Frank McDermott: Fine Gael to have ‘battle and a half’ to keep seats

Fine Gael has a “battle and a half” on its hands to keep its five seats on Westmeath County Council.

That’s according to outgoing veteran councillor Frank McDermott who is at the count centre in Moate showing support for his brother Seamus.

Fine Gael currently holds five seats in the county and Cllr John Dolan in Athlone, Cllr Tom Farrell in Moate and Cllr Andrew Duncan in Mullingar are all poised to keep their seats.

The question mark is in Kinnegad where the party had two seats up until this election but is facing a real threat of losing one of those; Cllr Emily Wallace is cu

The question mark is in Kinnegad where the party had two seats up until this election, but one of those seats is now under threat.

Seamus McDermott would take the fifth and final seat as things stand, with 959 first preference votes and Cllr Emily Wallace would lose her seat in sixth place with 938 votes.

Frank McDermott said it’s been an “interesting and exciting” election so far.

“It looks as if it's going to be a terribly long night and an equally long day tomorrow,” he said.

“Certainly, in our Kinnegad division, it will take a long time from what I can see.

All we can do is wait; it probably could be looking better for us.”

The veteran councillor said the first three seats in Kinnegad look secured.

“But the last two will be a battle and a half,” he said.

“We had a good campaign and a good team working, there’s nothing more we can do and there’s lots of counting to go yet.

“We've had a good campaign and a good team working behind us, I wish Seamus all the best now.”

On a positive note for Fine Gael, Gerard Heery is currently taking the sixth and final seat in Mullingar, with Hazel Smyth back in ninth place.