Irish Elections - Referendum, Presidential, and General (polling or byelections)

[lilTommy]

Well... did i ever think this was going in a different direction... i was going to nominate Stephen Gately

McAleese is stepping down?

[lilTommy]

Sort of on topic... Martin McGuiness is the Sinn Fein candidate, who is apparently "hated" by Gay Byrne. Any legit shot?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-15031025

[lilTommy]

Anyone have a call on the by-election? who will take it?

Four are members of Fingal County Council, odd, anyone know how each are perceived?: David McGuinness of Fianna Fáil,
Eithne Loftus of Fine Gael,
Patrick Nulty of the Labour Party,
Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party,
non-council candidates:
Paul Donnelly of Sinn Féin,
Roderic O'Gorman of the Green Party,
Peadar Ó Ceallaigh of Fís Nua

and 6 independents! holy thats a crowded field. There are two left members one labour the other Socialist; any chance another from either party takes it? or will FF win back the seat? Could the greens get back into the Dail (have the Irish forgiven them yet?) or is there any SF support in Dublin West?

[lilTommy]

Now that was a close 4th count...

NULTY, Patrick LAB  13034
McGUINNESS, David FF  9865
COPPINGER, Ruth SP  9847

- knocked off by 18 votes! talk about close... i was hoping (insert dreaming) she'd be able to pull it off, but realistically i thought McGuinness would have killed her on the 4th ballot.

Do they do recounts?