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Updated 5.25pm
FIANNA FÁIL LEADER Micheál Martin has been reluctant to congratulate Mary Hanafin on her success as it looks like she is set to take a seat in south Dublin alongside Kate Feeney.
The two candidates were at the centre of an awkward row which raised questions about Fianna Fáil’s leadership, but now it now looks like both will be elected.
Hanafin remained a candidate despite repeated calls from Martin for her to withdraw after her late arrival on the ticket prompted by reports that Feeney was polling badly.
Speaking to Newstalk this evening, Martin said Hanafin’s decision to defy the party’s wishes “changed the dynamic of the election and galvanised forces there.”
“I was told a long time ago that a good row in politics can do wondrous things in the next election,” he joked.
While he acknowledged that “Mary Hanafin has done well”, he made a point of congratulating Feeney, saying he was “delighted” for her and she showed “great courage and great nerve”.
“You’ve been through a baptism of fire and you stood up to it,” he said.
Martin told RTÉ that Hanafin will likely still face disciplinary action for going against the party’s decision.
Tallies
The latest tallies for the Blackrock local electoral area show the former Minister for Education is on 14.4 per cent, with newcomer and president of Ógra Fianna Fáil Feeney on 12.4 per cent.
Both are behind front-runner Marie Baker of Fine Gael who is on 17 per cent, but ahead of the remaining eight candidates. There are six seats on Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Council on offer in the area.
Hanafin is projected to have 1,527 first preferences with 1,308 for Feeney. Hanafins transfers are likely to push Feeney over the line.
The first count is expected within a few hours. The valid poll is 10,953 votes with the quota set at 1,513 votes.
First published 3.23pm
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Who the bleedin’ hell voted for Hanifin?!!
Mary on track for at least 2 more pensions , you couldn’t make it up !!
There are no pensions for councillors.
Conservative well to do middle class masochistic muppets!
Tom Darcy gave up HER life!
Tom Darcy, he gave up HER life!
Tom Darcy, gave up HER life!
Tom Darcy, gave up HER life!!
Tom Darcy, gave up HER life.
Zombie Sheeple.
The same fkn sheep that elected her in before…Christ are we that asleep that we keep voting the likes if her in after what she and her party visited on this country???
But she won’t be dipping into her pension.
A lot of ass-muppets out voting
Dear people of Blackrock,
Why did you think it was a good idea to vote for Hanafin?
You deserve everything you get
High Rollers, Unaffected by recession or property tax. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Shame on the people of Blackrock.
Kate Feeney is a fantastic candidate.
No she isn’t. Another FF stooge.
I hope whoever voted for Hanafin has to live off pot noodle for the rest of their lives as punishment..
I don’t think she’ll have the power to enforce that as a humble councillor.
.There was very little recession in Blackrock thats why you have these FF gangsters getting voted back in….Thumb me down all you like but thats fact
In fairness, they’re still in a state of shock shock over the Superquinn being turned into a SuperValu.
Fionnuala O’Carroll Kelly syndrome!
@Harry..
Good point…
It just goes to show that the Fianna Fail demographic were always the wealthy, middle class- types…
I remember living in a flat a few years ago- an absolute kip of a place that I was stuck in- when the bust happened I asked the landlord who he voted for- and he answered Fianna Fail- of course- he was a slum lord… that’s the type that votes for them…
I remember a man telling me 07 that the crash was coming and he would vote FF because they know how to run the country in a recession! Seemed to forget the first 80 years of Irish independence!
Shocking really that 1500+ voters will give this leech national publicity.
Sad really.
Some people need their fu#kin head examined!! Vote for her is a vote for I’m happy with this situation the country us in!
I say she is saying to herself.. The fools!
FF’s (mini) resurgence is a sinister development.
I can a see a return in numbers for FF if it gets new faces for GE
I can’t believe that anyone would vote for Hannafin! She’s was part of the cartel that brought this country to its knees… shocked…
This is a depressing state of affairs, she was a late announcement and it looks like a load of dopes just voted for her because they recognised her, for what possible reason could someone give her a No.1 or any preference.
