Fine Gael’s David Collins is within 13 votes of a seat as the third court for the Athenry/Oranmore Local Electoral Area saw the elimination of Maria Carr.

The first court had seen both Albert Dolan (FF) and Tomás Grealish (Ind) elected with more than a quota, but the following two counts – to distribute their respective surpluses – didn’t add to the Councillor ranks.

Cllr Collins is just 13 votes short of the 1,718 quota, while Cllr James Charity is just over 100 votes away from retaining his seat.

After that, it’s a battle to the end for the remaining three seats.

Caption: Already elected…Cllr Albert Dolan chatting with Minister Anne Rabbitte at the count centre yesterday.

Keep up to date on the local elections with www.connachttribune.ie and get full analysis in this Thursday’s paper.

Count 3

(Distribution of Tomás Grealish’s surplus)

Collins, David (FG) (+22) 1,705

Charity, James (Non-party) (+26) 1,614

Feeney, Peter (FG) (+4) 1,342

Gallagher, Eoghan (FG) (+27) 1,105

O’Hara, Louis (SF) (+7) 1,080

Keane, Cillian (FF) (+20) 1,025

Herterich-Quinn, Shelly (FF) (+6) 962

Madden, Eoin (Green) (+2) 447

Landy, Fergal (Lab) (+3) 418

Hehir, Seán (Ind Ire) (+5) 342

Carr, Maria (TIP) (+3) 236

Maria Carr is eliminated