Noel Grealish breathed a sigh of relief after being elected on the sixteenth and final count in Galway West in the early hours of Monday morning.

Grealish will join Mairéad Farrell (SF), Catherine Connolly (Ind), John Connolly (FF) and Hildegarde Naughton (FG) in the 34^th Dáil.

The Independent candidate retained the seat he won for the first time 22 years ago, after a titanic battle with Noel Thomas of Independent Ireland.

The transfer of Hildegarde Naughton’s surplus pushed the Carnmore native ahead of Thomas, who was the last candidate standing not to be elected in this five-seat constituency.

Grealish’s first preference vote was down 14% compared with 2020, despite – or perhaps because of – pre-election speculation that his seat was ‘safe’.

He was elected on the final count, 900 votes ahead of Thomas, without reaching the quota.

The former Progressive Democrat leader was elected first in 2002 and has won a seat in the five General Elections since in Galway West including this one.

Former Fianna Fáil public representative Noel Thomas, who buries his father and namesake later today (Monday), launched a major challenge for a seat that fell just short.

On Saturday, counting lasted for over 14 hours in Galway Lawn Tennis Club, Salthill. Counting resumed on Sunday at 9am, and continued for more than 18 hours, concluding at 3.35am

 

Galway West

No of seats: 5

Electorate: 103,713

Total poll: 60,652

Spoiled: 375

Valid poll: 60,277

 

Sixteenth count

Distribution of Naughton surplus of 895:

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +568 9,649 ELECTED

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +327 8,749

(*sitting TD)

Candidates elected: Mairéad Farrell (SF), Catherine Connolly (Ind), John Connolly (FF), Hildegarde Naughton (FG) and Noel Grealish (Ind).

 

Fourteenth count

Distribution of Connolly’s surplus of 941:

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +364 9,081

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +288 8,422

Non-transferable: 289

 

Fourteenth count

Distribution of Kyne’s transfers:

Connolly, John (FF) +1,242 10,988 ELECTED

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +3,298 10,942 ELECTED

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +495 8,717

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +892 8,134

Non-transferable: 444

 

Thirteenth count

Distribution of Connolly’s surplus of 531:

Connolly, John (FF) +154 9,746

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +74 8,222

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +170 7,644

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +43 7,242

Kyne, Seán (FG) +90 6,371 ELIMINATED

 

Twelfth count

Distribution of Farrell’s surplus of 563:

Connolly, John (FF) +108 9,592

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +69 8,148

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +79 7,474

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +61 7,199

Kyne, Seán (FG) +46 6,281

Non-transferable: 200

 

Eleventh count

Distribution of Seoighthe’s transfers:

*Farrell, Mairéad (SF) +1,078 10,610 ELECTED

*Connolly, Catherine (Ind) +1,601 10,578 ELECTED

Connolly, John (FF) +193 9,484

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +110 8,079

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +313 7,395

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +121 7,138

Kyne, Seán (FG) +193 6,235

 

Tenth count

Distribution of Seoige’s transfers:

*Farrell, Mairéad (SF) +197 9,532

Connolly, John (FF) +1,437 9,291

*Connolly, Catherine (Ind) +227 8,977

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +192 7,969

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +341 7,082

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +281 7,017

Kyne, Seán (FG) +315 6,042

Seoighthe, Eibhlín (Soc Dem) +70 3,911 ELIMINATED

Non-transferable 102

 

Ninth count

Distribution of Ogbu’s transfers:

*Farrell, Mairéad (SF) +242 9,335

*Connolly, Catherine (Ind) +600 8,750

Connolly, John (FF) +160 7,854

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +75 7,777

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +268 6,741

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +63 6,736

Kyne, Seán (FG) +127 5,727

Seoighthe, Eibhlín (Soc Dem) +886 3,841

Seoige, Gráinne (FF) +80 3,162 ELIMINATED

Non-transferable 121

 

Eighth count

Distribution of Cubbard’s transfers:

*Farrell, Mairéad (SF) +439 9,093

*Connolly, Catherine (Ind) +596 8,150

Connolly, John (FF) +237 7,694

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +437 7,702

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +210 6,673

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +120 6,473

Kyne, Seán (FG) +78 5,600

Seoige, Gráinne (FF) +66 3,082

Seoighthe, Eibhlín (Soc Dem) +70 2,955

Ogbu, Helen (Labour) +108 2,622 ELIMINATED

Non-transferable 90

 

Seventh count

Distribution of O’Reilly’s transfers:

*Farrell, Mairéad (SF) +72 8,654

*Connolly, Catherine (Ind) +384 7,554

Connolly, John (FF) +103 7,457

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +37 7,265

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +26 6,463

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +288 6,353

Kyne, Séan (FG) +120 5,522

Seoige, Gráinne (FF) +54 3,016

Seoighthe, Eibhlín (Soc Dem) +367 2,885

Ogbu, Helen (Labour) +408 2,514

Cubbard, Mike (Ind) +32 2,451 ELIMINATED

Non-transferable 27

 

