LETTERKENNY: Joy and heartache combine as Fianna Fáil’s Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly tops the Letterkenny poll to be elected in the first count.

The Glenswilly farmer won with 1,841 first preference votes.

After the tragic loss of Manus Kelly weeks after he won a seat in the 2019 election, Donal says they’ve done him proud today.

Speaking to Donegal Daily, he said: “This was a rough rollercoaster ride for each and every individual here. We lost Manus five years ago on the 23rd of June, we lifted him on our shoulders in here. Coming back in here, it all hits home. But I think we’ve done him proud.”

Determined not to lose the seat won by his brother, Kelly put in a massive campaign and said he couldn’t thank everyone enough for their support in the campaign and voted for him.

“I’m delighted, I’m honoured, I’m privileged to be back representing the people of Letterkenny Milford Municipal District and Donegal for the next five years and I can assure them I will work tirelessly and not take anything for granted. I will work to the very best of my ability.”

Watch the interview in full here:

LETTERKENNY FIRST COUNT: 

Thoiba Ahmed (Non-Party) – 440

Kevin Bradley (Non-Party) – 734

Vincent J Bradley (Non-Party) – 95

Ciaran Brogan (Fianna Fail) – 1,407

Nuala Carr (Green Party/Comhaontas Glas) – 176

Donal Coyle (Fianna Fail) – 950 

Tomás Seán Devine (100% Redress) – 1,289

Sandra Haughey (Sinn Fein) – 619

Ulick Hughes (Sinn Fein) – 345 

Declan Jordan (Non-Party) – 621

Jimmy Kavanagh (Fine Gael) – 1,248

Donal Mandy Kelly (Fianna Fail) – 1,841

Michael McBride (Non-Party) – 1,101

Anne McCloskey (Irish People) – 150

Michael McLaughlin (Labour) – 226

Gerry McMonagle (Sinn Fein) – 972

Selina O Donnell (Non-Party) – 30

Mary T Sweeney (Aontu) – 785

Quota: 1,629 Electorate:  25,643  Turn Out: 13,175 Spoiled:  146 Valid: 13,029 

 

Election 2024: Triumph and tears as Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly wins Letterkenny’s first seat was last modified: June 9th, 2024 by Rachel McLaughlin