2014 Kerry County Council election

2014 Kerry County Council election
← 2009 23 May 2014 2019 →
All 33 seats to Kerry County Council
17 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Sinn Féin
Seats won 9 9 5
Seat change Increase 2 Decrease 1 Increase 3
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party Labour SKIA Independent
Seats won 2 1 7
Seat change Decrease 2 Steady Increase 4
Map showing the area of Kerry County Council
Council control after election

Fianna Fáil
Fine Gael

An election to all 33 seats on Kerry County Council took place on 23 May 2014 as part of the 2014 Irish local elections, an increase from 27 seats at the 2009 election. County Kerry was divided into four local electoral areas (LEAs) to elect councillors for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV). In addition, the town councils of Killarney, Listowel and Tralee were abolished.

Fianna Fáil emerged as the largest party on the council after the elections gaining 2 additional seats, 1 in Listowel and 1 in the Killarney LEA. The party ended up with 9 seats, the same numbers as Fine Gael, who lost 1 seat overall, and who were also slightly behind Fianna Fáil in terms of first preference votes. Sinn Féin had an excellent election, winning 5 seats overall and 4 in North Kerry where had they run a third candidate in Tralee they would have won a third seat. Labour had a very bad election losing half of their seats and both councillors returned were elected for the Tralee LEA. Michael Gleeson of SKIA retained his seat as did both the Healy-Rae's and Independents returned 7 councillors overall, 8 including SKIA.[1] The Listowel results were subject to a full recount in 2016.[2]

Results by party

Party Seats ± 1st pref FPv% ±%
Fianna Fáil 9 Increase 2 15,526 22.25 Decrease 4.68
Fine Gael 9 Decrease 1 15,207 21.79 Decrease 5.58
Sinn Féin 5 Increase 3 9,899 14.19 Increase 3.78
Labour 2 Decrease 2 4,597 6.59 Decrease 8.39
SKIA 1 Steady 2,039 3.07 Decrease 0.23
People Before Profit 0 Steady 390 0.56 New
Independent 7 Increase 4 22,009 31.54 Increase 15.67
Total 33 Increase 6 69,817 100.00

Results by local electoral area

^ *: Outgoing councillor.

Kerry South and West

Kerry South and West: 9 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Independent Johnny Healy-Rae[*] 16.8% 3,495                  
Independent Michael Cahill[*]††† 11.1% 2,306                  
Fianna Fáil Michael O'Shea[*] 8.9% 1,846 1,942 1,978 1,993 2,044 2,278        
Independent Dan McCarthy 7.5% 1,566 1,943 1,957 2,021 2,070 2,081        
Fianna Fáil Norma Moriarty 7.3% 1,512 1,643 1,651 1,726 1,759 1,770 1,801 1,806 1,915 2,002
Fine Gael Seamus (Cosai) Fitzgerald[*] 6.8% 1,413 1,466 1,467 1,468 1,481 1,634 1,709 1,740 2,577  
Fianna Fáil Breandan Fitzgerald 6.8% 1,406 1,444 1,448 1,462 1,469 1,499 1,510 1,522    
Fine Gael P.J. Donovan[*] 6.3% 1,318 1,411 1,418 1,603 1,627 1,647 1,722 1,724 1,731 1,749
Fine Gael Patrick Connor-Scarteen[*] 6.2% 1,290 1,510 1,517 1,528 1,554 1,604 1,806 1,815 1,822 1,843
Sinn Féin Damian Quigg 5.9% 1,227 1,325 1,342 1,422 1,492 1,520 1,630 1,649 1,764 1,886
Fianna Fáil John Francis Flynn 4.9% 1,036 1,154 1,221 1,238 1,344 1,435 1,690 1,777 1,943 2,010
Fine Gael Matt Griffin[*] 3.4% 706 732 737 742 757          
Fine Gael Johnny Porridge O'Connor 3.3% 692 749 780 785 910 988        
Independent Donie O'Sullivan 2.4% 495 555 579 608            
Independent Pádraig Garvey 3.2% 489 537 542              
Electorate: 32,975   Valid: 20,797   Spoilt: 221   Quota: 2,080   Turnout: 21,018 (63.7%)  

