Councillor Seamus Walsh secured the second seat in the Connemara North poll after getting 73 transfers from fellow Oughterard resident Thomas Welby

Cllr Walsh, who works as a planning consultant, was deemed elected on 1,598 votes.

He ran for TD Michael Fitzmaurice’s party, Independent Ireland, after falling out spectacularly with Fianna Fáil over his stance on the arson attack at the Ross Lake Hotel in Rosscahill before it was to be used as accommodation for international protection applicants.

Cllr Walsh got 1,525 first preferences, over 200 behind Cllr Welby.

The two remaining seats are expected to go to sitting Councillors Eileen Mannion and Gerry King as the count continues.

Caption: Seamus and Mary Walsh at the count. Pic Gerry Stronge

Connemara North

Count 2

*Walsh, Seamus (Ind Ire) (+73) 1,598 Elected

*Welby, Thomas (Ind) 1,758 Elected

*Mannion, Eileen (FG) (+ 38) 1,463

*King, Gerry (Fianna Fáil) (+21) 1,456

Conaire, Maánus Ó (Ind) (+15) 920

Healy, Tom (Sinn Féin) (+9) 600

Geeson, Daniel (Greens) (+7) 255

Breathnach, Críostóir (Ind) (+4) 71

Connemara North

Count 3

*Walsh, Seamus (Ind Ire) (+73) 1,598 Elected

*Welby, Thomas (Ind) 1,758 Elected

*Mannion, Eileen (FG) (+ 109) 1,572

*King, Gerry (Fianna Fáil) (+40) 1,496

Conaire, Maánus Ó (Ind) (+53) 973

Healy, Tom (Sinn Féin) (+71) 671

Geeson, Daniel (Greens) (+7) 255 Eliminated

Breathnach, Críostóir (Ind) (+4) 71 Eliminated

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