10.21 In Donegal North East – 23 boxes open in the Inishowen area. Padraig MacLoughlain, Charlie MacConolougue and John Ryan polling well – Betty Holmes the best of the independents

10:25 SW – 47 boxes open from Killybegs to Bundoran – Thomas Pringle over 4,000 – Pearse Doherty 3,100, Mary Couglan just 3,000

10:50 Crowd growing in the Aura – Letterkenny boxes starting to be opened SF still out in front at 28.2%, FF at 25, Ryan at 22.34

11.20 Charlie Joe McGinley suggests FF could be in trouble in Donegal NE

11.25 Donegal SW Coughlan will have a major fight to retain seat

11.34 Donegal NE – Figures due from Letterkenny boxes soon

11.35 DOnegal SW – Only FInn Valley boxes left to open – Doherty – 30%, McGinley – 19%, Pringle – 17%, Coughlan – 13%, O Domhnaill – 12%

12:03 First count due at 4pm

12.30 Donegal NE 117/123 SF 25% FF 18% McHugh 19% John ryan 13% Harte 11% shiels 5%

12.35 Donegal SW- 80% of boxes counted : Doherty – 32%, McGinley – 20%, Pringle – 15%, Coughlan – 12%, O Domhnaill – 11%, McCahill – 5%, McBrearty – 4%.

1.30 Bit of a lull in both centres now – votes being sorted. 1st count announcement due around 4pm

2:45  Atmosphere not what it normally is – all very efficient, but not much action

4.35: Election officials at Aura so strict with passes, it is robbing the count of its atmosphere

4.45 Getting closer – candidates called to adjudicate on spoiled votes in NE

5.35 Pearse Doherty elected – Pringle and O’Domhnaill to fight for last seat – late night expected

5.37 NE 1st count imminent

6.37 Donegal NE 1st count PMac 9278 CMc 6613 JR 4657 Harte 4090 Blaney 1228 Shiels 1876 – MacLoughlainn 200 hundred short of Quota