General Election 2024 in the Longford-Westmeath constituency marked the resurrection of Kevin “Boxer” Moran’s national political career, the dramatic reduction of the Fianna Fáil vote in Longford and the surge in support for Fine Gael’s Micheál Carrigy in south Longford.
Somewhat contradictory is the notion that the poll-topping performance of Minister for Trade Peter Burke after the second count may become something of a footnote.
While the final chapter of this electoral contest was written during the 15th count, the last act of this electoral contest began on the 13th count with the election of Sinn Féin’s Sorca Clarke.
The sitting TD exceeded the quota by 563 votes after receiving a remarkable 2,353 votes from her running mate Barry Campion.
The results of count 14 were greeted by a visceral roar from the John McCormack Centre as 428 votes of Clarke’s surplus pushed a delighted Mr Moran (Ind) beyond the quota and secured him the third seat.
Finally, in the 15th count, Robert Troy (FF) and Carrigy (FG) were elected subsequent to the distribution of the eliminated Paul Hogan’s (II) votes.