IT IS expected the likely winner of the Donegal South West byelection will be known from unofficial tallies by lunchtime today, with the final official result due in the late afternoon or evening.
In an unusual move, all the parties are co-operating on tallies, using the same table at the count centre in Stranorlar, but this may be partly due to pressure on space.
Polling in the byelection took place yesterday from 7am until 10pm, but turnout was believed to be well down on the 66 per cent level in the 2007 general election.
Early morning frost kept voters away and some presiding officers were asked to obtain supplies of salt to ensure people did not lose their footing on the way into the polling station.
The total electorate of 62,229 was divided among 136 polling stations. A number of offshore islands voted last Monday as a precaution in case of bad weather. The turnout on the islands is generally reflected in the rest of the constituency and on this occasion, 43 per cent of island voters cast their ballot.
The ballot boxes were due to be brought at the end of polling last night to the Finn Valley Athletics Club in Stranorlar where the count is to begin today at 9am.
The winner of the byelection will have only two months or so to serve before the Dáil is dissolved and a general election takes place.
Fianna Fáil candidate Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill has run a busy campaign but his chances and his supporters’ morale were not helped by constant bad economic and political news.
The Fianna Fáil first-preference vote in the general election was more than 20,000 or 51 per cent and a dramatic fall in that level could have wider repercussions for the party. On the other hand, unsuccessful candidates will know that a second chance for election is coming in the near future.
The bookies’ favourite is Sinn Féin candidate Senator Pearse Doherty, whose High Court challenge forced the Government to call the byelection after a 17-month delay.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and party colleague Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, are expected to visit the count centre during the day.
Fine Gael candidate Councillor Barry O’Neill, from Ballyshannon, is a radio sports producer with RTÉ. Opposition leader Enda Kenny is due to attend at the count-centre about teatime.
Labour candidate Councillor Frank McBrearty from Raphoe, came to national prominence when he was wrongly arrested on a charge of murder in a Garda corruption scandal.
Given Labour’s standing in the opinion polls and Mr McBrearty’s high public profile, the party is set to improve significantly on its 3 per cent showing in the last general election.
There have been suggestions Mr McBrearty could outpoll Mr O’Neill but the latter’s supporters are claiming Fine Gael will come in ahead of Fianna Fáil on the first count.