More than 5,000 votes for Cllr McGrath

Last weekend’s local elections produced some notable moments in county Cork.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Seamus McGrath received the highest number of first preference votes in the country when he was re-elected to represent the Carrigaline local electorate area (LEA).

The councillor, who is the brother of Finance Minister Michael McGrath TD, earned 5,191 in the first round of counting on Saturday, smashing the quota of 2,057 votes.

In Kanturk, it was an emotional few days for newly elected Cllr Trish Murphy who won the seat previously held by her late father, Fine Gael Cllr Gerard Murphy, who passed away aged 73 in April. First elected in 1992, Cllr Murphy was one of the longest-serving public representatives to sit in Cork County Council and was originally included in this year’s local elections where he intended to run again.

Mr Murphy’s daughter Trish was successful on the fourth count on Saturday, earning 2,037 overall.

It was a weekend of genuine shock for first time Independent Ireland candidate Daniel Sexton who, to the surprise of many including himself, took a seat in round ten of counting in Skibbereen LEA.

Mr Sexton got through in round ten with 1,277 alongside fellow newcomer Isobel Towse for Social Democrats, and the re-elected Fianna Fáil Cllr Deirdre Kelly.