Live: Kildare North close to conclusion

3pm

We are finished in Kildare North with Reáda Cronin (SF), Joe Neville (FG) and Naoise O'Cearúil (FF) filling the last three seats. They join James Lawless (FF) and Aidan Farrelly (SD).

1.22pm

Close to the distribution of Bill Clear's 5,458, and that will finalise it we think. Cronin is only 272 shy of a quota, and Durkan (6th) is 1,323 behind O'Cearúil for the final seat. Next declaration will elect Neville and O'Cearúil without reaching quota.

8.48am

Counting resuming in Kildare North this morning after Aidan Farrelly of Social Democrats was elected after 11pm last night. His surplus will now be distributed.

9.50pm 

Count 9 just announced. No one was elected in this round. James Lawless’s transfers spread easily across the remaining FF and FG candidates. And with that, Soc Dem’s Aidan Farrelly is still within grasp of the next seat. Eliminated in this round was Angela Feeney (Lab), with 4213 votes up for transfer in the next count.

8.15pm

Count 8 was just announced. James Lawless (FF) has been elected after receiving 684 votes in transfer from Evie Sammon (FG), bringing him well above quota to 10,007. 502 surplus votes from Lawless are to be distributed in the next count.

7.20pm 

It looks like one or possibly two candidates could be elected for Kildare North in the next count with 3410 votes from Evie Sammon to be distributed. Currently, James Lawless (FF) is on 9323 and Aidan Farrelly (SD) is on 9207 with only a couple hundred votes left for both to make quota at 9505.

6.30pm 

Count 7 for Kildare North has just been announced, with the bulk of transfers from Una O’Connor (Aon) going to Bill Clear with 832 votes transferred, with a total of 4373 votes. Eliminated this round was Evie Sammon (FG) who left 3410 votes for transfer in the next count.

6.05pm 

As Kildare South candidates and party members leave the hall, the Kildare North side gets busier, patiently awaiting their next count.

5.55pm

Fiona O'Loughlin's director of elections Richard Meehan reflects on a bitter disappointment.

“The Newbridge vote just doesn’t make sense,” he said. "The town was crying out for a TD, and it doesn’t have one."

5.05pm 

Spare a thought for Senator Fiona O’Loughlin (FF) who has narrowly missed out on a seat in two consecutive elections.

4.58pm 

Count 12 has been announced and Kildare South count is concluded, with both Shonagh Ní Raghallaigh (SF) and Mark Wall (Lab) elected to the Dáil. They will join Martin Heydon (FG) and outgoing ceann comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl as the constituency TDs.

4.55pm 

Count 6 for Kildare North. No candidate has met quota for election. Aontu’s, Una O’Connor has been eliminated with 3026 votes for distribution.

4.30pm 

 All camps in Kildare South anxiously awaiting news of where Martin Heydon’s surplus votes might have gone. Count 12 should be along soon, as will more updates.

3.31pm 

Martin Heydon is elected on count 11 in Kildare South. Great scenes as he is lifted on shoulders in Punchestown. His surplus of 650 votes will now be distributed. Shónagh Ni Raghallaigh is on 10141, Mark Wall is 9739 and Fiona O'Loughlin is 9124.

3.30pm 

Count 5 for Kildare North. No candidate elected as of yet. Eliminated was Vincent P. Martin with 2162 votes for distribution.

3pm

Kildare South is busy with candidates and their teams anticipating Cathal Berry’s transfers and where they will go. No word yet. 

2.50pm 

No news as of yet in Kildare South. Everyone is awaiting the next set of counts.

2.02pm 

Count 4 for Kildare North. Réada Cronin (SF) gets a good bump from her running mate Caroline Hogan (+930 votes) but not much else to report. Irish Freedom Party’s Gerry Waters is eliminated, and his 1,254 votes will be distributed.

2pm 

Count ten for Kildare South just announced with Chris Pender’s votes going mostly to Shonagh Ní Raghallaigh (SF) who has now reached 9426 votes, and Mark Wall, who picked up 1239 votes, getting him to 8744 in total. Fiona O’ Loughlin is on 8312 getting additional 408. Cathal Berry was eliminated in this round, leaving 4767 votes up for distribution.

1.30pm 

Looks like Mark Wall (Lab) has picked up good chunk of Social Democrat Chris Pender’s vote which will put him ahead of Senator Fiona O’Loughlin after the next count. We shall see. Awaiting the next count.