Killarney

Killarney: 8 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Independent Danny Healy-Rae[*]†† 23.9% 4,388                    
SKIA Michael Gleeson[*] 11.7% 2,139                    
Independent Brendan Cronin[*] 11.2% 2,050                    
Fianna Fáil John Joe Culloty[*] 9.2% 1,683 2,249                  
Fine Gael Bobby O'Connell[*] 6.4% 1,176 1,321 1,340 1,343 1,381 1,395 1,406 1,423 1,522 1,572 1,619
Independent Donal Grady 5.8% 1,064 1,236 1,250 1,264 1,308 1,371 1,435 1,539 1,586 1,725 2,006
Fine Gael John Sheahan[*] 5.2% 957 1,119 1,137 1,146 1,269 1,291 1,340 1,398 1,458 1,539 1,705
Fianna Fáil Niall Kelleher 4.2% 771 1,100 1,152 1,159 1,180 1,214 1,319 1,427 1,598 1,731 1,839
Sinn Féin John Buckley 4.0% 739 935 957 963 973 1,063 1,100 1,147 1,189 1,288 1,448
Labour Seán Counihan[*] 3.8% 692 805 821 835 880 920 975 1,050 1,083 1,167  
Independent Lynda Horgan 2.9% 541 691 701 709 724 799 839 922 994    
Independent Tom Doherty 2.5% 462 573 586 598 624 657 720        
Fianna Fáil John O'Shea 2.5% 456 556 562 571 604 635          
Fianna Fáil Anne McEllistrim[*] 2.4% 441 603 631 635 657 672 741 805      
Independent Brian McCarthy 2.1% 383 466 472 477 488            
Fine Gael Cathal Walshe 1.9% 356 421 432 446              
Electorate: 28,741   Valid: 18,298   Spoilt: 146   Quota: 2,034   Turnout: 18,444 (64.2%)  

Listowel

A full recount began of the ballots for the Listowel LEA on 10 February 2016. This followed a court case taken by Dan Kiely, who ended the original count within five votes of two elected candidates. Voters filled in the ballot for the 2014 European Parliament election simultaneously with the local election ballot, and some put preferences 1-2-3 on one ballot and 4-5-6 on the other. The returning officers' official guidelines advised to accept the latter ballots, but the Supreme Court ruled they were invalid under Article 80(2) of the Local Election Regulations 1995.[2][3][4] When the "count afresh" began, "at least 10 ballots" were excluded based on the Supreme Court ruling.[5] Candidates' counting agents scrutinised about 300 "doubtful" ballot papers; 32 on which they could not agree were taken under Garda Síochána escort to Limerick, where a Circuit Court judge ruled 14 of them invalid.[6] After the eleventh and final count, in the early hours of 12 February, the same seven candidates had been returned as in 2014, with Kiely four votes behind Moloney.[7]

Listowel: 7 seats - 2016 recount[8][9]
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Fianna Fáil John Brassil[*]† 12.93% 1,905 1,905 1,905 1,905 1,843            
Sinn Féin Robert Beasley[*] 12.62% 1,859 1,859 1,859 1,859 1,859 1,843          
Fine Gael Aoife Thornton 10.76% 1,586 1,619 1,639 1,820 1,832 1,833 1,901 1,843      
Sinn Féin Dianne Nolan 8.62% 1,270 1,291 1,348 1,384 1,388 1,396 1,480 1,490 1,546 1,681 1,843
Fine Gael Liam Purtill[*] 7.06% 1,040 1,056 1,095 1,111 1,113 1,113 1,135 1,142 1,329 1,413 1,573
Fianna Fáil Jimmy Moloney 6.82% 1,005 1,023 1,045 1,060 1,081 1,082 1,187 1,194 1,276 1,382 1,523
Independent Dan Kiely 6.32% 932 958 989 1,040 1,049 1,050 1,135 1,138 1,185 1,408 1,517
Fine Gael Mike Kennelly 5.74% 846 853 877 891 893 893 985 998 1,237 1,339 1,521
Fine Gael Tim Buckley[*] 5.65% 833 855 866 876 881 882 922 928 0    
Independent Michael O'Gorman 5.44% 802 848 940 985 987 990 1074 1079 1128 0  
Labour Pat Leahy[*] 5.15% 759 771 794 912 915 916 964 970 1,134 1,232 0
Independent Tom Walsh 4.47% 659 695 711 718 720 0          
Labour Katie Lucid McCabe 3.83% 565 578 592 0              
People Before Profit Brian Finucane 2.65% 390 426 0                
Independent Kate Carmody 1.93% 285 0                  
Electorate: 24,685 (59.8%)   Valid: 14,736   Spoilt: 194   Quota: 1,843   Turnout: 14,930 (60.5%)  
Listowel: 7 seats - Original 2014 count
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Fianna Fáil John Brassil[*]† 12.96% 1,912                    
Sinn Féin Robert Beasley[*] 12.61% 1,861                    
Fine Gael Aoife Thornton 10.29% 1,518 1,619 1,639 1,822 1,836 1,837 1,904        
Sinn Féin Dianne Nolan†††† 8.61% 1,271 1,291 1,348 1,385 1,389 1,397 1,480 1,490 1,546 1,680 1,841
Fine Gael Liam Purtill[*] 7.06% 1,042 1,056 1,095 1,113 1,115 1,115 1,137 1,144 1,331 1,414 1,574
Fianna Fáil Jimmy Moloney 6.82% 1,006 1,023 1,045 1,061 1,084 1,085 1,191 1,198 1,281 1,388 1,529
Independent Dan Kiely 6.34% 935 958 989 1,043 1,053 1,054 1,139 1,142 1,189 1,414 1,524
Fine Gael Mike Kennelly 5.74% 847 853 877 893 895 895 987 1,000 1,239 1,341 1,526
Fine Gael Tim Buckley[*] 5.65% 833 855 866 876 880 881 921 926      
Independent Michael O'Gorman 5.44% 802 848 940 986 988 991 1,076 1,081 1,130    
Labour Pat Leahy[*] 5.14% 759 771 794 912 916 917 965 971 1,135 1,233  
Independent Tom Walsh 4.47% 659 675 711 718 720 720          
Labour Katie Lucid McCabe 3.84% 566 578 592                
People Before Profit Brian Finucane 2.64% 390 426                  
Independent Kate Carmody 1.93% 285                    
Electorate: 24,685 (59.8%)   Valid: 14,756   Spoilt: 173   Quota: 1,845   Turnout: 14,929 (60.5%)  

