2019 Donegal County Council election

An election to Donegal County Council took place on 24 May 2019 as part of the Irish local elections. 37 councillors were elected for a five-year term of office from 7 local electoral areas (LEAs) by single transferable vote.

2019 Donegal County Council election
24 May 2019
All 37 seats to Donegal County Council
19 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin Fine Gael
Seats won 12 10 6
Seat change 1 1
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Party Labour Independent
Seats won 1 8
Seat change 2
Map showing the area of Donegal County Council

Following a recommendation of the 2018 Boundary Committee, the boundaries of the LEAs were altered from those used in the 2014 elections.[1][2] Its terms of reference required no change in the total number of councillors but set a lower maximum LEA size of seven councillors, whereas Donegal in 2015 had LEAs of 10 and 9 seats. Other changes were necessitated by population shifts revealed by the 2016 census.

Fianna Fáil gained an additional seat to reach 12 and also saw a slight increase in their vote share. Anthony Molloy - who captained the Donegal GAA team to the 1992 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship - won a seat for the party, as did rally driver Manus Kelly (both for the first time). However, Seamus O Domhnaill - Fianna Fáil's outgoing Cathaoirleach - was a notable casualty, as was former Senator Enda Bonner.

Unlike other performances around the State, Sinn Féin actually gained a seat in Donegal; increasing their numbers by 1 to 10 seats while seeing a slight reduction in vote share. Fine Gael retained 6 seats overall, while Independents saw a reduction of 2 seats. One Independent elected was John O'Donnell, who attracted controversy following an RTÉ Investigates programme into Irish Councillors.

Results by party
Party Seats ± 1st pref FPv% ±%
Fianna Fáil 12 1 21,142 29.35% 0.25%
Sinn Féin 10 1 13,953 19.37% 0.23%
Fine Gael 6 13,327 18.50% 2.80%
Labour 1 1,927 2.68% 1.12%
Aontú 0 2,265 3.14% 3.14%
People Before Profit 0 284 0.39% 1.02%
Renua 0 279 0.39% 0.39%
Independent 8 2 18,857 26.18% 3.22%
Total 37 72,034 100.0%

Results by LEA

Buncrana
Buncrana — 5 Seats[3]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456789
Fianna Fáil Paul Canning* 20.31% 1,720                
Fianna Fáil Rena Donaghey* 16.96% 1,436                
Sinn Féin Jack Murray* 16.70% 1,414                
Independent Nicholas Crossan* 13.97% 1,183 1,257 1,263 1,275 1,339 1,410 1,411 1,527  
Sinn Féin Terry Crossan 9.54% 808 880 902 903 928 995 996 1,012 1,098
Fine Gael Mickey Doherty* 6.28% 532 588 599 601 608 624 624 739 835
Independent Frankie Lavelle 4.40% 373 399 405 408 507 565 565 597  
Fine Gael Michelle McKenna 3.75% 318 353 356 359 371 403 403    
Aontú Joe Murphy 3.59% 304 319 329 331          
Independent Sinéad Stewart 3.41% 289 315 337 338 367        
Independent Mark McKinney 1.09% 92 96              
Electorate: 16,798   Valid: 8,469   Spoilt: 143   Quota: 1,412   Turnout: 51.27%

    Carndonagh
    Carndonagh — 4 Seats[4]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    123456
    Fianna Fáil Martin McDermott* 34.59% 2,501          
    Labour Martin Farren* 19.11% 1,383 1,435 1,470      
    Sinn Féin Albert Doherty* 15.91% 1,151 1,413 1,460 1,460    
    Fine Gael Bernard McGuinness* 14.41% 1,043 1,323 1,355 1,362 1,368 1,448
    Fianna Fáil Marie Duffy 8.67% 627 1,022 1,057 1,060 1,066 1,156
    Independent Tracy Cullen 3.90% 282 311 347 352 352  
    Aontú Mary Rose Doherty 2.69% 195 226        
    Independent Arthur Desmond McGuinness 0.75% 54 58        
    Electorate: 14,062   Valid: 7,236   Spoilt: 94   Quota: 1,448   Turnout: 52.13%

