbled and delighted” by his success as he was shouldered high by supporters. Alan Kelly and Sean Kelly now join sitting MEP Brian Crowley (FF) as the three Ireland South MEPs.
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