Success for two and defeat for two in Seanad race

Two Westmeath Senators have been returned to Seanad Eireann, whilst two Roscommon/Galway Senators have lost their seats.

Kilbeggan's Paul Daly was re-elected from the agricultural panel last week, whilst Mullingar's Aidan Davitt retained his seat on the Industrial and Commercial Panel.

However, Ballinasloe's Aisling Dolan and Roscommon's Eugene Murphy both lost their seats from the agricultural panel.

Paul Daly is now back for this third term in the Seanad. He polled impressively, taking 83,000 (votes are multiplied in the official counting by 1,000 for ease of calculation and transfers) and was the fourth highest on first preferences. He exceeded the quota on the 13 count.

However, in the same panel, there was disappointment for Dolan and Murphy, who were both well out of the running from the first count.

Dolan secured 19,000 votes, and Murphy 16,000. Murphy was eliminated after the eighth count, and whilst Dolan picked up some transfers, her race was over after the thirteenth count.

In a post to her supporters on social media, Dolan said: “I know it is disappointing, but it has been such an honour to represent the region and the constituency in Seanad Eireann.”

Dolan was a Taoiseach's appointee to the Seanad in 2020. Murphy had been a senator since 2020, when he ran successfully, having received a nomination to run from members of the Oireachtas.

Elsewhere in the Industrial and Commercial panel, Davitt secured 90,000 votes in the first count, and exceeded the quota on the 17th count.

He had been nominated by the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers (IPAV) and the Irish Exporters Association.

He, like Daly, will now take his seat in the third successive Seanad.