Marathon election count came down to a sprint at the finish

The drama dragged on late into the second day of counting before a result was finally called for the final seat in the Cashel-Tipperary LEA and in the end it was a neck-and-neck race to fill the 40th and final seat on Tipperary County Council  between Sinn Féin  friends, Annemarie Ryan and Tony Black.

 They had canvassed together in the previous weeks, shared laughs and coffees, walked door to door and it came down to a tense final call from the tannoy. 

 The long process had "tried the patience” of everyone left in Count Centre at the Presentation Convent Sports Hall in Thurles.

Nerves were gone,  tired bodies were weary yet still everyone managed  a smile.  

While it was dramatic, the crowd had dwindled until the last few remained, most of whom had  skin in the game. 

John Crosse was sweating right up until the second last count also, as he waited  to see if he could follow fellow Fine Gael Candidates Declan Burgess and Mary Hanna Hourigan over the finish line. 

It was always going to be an election of surprises in 2024 without the heavyweight vote-getter Michael Fitzgerald who had previously stormed to victory in 2019. Where his votes went called the shots.

Poll-topper this time was John O’Heney, a young man with the determination to achieve results, and the folks he met on the doorsteps voted for him in droves. 

The Lattin man topped the poll in what was his first time out and was quickly followed with Liam Browne and Declan Burgess both being elected on Saturday night following the first count. 

There was a lull then for nearly 24 hours. Hurling supporters arrived  into Thurles to watch Clare and Limerick, they were  home again before anyone else was elected in the LEA.

Eventually, late on Sunday evening, Roger Kennedy of Fianna Fáil was elected after the 7th count. 

Quickly on the 8th count Mary Hanna Hourigan followed.

Everyone left in the centre, and there weren’t many, were  biting their nails in a nervous finale.

 Gone were the shoulder high hoistings and loud roars of the previous evening, what remained was “skin of the teeth” where each call where someone was elected was greeted with relieved claps, the politicans grateful there was still room on the ship.

The final call went Annemarie Ryan’s way. Just over 100 votes seperated the two pals. Afterwards Annemarie said it was an emotional rollercoaster: “I suppose I’m relieved that I’m still a local county councillor. I am also sad for my running mate Tony Black. 

“It’s not what we envisiged. 

“We were hoping we’d both get across the line. It’s difficult because I’ve lost my running mate and we were both very supportive of each other in the council. We canvassed together. We supported each other.”

 In the end, relief reigned.