It’s almost 7 pm in the Dr Hyde Centre in Roscommon, where a sense of anti-climax still persists, not that that will concern those who are soon(ish) to be crowned.
Most members of the media here, and several of the political activists/supporters present, have spent the afternoon rather nostalgic for the drama of election counts past.
Unfolding before us is that rarest of things… an election race that is unlikely to feature any drama on the last lap.
No journalist here is reaching for the word ‘cliffhanger’.
With election drama and the excitement of close finishes in previous elections not materialising this time, the near-torrential rain bouncing off the roof of the Hyde Centre seems fitting in a way.
All the signs are that the three pre-election favourites – sitting TDs Michael Fitzmaurice and Claire Kerrane, and first-time candidate Dr Martin Daly – will take the three seats in Roscommon-Galway.
Fitzmaurice will be elected shortly, when the first count result is declared. As stated earlier, he could surpass 12,000 number ones; he will certainly surpass the quota (of perhaps little over 10,000).
Later, hopefully tonight but by no means definitely, Sinn Féin’s Claire Kerrane and Fianna Fáil’s Dr Daly will also be elected.
After the distribution of Fitzmaurice’s surplus, several lower-placed candidates will be eliminated. Then the vote transfer process will begin in earnest.
We’re pretty sure we know the outcome. There will be a (new) Doctor in the House. Claire Kerrane will be returning too. Michael Fitzmaurice will lead them home. This is how Roscommon-Galway has voted. For the rest, the inquests begin.
No cliffhanger for the media/public… some soul-searching for prominent candidates for whom the race didn’t quite go as planned.
