The Social Democrats have more than trebled our number of councillors with the election tonight of Bantry candidate Holly McKeever Cairns bringing the total number of councillors to 19.

“I am incredibly relieved that we finally have an outcome tonight. People are ready for a different style of politics and the number of votes I got against all predictions speaks volumes about that appetite for chang.”

The Social Democrats have more than trebled our number of councillors with the election tonight of Bantry candidate Holly McKeever Cairns bringing the total number of councillors to 19.

McKeever Cairns took a seat on Cork County Council at 8.45p.m. following a gruelling four days of counts in Cork County Hall – with the victory coming down to just one vote for the Social Democrats’ first-time candidate.

More than half of the Social Democrats’ candidates for the local elections were women, and this gender balance is reflected in the final seats taken, with 10 women and 9 men returned.

Four are returning councillors while 15 are first time candidates. The geographical breakdown is as follows: 5 Dublin City; 4 Kildare; 1 Limerick; 1 Offaly; 1 South Dublin; 1 Meath; 1 Galway City; 2 Fingal; 1 Dun Laoghaire; 1 Wicklow; 1 Cork County.

McKeever Cairns said: “I am incredibly relieved that we finally have an outcome tonight. People are ready for a different style of politics and the number of votes I got against all predictions speaks volumes about that appetite for change.

“I’m very grateful to everyone who voted, and I look forward to getting to represent the people of Bantry on our council. I ran for this seat because I want to do my part to make west Cork a place where young people feel they have a decent future and where the quality of life is better for everyone.”

Party co-leader Roisin Shortall TD who attended the count since Sunday, added: “We’re extremely proud of Holly and all our candidates, many of them contesting for council seats for the first time. They brought great energy and passion to their campaigns and the results reflect that they have connected with issues that matter to people.”

ENDS

28th May 2019

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