1.15pm

Some nervous heads looking at the transfers of Chris Pender being counted.

12.45pm 

Kildare North’s third count with the bulk of Leah Whelan’s distributed votes going to Soc Dem’s Aidan Farrelly bringing him to 8222. Caroline Hogan (SF) was eliminated in this round, with 1365 votes for distribution in the next count.

12.30pm 

Count nine for Kildare South has just been announced. Melissa Byrne’s transfer numbers mostly went to Cathal Berry with 627 and Shonagh Ní Raghallaigh with 467 extra. Social Democrat’s Chris Pender has been eliminated in this round, with 3888 votes to distribute. 399 votes between senators Fiona O'Loughlin and Mark Wall.

12.20pm

Here's a look at Kildare North from our own Finian Coghlan. 

'Plenty of drama in this fight yet.'

11.35am 

Count 8 in Kildare South. Distribution of Anthony Casey’s votes (1362). Melissa Byrne of Aontú is eliminated with 2380 votes. Her transfers will be very interesting.

11.30am 

Second count for Kildare North was just announced. PBP’s Leah Whelan was eliminated in this count, with 1175 votes to distribute.

11am 

Minister of state James Lawless, poll topper in Kildare North, was in great form and hoping to retain a minister’s seat in the next government.

"I am delighted, it's the best election I have ever had. I have topped the poll in a local election but never in a general and in a constituency where I am not campaigning in a third. It's particularly gratifying."

Read more here 

10.30am 

Seventh count in Kildare South. Distribution of II candidate Willie Carton’s votes. Mark Wall (Lab) gets a small bump. Anthony Casey of the Irish Freedom Party bows out with 1362 and his votes will now be distributed.

10am 

First count in Kildare North. James Lawless tops the poll with 8734 first preference votes. Quota is 9505. Sean Gill (The Centre Party) and Avril Corcoran (Irish People) have been eliminated.

9.50am

Set to have announcement in Kildare North shortly.

9.15am 

 So, here is a recap of where we are. Patricia Byrne has been eliminated in Kildare South and her vote is now being distributed. Martin Heydon has topped the poll with over 9,000 but has yet to reach quota. It seems the remaining two seats will be filled by either Fiona O’Loughlin (FF), Shónagh Ni Raghallaigh (SF) or Mark Wall (Lab) with the latter having the most to do.

Over in Kildare North, we are still waiting a first count as it was unexpectedly suspended at 10pm. Minister James Lawless (FF) looks set to top the poll with cllr Aidan Farrelly (SD) and Deputy Reada Cronin (SF) on course to claim seats based on tally figures. 

It gets interesting after that with cllrs Naoise O Cearúil (FF) and Joe Neville (FG) in position for the last two seats but veteran TD Bernard Durkan still in the hunt. There are a trio of candidates further back, Angela Feeney (Lab), Evie Sammon (FG) and Bill Clear (Ind) and you can’t rule out a prospect that one of them proves transfer friendly to put them in the frame.

Saturday

11.44pm 

 Count 5 in Kildare South and outgoing TD Patricia Byrne has been eliminated with 762 votes. Counting will resume in the morning at 9am. We are going to bid good night and see you all in the morning.

11.00pm 

 The next count in Kildare South will be the final one of the night. It looks like Patricia Ryan, who topped the poll in 2020, will be eliminated.

10.48pm 

Fourth count in Kildare South with the distribution of Tom McDonnell’s 534 votes. Doesn’t move the needle much. Green Party’s Monaa K Sood has been eliminated on 618 votes. Her votes will now be distributed.

10.40pm 

No clear word on what has happened in Kildare North but it appears a pretty significant issue has arisen. Count staff in Kildare North are still  working despite the announcement that the count had been suspended. 

10.05pm 

 This is mad. Kildare North count has been suspended until tomorrow morning. No first count tonight.

10.02pm 

Third count in Kildare South and cllr Tom McDonnell, who garnered national headlines when he was elected in the local elections earlier this year, had been eliminated. His 534 votes will now be distributed.

9.45pm 

Fine Gael’s Martin Heydon is delighted at topping the poll for Kildare South at this year’s general election.