Anyone who voted for Hanafin should be ashamed of themselves
Mary Hanafin is living proof that you can go really far in life without brains or looks…..
Labour needn’t worry come general election time, Mary Hanifin’s vote proves that the electorate ‘DO’ forget!
Wake up folks and smell the coffee. You live in a conservative country and the default voting position of the majority is Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. A percentage might drift away from time to time but will invariably return to one or the other. Neither party have a core political philosophy other than the pursuit of power. Voters believe that when things go wrong because of incompetence or curruption in the party they get a good kicking in the polls, change the leaders, and then all is forgiven. Just watch.
Well said scared of changes
This is a brilliant example of how unrepresented this journal website is by the aged 55-80 demographic in Ireland who always have a high % turnout. This is the conservative part of the electorate that has traditionally always voted FF/FG far more heavily. The Journal mainly represents disillusioned middle class people in the 25-50 category who vote largely left-wing parties/indepenents.
At least 95% of journal readers wont be able to understand the above explanation however.
You’re right, all I got out of that was “meh meh meh meh meh stuff”.
When you’re right, you’re right Kieran. That demographic doesn’t tend to air it’s concerns or grievances on sites like the Journal or other internet forums, but they certainly come out to vote. I’m not particularly surprised that Hanafin got in there. Couldn’t see it happening elsewhere though.
Am so relieved to only be 54 and not living in the Blackrock constituency!
Blackrock about to become public enemy around Ireland. Give yourself a clap for voting in a complete and utter tool.. morons.
I hope that does not mean that we should expect to see bombs in Blackrock.
Whether you agree with it or not, that’s democracy. At least they voted. I’d have more of an issue with those that didn’t bother.
I prefer it when stupid people don’t vote.
Well I hope you voted at least.
She was on my ballot paper. I didn’t vote for her. I don’t want her pretending to represent me. She doesn’t and never will.
She does now, like it or not.
No she doesn’t. I won’t see her again until the next time she’s looking for a vote. Between now and then, she will represent herself and her own interests – same way she always has
Yay more trips abroad for Mammy Hanafin!
Had a feeling this would happen. And now it’ll all be forgiven and herself and Martin will be best pals again. Until the selection convention for the next general election of course…
Sean Haughey also looks set to return. Let’s just hope Mary Fitzpatrick is kept out by Eamon Ryan.
This is yet, further depressing proof that the same stupidity that led to the election of Bertie and his cronies three times, still prevails today! We are a BANANA Republic and will remain so, as long as our electorate continue maintain a simplistic and superficial attitude towards politics! Why do we continually elect shysters and gombeens! We really do need to improve our education system, so that we Irish will finally learn HOW to think, rather than WHAT to think!
Was it Einstein who said definition of madness was ‘continuing to do same thing but expecting different result’….just goes to show you get what you deserve….people of Blackrock ( all 1500 of ye ) you disgust me….BTW….remember when she brought her mother to work day in Dail few years ago,woman slipped n sued state for nice tidy sum.
That about sums up 3 pensions Hannifin – one greedy slug!
That’s right Vinny, and after Hanafin railing against a ‘compensation culture’ in Ireland http://www.herald.ie/news/hanafins-mum-makes-compo-claim-after-she-falls-in-leinster-house-27900244.html
This Country is F*****!! What the Hell! How can the Irish People re-elect someone like Hanifin!!
To sum it up in one word….backward…
In a democracy the people get the candidates they deserve.
Blackrock…good luck with that!
Paddy power, where’s my cash?
Mary, wouldn’t teaching be a far more ‘suitable’ job for you? Are you not a teacher, first and foremost? I don’t understand the voters in this constituency – memory loss? Sad, so sad to see FF still getting votes.
She is a teacher, she taught in Sion Hill, Blackrock, as far as I know- a friend of mine had her as a teacher in school -said she was a ‘weapon’…
1500 people voted for her because she is a very capable lady and will be a good representative -
@Eugene ..
