Fine Gael’s David Collins is third candidate to be elected to the Athenry/Oranmore electoral area after he secured the 18 transfers he needed to meet the quota in the fifth count.

The sitting councillors joins Cllr Albert Dolan (FF) and newcomer Tomas Grealish (Ind) so far elected in the seven-seater.

After the last round of transfers, Cllr James Charity remains in fourth place, with former councillor Peter Feeney 300 votes behind and Fine Gael wannabe Eoghan Gallagher nipping at his heels.

At this stage it looks like the main battle for the final seats may come down to the wire between sitting councillor Shelly Herterich-Quinn, and Cillian Keane, both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin’s Louis O’Hara, with every vote likely to count in the coming transfers.

Caption: Cllr David Collins with family and friends after his re-election.

Count 4

(Distribution of Fergal Landy’s votes)

Collins, David (FG) (+9) 1,714

Charity, James (Non-party) (+52) 1,666

Feeney, Peter (FG) (+8) 1,350

Gallagher, Eoghan (FG) (+7) 1,112

O’Hara, Louis (SF) (+22) 1,102

Keane, Cillian (FF) (+1) 1,026

Herterich-Quinn, Shelly (FF) (+10) 972

Madden, Eoin (Green) (+1) 448

Hehir, Seán (Ind Ire) (+92) 434

Landy, Fergal (Lab) (+2) 420

Landy is eliminated

Court 5

(Distribution of Landy’s votes)

Collins, David (FG) (+18) 1,732

Charity, James (Non-party) (+31) 1,697

Feeney, Peter (FG) (+12) 1,362

Gallagher, Eoghan (FG) (+66) 1,178

O’Hara, Louis (SF) (+48) 1,150

Keane, Cillian (FF) (+75) 1,101

Herterich-Quinn, Shelly (FF) (+28) 1,000

Madden, Eoin (Green) (+119) 597

Hehir, Seán (Ind Ire) (+3) 437

David Collins is deemed elected