He said: “It's a lovely feeling to top the poll again. I topped it in 2011 and 2016 and I won the second seat last time. It won't happen tonight, but tomorrow I will be elected for four terms. If someone had told me that back when I first was elected at 32 years of age, I would have never believed it. In a way, when you serve for a while, it's nearly more satisfying than the first time, because the first time they're taking a chance on you, and at this time you really feel they're voting based on your track record. There’s no greater feeling in politics.” 

9.30pm 

Our reporter Finian Coghlan has a bit of analysis of the first count here in Kildare South.

“The man in the sweating seat in this three-seater is Senator Mark Wall (Lab) on 6,654 votes, a troublesome 587 behind the last seat of O’Raghallaigh.”

9.10pm

Count 2 in Kildare South, the distribution of O’Neill and Doran’s combined 275 votes. People Before Profits Rob Cosgrave is eliminated and his 505 votes will now be distributed. No sign yet of a Kildare North vote.

8.35pm 

First count in Kildare South. Quota is 10,734. Martin Heydon tops the poll with 9,262 followed by Fiona O’Loughlin (7489), Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (7241), Mark Wall (6654). Other notables include Chris Pender (3157), Cathal Berry (3007). Outgoing TD Patricia Ryan gets 678 votes. Independent Leanne O’Neill and Edel Doran of Independent Ireland have been eliminated and their surplus will now be distributed.

8.15pm

7.59pm

7.50pm 

I think it’s fair to say that a first count may not have been as imminent as we thought!

7.10pm

First results expected imminently

7.05pm 

As people went to the polls yesterday, Kildare North poll topper James Lawless went to see Gladiator II.

The outgoing minister of state gave his review.

"It was enjoyable, not as good as the first one. I was hoping to see Conclave but times didn't suit! Paul Mescal in it gives an extra interest!"

He added: “The dream of Rome... the dream of North Kildare!” 

To keep his mind off things, he also did the Parkrun in Naas this morning!

6.35pm 

Martin Heydon has entered the count hall with his family a short while ago. Looking happy and deservedly so. Bit of chat that the tally figures may not be entirely accurate and some candidates may get a bump that could alter the picture.

6pm 

Adjudication on doubtful votes for both Kildare South and Kildare North will now take place

Fianna Fáil in the hunt for a second seat in Kildare North with James Lawless and Naoise O’Cearuill

However Fiona O’Loughlin on Kildare South - a key target gain- is in a 3 way scrap for two seats with Sinn Féin’s Shónagh Ni Raghallaigh & Labour’s Mark Wall

— Barry Lenihan (@BarryLenihan) November 30, 2024

5.25pm 

Bit of a lull here after the tallies but it seems a first count result for either Kildare North and Kildare South is still some way off. There still hasn’t been the adjudication of spoiled votes which normally takes a bit of time.

5.06pm 

So here is the lay of the land in Kildare South, Martin Heydon will top the poll for Fine Gael followed by Senator Fiona O’Loughlin. Sinn Féin’s Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh has performed remarkably well and is in third with Mark Wall of Labour currently outside the last seat.

It seems unlikely that Independent TD Cathal Berry can stay in the hunt while outgoing TD Patricia Ryan will not be re-elected.

Transfers, of course, will be crucial to determining the final outcome.

5.00pm 

 Fianna Fail’s, James Lawless, in the lead on final tally before the first count, with Social Democrat’s Aidan Farrelly and Sinn Fein’s Réada Cronin close behind. As it stands, Fianna Fail’s Naoise Ó Cearúil is in place for the fourth seat. It could possibly be a battle between Fine Gael’s Joe Neville and Bernard Durkan for a seat with both very close in numbers.

4.40pm 

Final tally Kildare North 

James Lawless – FF – 8350 

Aidan Farrelly – SD – 7116 

Réada Cronin – SF – 6426 

Naoise Ó Cearúil - FF- 5581 

Joe Neville – FG – 5145 

Bernard Durkan – FG – 4463 

Angela Feeney – Lab – 3211 

Evie Sammon – FG – 2928 

Bill Clear – Ind - 2812 

Una O’Connor - Aon – 2034 

Vincent P. Martin – GP – 1957 

Gerry Waters – IFP – 1193 

Caroline Hogan – SF – 1181 

Leah Whelan – PBP-S – 1062 

Avril Corcoran – TIP – 533

Seán Gill – CPI - 72

4.35pm

Quota expected to be around 10,000 in Kildare South

4.30pm

3.30pm 

Sinn Féin very happy with Ni Raghallaigh performance in Kildare South.

