Minister Peter Burke with his family, wife Olivia and sons Leo and Ted, after the result.

Longford-Westmeath: Burke passes quota in first count

Minister Peter Burke, on 10,864 votes, has passed the quota to become the first candidate elected in Longford-Westmeath.

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The count at TUS Athlone has been adjourned for the evening but will resume at 9am tomorrow (Sunday) morning for the distribution of the Fine Gael man's surplus of 549 votes.

The quota was declared at 10,315 by returning officer Brídín Concannon. The electorate was 106,814, and there was a total poll of 62,353 (a turnout of 58.37%). Invalid votes numbered 469, and the total valid poll was 61,884.

Taking up second position was Fianna Fáil's Robert Troy with 8,116 first preference votes, while Athlone independent Kevin 'Boxer' Moran has netted a vote of 8,056.

Effectively neck-and-neck are Fine Gael's Senator Micheál Carrigy (7,090) and Sinn Féin incumbent Sorca Clarke (6,998), while outgoing Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty is on 5,231.

The other candidates rank as follows: Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland), 2,956; Barry Campion (Sinn Féin), 2,344; Gerry Warnock (non-party), 2,262; Laura O'Neill (Aontú), 1,926; Fidelma Bennett (Labour), 1,574); Dave Smyth (People Before Profit-Solidarity), 960; Louise Heavin (non-party), 915; Margaret Alacoque Maguire (Ireland First), 864; Dympna Cunniffe (Fianna Fáil), 528; Tanya Cannon (Fine Gael), 507; Carol Okeke (Green Party), 464; Paul Bradley (non-party), 115; Charlotte Keenan (non-party), 66; Donal Jackson (non-party), 48.

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