Tralee

Tralee: 9 seats
Party Candidate FPv% Count
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Sinn Féin Toiréasa Ferris[*] 16.8% 2,679                
Sinn Féin Pa Daly 13.3% 2,122                
Fianna Fáil Norma Foley[*] 9.6% 1,541 1,680              
Labour Terry O'Brien[*] 8.0% 1,285 1,402 1,469 1,574 1,584 1,649      
Fine Gael Jim Finucane[*] 7.8% 1,242 1,310 1,352 1,387 1,390 1,460 1,671    
Fine Gael Pat McCarthy[*] 7.3% 1,160 1,247 1,262 1,283 1,294 1,331 1,436 1,468 1,564
Fianna Fáil Tom McEllistrim 6.8% 1,087 1,184 1,215 1,231 1,246 1,284 1,319 1,322 1,569
Labour Graham Spring 5.6% 899 970 997 1,046 1,051 1,080 1,238 1,255 1,431
Fianna Fáil Ted Fitzgerald 5.2% 829 886 927 946 957 996 1,047 1,056  
Independent Sam Locke 5.1% 815 933 1,051 1,081 1,089 1,253 1,316 1,321 1,439
Independent Johnnie Wall 4.8% 763 871 934 973 978 1,063 1,152 1,158 1,304
Fine Gael Grace O'Donnell 4.1% 657 701 725 795 802 836      
Independent Tommy Collins 3.2% 511 631 697 725 731        
Labour Gillian Wharton-Slattery[*] 2.5% 396 450 479            
Electorate: 30,300   Valid: 15,986   Spoilt: 224   Quota: 1,599   Turnout: 16,210 (53.5%)  

Footnotes

References

  1. ^ "Kerry County Council". Irish Independent. 26 May 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Recount for 2014 Listowel local elections underway -". RTÉ.ie. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  3. ^ Kiely -v- Kerry County Council [2015] IESC 97 Judgments & Determinations: Courts Service of Ireland. (Judgments of Justices: O'Donnell Donal, McKechnie, Clarke, Charleton.)
  4. ^ "S.I. No. 297/1995 - Local Elections Regulations, 1995". Irish Statute Book. Article 80(2). Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  5. ^ Brennan, Cianan (10 February 2016). "Two votes in it. 10 spoiled votes. This Kerry election recount just got interesting…". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  6. ^ "32 disputed ballots in Listowel recount identified". RTÉ.ie. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Dan Kiely fails in bid to regain seat on KCC". Radio Kerry. 12 February 2016. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Two candidates elected in Listowel recount". RTÉ.ie. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  9. ^ Radio Kerry results, retrieved 12 February 2012: Count 2 Archived 2016-02-16 at the Wayback Machine Count 3 Archived 2016-02-16 at the Wayback Machine Count 4 Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Count 5 Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Count 6 Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Count 7 Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Count 8 Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Count 9 Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Count 10 Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Count 11 Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine

Changes

  • †Listowel Fianna Fáil Councillor John Brassil was elected as a TD for Kerry at the 2016 general election. John Lucid was co-opted to fill the vacancy on 14 March 2016.[1]
  • ††Killarney Independent Councillor Danny Healy-Rae was elected as a TD for Kerry at the 2016 general election. His daughter, Maura, was co-opted to fill the vacancy on 14 March 2016.[2]
  • †††Kerry South and West Independent Councillor Michael Cahill re-joined Fianna Fáil on 18 July 2016.[3]
  • ††††Listowel Sinn Féin Councillor Dianne Nolan resigned her seat in 2017 to take up a new job. Tom Barry was co-opted to fill the vacancy on 23 October 2017.[4] Archived 19 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine