Sligo-Leitrim delivered the same party line-up as in 2020 with one seat each for Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil and Independents.
But the count was not without drama. First back to the Dáil was Fine Gael’s Frank Feighan, who seized the top of the poll from Sinn Féin’s Martin Kenny. Kenny was second to be returned, after a massive 5,215-vote transfer from running mate Chris MacManus.
Fianna Fáil veteran Eamon Scanlon won the seat vacated by Marc MacSharry, the former party TD who went Independent during the last Dáil and did not contest this election.
Feighan was ahead from the beginning. But it took almost 27 hours of counting before he finally filled the first seat shortly before 9pm on Sunday. The victorious TD sang ‘Oh What a Beautiful Morning’ with cheering supporters.
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By that point Independent Marian Harkin was on the way to a remarkable turnaround. But after a weak first preference vote, she had to dig deep to save her seat. Harkin received vital transfers from Independent Marie Casserly and Fianna Fáil’s Edel McSharry, leading to defeat for Independent Ireland’s Michael Clarke. He looked well-placed at the start but was ultimately eclipsed despite leading Ms Harkin for ten counts.