      Donegal
      Donegal — 6 Seats[5]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567891011121314
      Independent Niamh Kennedy* 10.77% 1,540 1,544 1,568 1,585 1,661 1,682 1,749 1,759 1,938 2,031 2,322      
      Sinn Féin Noel Jordan* 10.74% 1,535 1,550 1,557 1,573 1,598 1,609 1,690 1,693 1,731 1,873 2,033 2,087    
      Fianna Fáil Michéal Naughton* 8.34% 1,192 1,205 1,213 1,224 1,227 1,235 1,236 1,413 1,536 1,612 1,648 1,661 1,742 1,924
      Fine Gael Barry Sweeny 7.81% 1,116 1,126 1,151 1,215 1,217 1,263 1,264 1,353 1,360 1,376 1,424 1,432 1,917 1,958
      Fine Gael John McNulty 6.84% 978 978 978 980 1,106 1,106 1,148 1,153 1,199 1,214 1,393 1,453 1,463 1,547
      Independent Tom Conaghan* 6.60% 944 979 987 993 1,000 1,004 1,017 1,028 1,058 1,272 1,373 1,397 1,435 1,831
      Sinn Féin Michael McMahon 6.29% 900 902 924 973 974 1,186 1,190 1,446 1,462 1,470 1,474 1,478 1,749 1,798
      Independent Seamus Maguire* 6.07% 868 880 896 907 923 927 939 939 961 1,106 1,163 1,176 1,194  
      Independent Billy Grimes 6.07% 868 873 895 951 952 989 989 1,043 1,050 1,057 1,067 1,075    
      Fine Gael John J Boyle 5.53% 791 793 793 795 810 810 886 888 970 1,001        
      Independent Pauric Kennedy 5.14% 735 751 754 760 760 763 780 783 802          
      Fianna Fáil Philip McGlynn 3.64% 521 522 528 533 533 576 582              
      Fianna Fáil Eimear McGuinness 3.48% 497 498 502 506 527 527 591 631            
      Fianna Fáil Roger Meehan 3.38% 483 484 485 487 503 504                
      Independent Diarmaid Doherty 2.72% 389 394 399 432 432                  
      Independent Seán Ó Beirne 2.27% 325 325 329 331                    
      People Before Profit Cyril Brennan 1.99% 284 288 319                      
      Independent Valerie McNulty 1.36% 194 196                        
      Independent Justin Coughlin 0.97% 138                          
      Electorate: 23,075   Valid: 14,298   Spoilt: 165   Quota: 2,043   Turnout: 62.68%

        Glenties
        Glenties — 6 Seats[6]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        123456789
        Independent Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig* 15.80% 2,007                
        Sinn Féin John Sheamuis Ó Fearraigh* 11.25% 1,429 1,464 1,501 1,558 1,740 1,750 1,782 2,050  
        Sinn Féin Maire Therese Gallagher* 8.57% 1,089 1,103 1,152 1,241 1,286 1,324 1,615 1,658 1,693
        Fianna Fáil Noreen McGarvey 8.01% 1,018 1,023 1,043 1,103 1,155 1,171 1,402 1,499 1,506
        Fine Gael Michael McClafferty 7.97% 1,012 1,033 1,038 1,061 1,314 1,341 1,376 1,721 1,799
        Fianna Fáil Seamus O Domhnaill* 7.71% 979 1,071 1,079 1,095 1,153 1,161 1,222    
        Sinn Féin Brian Carr 7.26% 922 932 934 978 988 1,211 1,263 1,282 1,290
        Fianna Fáil Anthony Molloy 7.21% 916 928 932 964 999 1,400 1,574 1,702 1,713
        Fianna Fáil Enda Bonner* 7.03% 893 914 926 975 1,023 1,056      
        Independent Liam Whyte 6.47% 822 844 856 910 934        
        Fine Gael Evelyn Sweeney 5.7% 724 737 758 822          
        Labour Seamus Rodgers 4.28% 544 562 584            
        Aontú Liam Mulligan 2.75% 349                
        Electorate: 23,165   Valid: 12,704   Spoilt: 147   Quota: 1,815   Turnout: 55.48%

          Letterkenny
          Letterkenny — 7 Seats[7]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          123456789
          Fianna Fáil Ciaran Brogan* 13.41% 1,570                
          Fine Gael Jimmy Kavanagh* 10.53% 1,233 1,245 1,255 1,271 1,312 1,367 1,701    
          Fianna Fáil Donal Coyle 10.18% 1,192 1,209 1,211 1,231 1,249 1,273 1,348 1,389 1,444
          Independent Michael McBride* 9.75% 1,141 1,155 1,159 1,174 1,297 1,360 1,430 1,464  
          Independent Kevin Bradley 8.48% 993 1,009 1,024 1,050 1,127 1,210 1,294 1,347 1,465
          Fianna Fáil Manus Mandy Kelly†† 7.74% 906 924 932 948 1,003 1,028 1,124 1,171 1,374
          Aontú Mary T Sweeney 7.31% 856 860 876 906 932 974 1,041 1,057 1,108
          Sinn Féin Gerry McMonagle* 7.17% 839 845 873 903 926 972 995 1,003 1,398
          Sinn Féin Adrian Glackin* 6.83% 799 804 813 838 877 935 957 969  
          Fine Gael Bernie Moran 6.33% 741 746 750 762 794 885      
          Independent Thoiba Ahmed 4.48% 525 527 571 637 653        
          Independent Charlie McClafferty 3.92% 459 464 471 491          
          Independent Cathal McGlynn 2.14% 251 252 294            
          Independent Finnian O'Donnell 1.72% 201 202              
          Electorate: 22,826   Valid: 11,706   Spoilt: 130   Quota: 1,464   Turnout: 51.85%