Well obviously those 1500 people need some lessons in ‘How To Spot Sociopaths’ because that’s what Fianna Fail are…
Whoever voted for her needs their head examined… but then again she is quite convincing at pretending to be a harmless, mumsie- type… so she probably appeals to a certain Blackrock demographic who relate to her very well constructed image… The woman is made of razor blades… ruthless and the epitome of ‘ me fein’ culture…
Ha ha, thanks for that, needed a good laugh today
She’s a parasite.
She’s got elected fair and square. It was a good result for FF. No point in complaining about it now, it won’t change a thing.
well said…
To elect the master class …. The country will forever be dependent on handouts… Ireland will you grow up and stop repeating the same bucking mistakes….
Blackrock populated by voting cockroaches
Here’s what the 1500 sheep in Blackrock voted for…
The spat was a PR stunt all along.. most talked about local election in the country.
Shock..horror…disgust…I still can’t believe the party exists…ff the party for the rich,greedy cute hoor…the wolf in sheeps clothing…
All the thick girl on girls in blackrock voted for , I swear not one sane man would ,in this country vote for her,
Whoever voted for her or any of her party’s running mates; you make me sick!!
You have the right to vote for whoever you want so i dont get this backlash anf abuse from people.
They’re upset because they elected Mary Hannifin. Hope that helps.
No. Just, no…
Tell me where has our spirit of community gone? You’d think they’d bloody vote for what is right and not what suits them. Makes me sick how we Irish have become towards each other. It’s gotten to the stage when we’re seeing families turfed out with nothing.
But sure why would ya bother voting for change when it suits ya.
What if those voters got a taste of how difficult it really is. Suppose, divide and conquer is how the government played this, why would we expect it to turn out any different .
Congratulations Mary you deserve to get in Nellie Phelan Thurles
Nellie = complete idiot!
Michael Martin was the Minister who set up the HSE.
Fianna Fáil bankrupted this Country!
Voters do not forget!
Labour said it would not impose Property Tax or Water Rates!
It did!
The Labour Party want to destroy Catholic Education in all schools in Ireland!
They are now being told by the electorate that they gave DECEIVED the Irish People!
You are deceivers and deserve to be wiped out!
Goodbye Labour. You are no loss,
Fine Gael claimed it was Pro-life before the last GE.
It deceived the Irish Electorate !
It is now paying the price for deception!
It’s not just Labour that want the church out of our schools Dermot, in fact, 75% of parents in Ireland want non-denominational schools according to a poll commissioned by the Irish Primary Principals Network
The vast majority of the Irish people are also pro-choice, as seen in successive referendums and polls, only 8% of our population are against abortion under any circumstances http://www.redcresearch.ie/news/support-for-fine-gael-continues-to-decline Fine Gael lost seats over economic policy, not an imagined ‘promise’ that they never made.
Support for Same-Sex Marriage has gone from 53% in 2012, to 67% in 2014, with only 21% currently opposed http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/support-for-same-sex-marriage-increasing-poll-finds-1.1752448
Now you may counter that polls should be dismissed, but this isn’t a 49% v 51% we’re talking about, the Irish people are overwhelmingly against what the catholic church stands for in education, women’s rights, and gay rights, you can stick your head in the sand if you like but the role of the church in our country will be obliterated over the coming decades, and not too soon, remember, we live in a Republic, not a theocracy ruled from Rome.
Blackrock you just made the list!
She knocked on my door last Friday. I told her she hadn’t a hope in hell of getting my vote. She didn’t of course my change of address didn’t go through in time so I couldn’t actually vote .
Figured that might happen, damn there are a LOT of stupid people with every short memories in this country. As if her 2 or 3 pensions aren’t enough, whoever voted for her should be forced to watch some of her speeches on loop for a week and see how they feel then.
There was no recession in Blackrock, their is a clear class divide and if the selfish people think voting in someone who is directly responsible for the mess we are in is acceptable to the rest of us they better think again. The people have spoken throughout the country that we will not take this anymore.
says it all brain dead irish ..
I gave her a preference – just to annoy Martin!!
Currently 25.3% of votes (212) seats have been won by Fianna Fail – why the hell are folks in the country voting for these swines? Do people have amnesia?? no wonder the country is in shit… seriously muppets the lot of them
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