Fledgling party Independent Ireland has made major gains in the local elections, with 20 new councillors so far elected.
Set up late last year by TDs Michael Collins and Richard O’Donoghue, the party has seen big breakthroughs nationally in this election, including the election of its first female councillor.
The new party ran 58 candidates in the local elections, and three candidates in the European election race.
Linda de Courcy became the first woman to be elected for the party, securing a seat in Clondalkin, Dublin.
Cllr Seamus Walsh, a former Fianna Fáil councillor, became the first elected councillor for the party, increasing his vote by 500 in Oughterard, Co Galway.
Speaking to reporters following his victory, Cllr Walsh said: “I had a core vote that they could never take off me – and they tried.”
“We have never been right wing, we are not right wing, we love people, we are good to people, but we are disgusted with the way the government is mishandling the immigration issue,” the newly elected Independent Ireland councillor told Galway Bay FM.
“We have never been right wing, we are not right wing, we love people, we are good to people, but we are disgusted with the way the government is mishandling the immigration issue”. Seamus Walsh, Ind Ireland, Oughterard. #LocalElections2024 pic.twitter.com/tTXbbqlnJT
— Galway Bay FM (@gbayfm) June 8, 2024
Elsewhere, Fergus McDonnell took a seat in Edenderry, county Offaly, while Cllr Ken O’Flynn – former deputy Lord Mayor of Cork – took a seat for the party in Cork City, securing an impressive 3,134 first preference votes.
John Collins was elected in Bandon, Kinsale, with 2,389 first preference votes. He was elected for the party alongside his brother Danny in West Cork. Elsewhere in Cork, Daniel Sexton was elected in Skibbereen, finishing with 2,238 votes, becoming the third member of the party to be elected in West Cork. Gerr Curley was elected for Independent Ireland in the Cobh LEA, while Cllr Danny Collins took a seat in Bantry.
Independent Ireland councillor Daniel Sexton finished with 2,238 votes and is the third member of the party to be elected in the West Cork MD after the Collins brothers Danny and John were elected over the weekend.
Cllr Nigel Dineen was elected in Roscommon. Cllr Dineen, who joined the party in March, celebrated his third consecutive election to the council since 2014.
Phil Sutcliffe won a seat in Drimnagh/Ballyfermot, Dublin. The former boxer and two-time Olympian and boxing coach of Conor McGregor had his hand raised after a lengthy count, defeating Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste on the tenth count to claim a seat on Dublin City Council.
Meanwhile, Chris Maxwell topped the poll in Westport, gaining a seat for the party there.
In Naas, Kildare, Independent Ireland’s Ger Dunne took the last available seat, while in Bray East, Wicklow, Ian Neary also secured a seat for the fledgling party.
Shane P O’Reilly secured 1,875 votes in Ballyjamesduff, Cavan, taking the first seat there after topping the poll. It was Cllr O’Reilly’s first outing as an Independent Ireland candidate, having previously been a councillor for Fianna Fáil, but leaving the party in 2019. It is the fourth time he has been elected consecutively since 2004, with Cllr O’Reilly describing his victory as “a massive win” for the people of Mullagh and the surrounding area.
Ballinasloe councillor Declan Geraghty, who joined Independent Ireland in February, was also elected in Ballinasloe, Galway. Cllr Geraghty, who first took office for the Ballinasloe area in 2019, serving as an Independent councillor since then, topped the poll for Independent Ireland in Ballinasloe DEO, with the Williamstown Councillor taking 18.58 per cent of first preferences.
Elsewhere in Galway, Sean Cunniffee was elected for Independent Ireland in Tuam, and Cllr Declan Kelly, a former independent who joined the party in March, also secured a seat in Loughrea.
In Connemara South, Independent Ireland candidate and returning councillor Noel Thomas topped the poll, getting one up on his former party. The ex Fianna Fáil councillor from Moycullen was elected on the third count at 11pm on Sunday night. Cllr Thomas made headlines in March when he announced he was leaving Fianna Fáil because the party had “become very detached from ordinary people.”
In Connemara North, another seat was in the bag for the party, after Cllr Seamus Walsh, who announced his resignation from Fianna Fail in March, soared to victory. He was second to the post in his constituency, after gaining 73 transfers from fellow Oughterard resident Thomas Welby.
The councillor, whose dramatic departure from Fianna Fail made headline news after he criticised the party’s asylum policy and “detachment” from ordinary people, was deemed elected at 1,598 votes under the Independent Ireland banner.
In Limerick, Tommy Hartigan won a seat in Adare Rathkeale, while former Independent councillor, John O’Donoghue also secured a seat in the same electoral area, and was elected on the seventh count with 1,830 votes. The brother of Independent Ireland TD Richard O’Donoghue, speaking just seconds after he won his seat, told local media he was “elated,” adding that “it means everything” to such a newly established party and that Richard holding a Dáil seat was a big boost for the party.
A great election for Independent Ireland was crowned by the party winning a seat in Carlow, with the election of Cllr John Cassin announced on Monday afternoon, with more seats expected to be announced as counts continue.
In a statement, the party said that the outcome of the election evidenced a desire for change among voters.
A spokesperson said: “Independent Ireland began our local and Eu election campaign just 3 months ago, with 3 sitting TD’s Michael Collins (Leader), Richard O Donoghue and Michael Fitzmaurice.
“We ran 58 candidates in the local elections and 3 candidates in the European elections (awaiting results). Currently the party has 22 county councillors elected with an additional 3 awaiting results, we are delighted with the response from the electorate, getting 38% of candidates already elected shows the level of trust voters put into us.
“This result confirms that there is a strong appetite common sense solutions, real opposition and a desire for change among voters, Independent Ireland will be serious contenders for the next general election and we are actively seeking new candidates to come onboard to bring about change and real opposition.
Leader Michael Collins expressed his thanks to all candidates and their campaign teams “who put their faith in Independent Ireland and represented us proudly in our first ever election.”
All eyes remain fixed on the party’s European candidates, who are in serious contention to win seats in Europe. Veteran broadcaster Niall Boylan is hoping to gain a seat in Dublin, while Ciaran Mullooly is running for the Midlands North West, along with Eddie Punch in the South.