In Kildare North, talk that Fianna Fáil could get a second seat with Naoise O Cearúil doing well and potentially transfer-friendly while James Lawless will top the poll.

3.18pm

Final tally Kildare South 

Cathal Berry Ind 2814 

Melissa Byrne Aon 1572 

Willie Carton II 906 

Anthony Casey IFP 868 

Rob Cosgrave PBP-Sol 467 

Edel Doran II 131 

Martin Heydon 8655 

Tom McDonnell 477 

Shónagh Ni Raghallaigh SF 6807 

Fiona O’Loughlin FF 7003 

Leanne O’Neill Ind 159 

Chris Pender SD 2922 

Patricia Ryan Ind 655 

Moona k Sood GP 535 

Mark Wall Lab 6393

3.05pm

2.45pm

2.33pm 

With 70 per cent of the boxes tallied in Kildare North, James Lawless is leading with 6,200 votes for Fianna Fáil with Aidan Farrelly of the Social Democrats on 5157.

Sinn Féin’s Reada Cronin sits at 4672 with cllrs Joe Neville and Naoise O Cearúil both at around 3900. Fine Gael's Bernard Durkan is further back at 3,367 while Evie Sammon of Fine Gael and former Social Democrat Bill Clear are at 2200 and 2086 respectively.

2.30pm 

80 per cent of vote tallied in Kildare South. Martin Heydon on 7,000. Mark Wall, Fiona O’Loughlin and Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh all around the 5400-5500.

Ní Raghallaigh strong showing has surprised some while Wall appears to have increased his vote from 2020.

Cathal Berry is back at over 2,000 while former Sinn Féin TD Patrica Ryan is further adrift.

2.10pm 

In Kildare North, with 60 per cent of boxes tallied, Fianna Fáil’s James Lawless is leading the way with 5,200 votes. Social Democrats’ Aidan Farrelly will also be very pleased with his showing so far with 4,500 votes. Sinn Féin Reada Cronin stands at 4,00 votes with Fine Gael’s Joe Neville and Naoise O’Cearúil of Fianna Fáil at 3,700 and 3,300 votes respectively. Veteran Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan has 2,900 in this five-seater.

2pm

1.55pm 

The first count is going to get underway shortly in both constituencies with ballots being sorted

1.50pm 

 60 per cent of boxes tallied in Kildare South. Heydon very strong at over 6,000 votes. Mark Wall of Labour also doing very well at 4,400 followed by Fianna Fáil’s Fiona O’Loughlin (4,200) and Sinn Féin’s Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (4,100).

Outgoing TD is Cathal Berry at 1,900 while Patricia Ryan who topped the poll is currently at 295 votes.

KILDARE SOUTH, 43pc of boxes tallied

Martin Heydon (FG) 26pc
Fiona O’Loughlin (FF) 16pc
Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (SF) 15.8pc
Mark Wall (LAB) 14.2pc
Cathal Berry (IND) 6.8pc
Chris Pender (SD) 6.7pc@irishtimes #ge24

— Fiachra Gallagher (@fiachragllagher) November 30, 2024

State of play in KILDARE NORTH with 42pc of boxes tallied

Joe Neville (FG) 15.1pc
Aidan Farrelly (SD) 14.9pc
Réada Cronin (SF) 12.2pc
Naoise Ó Cearúil (FF) 11.6pc
James Lawless (FF) 11.4pc
Bernard Durkan (FG) 8.9pc@irishtimes #ge24

— Fiachra Gallagher (@fiachragllagher) November 30, 2024

1.11pm 

Incomplete tally figures in Kildare South show Martin Heydon leading the pack with over 5000 votes. Sinn Féin’s Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh and Senator Fiona O’Loughlin of Fianna Fáil are following behind with a little over 3600 votes and Mark Wall of Labour over 3500. Independent Cathal Berry stood at 1482 vote in this early tally and Sinn Féin TD Patricia Ryan are polling in the hundreds but you’d imagine many boxes favourable to the pair have yet to be opened.

1pm 

First counts have yet to start here in Punchestown. Incomplete tally figures have been emerging which show Sinn Féin and Labour doing well in Kildare South. Long way to go yet.