            Lifford–Stranorlar
            Lifford–Stranorlar — 6 Seats[8]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            12345678
            Fine Gael Martin Harley* 17.16% 1,688              
            Fianna Fáil Patrick McGowan* 16.32% 1,606              
            Sinn Féin Gary Doherty* 15.97% 1,571              
            Fianna Fáil Gerry Crawford* 13.92% 1,369 1,393 1,468          
            Fine Gael Frank McBrearty Jnr*† 9.81% 965 1,016 1,041 1,052 1,058 1,079 1,131 1,208
            Sinn Féin Liam Doherty* 7.56% 744 776 799 924 929 974 1,036 1,195
            Fine Gael Garvan Connolly 7.25% 713 811 846 857 969 893 950 1,041
            Independent Alan McMenamin 4.82% 474 514 531 537        
            Renua Maghnus Monaghan 2.84% 279 289 296 301 310 317    
            Aontú John Hartnett 2.27% 223 231 238 240 245 264    
            Independent Michael De Ward 2.09% 206 225 236 241 244      
            Electorate: 20,389   Valid: 9,838   Spoilt: 160   Quota: 1,406   Turnout: 49.01%

              Milford
              Milford — 3 Seats[9]
              PartyCandidateFPv%Count
              12345
              Independent John O'Donnell* 25.17% 1,959        
              Fianna Fáil Liam Blaney* 22.05% 1,716 1,812 1,968    
              Independent Ian McGarvey* 10.34% 805 893 1,062 1,219 1,522
              Sinn Féin Maria Doherty 9.66% 752 780 885 1,035  
              Fine Gael Noel McBride 9.61% 748 793 845    
              Fine Gael Eimer Friel 9.32% 725 747 886 1,213 1,412
              Independent Declan Meehan 8.70% 677 722      
              Aontú Dermot Hardy 4.34% 338        
              Independent Charlie McGinley 0.81% 63        
              Electorate: 12,066   Valid: 7,783   Spoilt: 75   Quota: 1,946   Turnout: 65.13%

                Changes since 2019
                • † Immediately after the 2019 local elections, Lifford-Stranorlar Fine Gael Cllr Frank McBrearty Jnr resigned from the party and became an Independent. He claimed he had been bullied and was not made feel welcome by former colleagues in Fine Gael. He then announced he was going to sue the party for post-traumatic stress disorder. [10]
                • †† On 23 June 2019, Letterkenny Fianna Fáil Cllr Manus Mandy Kelly was tragically killed while participating in the Donegal International Rally. RTÉ News: Man killed in Donegal International Rally crash named as Manus Kelly On 25 November his father, Donal, was co-opted to fill the vacancy. He subsequently resigned his seat and Manus' brother, Donal, was co-opted to fill the vacancy on 28 September 2020.[11]

                References

                Citations
                1. Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee No. 1 (13 June 2018). "Report 2018" (PDF). Government Publications. pp. 36–39, 145. ISBN 978-1-4064-2990-9. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
                2. Phelan, John Paul (19 December 2018). "S.I. No. 613/2018 - County of Donegal Local Electoral Areas Order 2018". electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB). Retrieved 8 May 2019.
                3. "Buncrana LEA Counts 1-9" (PDF). donegalcoco.ie. Donegal County Council. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
                4. "Cardonagh LEA Counts 1-10" (PDF). donegalcoco.ie. Donegal County Council. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
                5. "Local Elections Results 2019". donegalcoco.ie. Donegal County Council. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
                6. "Glenties LEA Counts 1-9" (PDF). donegalcoco.ie. Donegal County Council. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
                7. "Letterkenny LEA Counts 1-9" (PDF). donegalcoco.ie. Donegal County Council. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
                8. "Lifford-Stranorlar LEA Counts 1-8" (PDF). donegalcoco.ie. Donegal County Council. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
                9. "Mildford LEA Counts 1-5" (PDF). donegalcoco.ie. Donegal County Council. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
                10. https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/frank-mcbrearty-to-sue-fg-for-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-928345.html Irish Examiner: Frank McBrearty to sue FG for post-traumatic stress disorder
                11. https://www.donegaldaily.com/2020/09/28/donal-mandy-kelly-seat-donegal-county-council/

                Sources
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