Sixth count

Distribution of Lenihan’s transfers:

*Farrell, Mairéad (SF) +137 8,582

Connolly, John (FF) +124 7,354

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +272 7,228

*Connolly, Catherine (Ind) +136 7,170

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +388 6,437

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +34 6,065

Kyne, Séan (FG) +51 5,402

Seoige, Gráinne (FF) +21 2,962

Seoighthe, Eibhlín (Soc Dem) +25 2,518

Cubbard, Mike (Ind) +109 2,419

Ogbu, Helen (Labour) +27 2,106

O’Reilly, Pauline (Green) +26 1,918 ELIMINATED

Non-transferable 69

 

Fifth count

Distribution of McMaster’s transfers:

*Farrell, Mairéad (SF) +213 8,445

Connolly, John (FF) +4 7,230

*Connolly, Catherine (Ind) +174 7,034

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +5 6,956

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +16 6,049

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +6 6,031

Kyne, Séan (FG) +2 5,351

Seoige, Gráinne (FF) +4 2,941

Seoighthe, Eibhlín (Soc Dem) +316 2,493

Cubbard, Mike (Ind) +19 2,310

Ogbu, Helen (Labour) +97 2,079

O’Reilly, Pauline (Green) +49 1,892

Lenihan, Pádraig (Aontú) +12 1,419 ELIMINATED

Non-transferable 9

 

Fourth count

Distribution of Cahill’s transfers:

*Farrell, Mairéad (SF) +37 8,232

Connolly, John (FF) +23 7226

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +46 6,951

*Connolly, Catherine (Ind) +90 6860

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +218 6,033

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +10 6,025

Kyne, Séan (FG) +11 5,349

Seoige, Gráinne (FF) +3 2,937

Cubbard, Mike (Ind) +41 2291

Seoighthe, Eibhlín (Soc Dem) +2 2,177

Ogbu, Helen (Labour) +5 1,982

O’Reilly, Pauline (Green) +3 1,843

Lenihan, Pádraig (Aontú) +104 1,407

McMaster, Maisie (Sol-PBP) +10, 926 ELIMINATED

Non-transferable 28

 

Third count

Distribution of McMahon’s transfers:

*Farell, Mairéad (SF) +26 8,195

Connolly, John (FF) +8 7,203

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +17 6,905

*Connolly, Catherine (Ind) +18 6,770

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +1 6,015

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +112 5,815

Kyne, Séan (FG) +3 5,338

Seoige, Gráinne (FF) +2 2,934

Cubbard, Mike (Ind) +27 2,250

Seoighthe, Eibhlín (Soc Dem) +1 2,175

Ogbu, Helen (Labour) +1 1,977

O’Reilly, Pauline (Green) +1 1,840

Lenihan, Pádraig (Aontú) +65 1,303

McMaster, Maisie (Sol-PBP) +9 916

Cahill, AJ (The Irish People) +156 631 ELIMINATED

Non-transferable: 8

 

Second count

Distribution of Feeney’s transfers:

*Farell, Mairéad (SF) +5 8169

Connolly, John (FF) +3 7,195

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) +1 6,888

*Connolly, Catherine (Ind) +5 6,752

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) +3 6,014

Thomas, Noel (Ind) +3 5,703

Kyne, Séan (FG) +0 5,335

Seoige, Gráinne (FF) +3 2,932

Cubbard, Mike (Ind) +4 2,223

Seoighthe, Eibhlín (Soc Dem) +2 2,174

Ogbu, Helen (Labour) +3 1,976

O’Reilly, Pauline (Green) +0 1,831

Lenihan, Pádraig (Aontú) +5 1,238

McMaster, Maisie (Sol-PBP) +2 907

Cahill, AJ (The Irish People) +6 475

McMahon, Doran (Irish Freedom) +5 455 ELIMINATED

 

First count

*Farell, Mairéad (SF) 8,164

Connolly, John (FF) 7,192

*Grealish, Noel (Ind) 6,887

*Connolly, Catherine (Ind) 6,747

*Naughton, Hildegarde (FG) 6,011

Thomas, Noel (Ind) 5,700

Kyne, Séan (FG) 5,335

Seoige, Gráinne (FF) 2,929

Seoighthe, Eibhlín (Soc Dem) 2,172

Cubbard, Mike (Ind) 2,219

Ogbu, Helen (Labour) 1,973

O’Reilly, Pauline (Green) 1,839

Lenihan, Pádraig (Aontú) 1,233

McMaster, Maisie (Sol-PBP) 905

McMahon, Doran (Irish Freedom) 450

Cahill, AJ (The Irish People) 469

Feeney, Patrick (Ind) 52 ELIMINATED

 

Pictured: Noel Grealish celebrates.