Bandon/Kinsale Cork: First count

SINN Fein’s Rachel McCarthy secured a decisive victory in Bandon-Kinsale topping the poll with 2,344 first preference votes.

The 30 year old former Bandon town councillor mounted a strong campaign as an ‘alternative voice.’

Opposed to water charges and property tax, the mum of two said ‘people are looking for change.’ “The others haven’t delivered,” she said.

Labour candidate Thomas O’Brien lost out heavily to McCarthy, polling

1,097 first preference votes. Also elected on the first count was Fianna Fail’s Alan Coleman, a long serving councillor first elected to Cork County Council in 1991.