2019 Meath County Council election

An election to all 40 seats on Meath County Council was held on 24 May 2019 as part of the 2019 Irish local elections. County Meath was divided into 6 local electoral areas (LEAs) to elect councillors for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

2019 Meath County Council election
24 May 2019
All 40 seats on Meath County Council
21 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Party Fine Gael Fianna Fáil Sinn Féin
Seats won 12 12 3
Seat change Decrease 1 Increase 2 Decrease 5
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Party Labour Social Democrats Aontú
Seats won 1 1 1
Seat change Increase 1 Increase 1 Increase 1
  Seventh party
 
Party Independent
Seats won 10
Seat change Increase 1
Results by local electoral area

Boundary review

Following the recommendations of the 2018 LEA boundary review committee, the LEAs used at the 2014 Meath County Council election were adjusted to reflect population changes revealed by the 2016 census.[1] The boundary committee recommended that Navan be designated a borough district. This was implemented in the initial statutory instrument, but was reversed as being contrary to Local Government Act 2001.[2]

Overview

Fine Gael lost 1 seat but remained the largest party with 12 seats but with an increased vote share. Fianna Fáil gained 2 seats to return with 12 seats also but their vote share reduced compared to 2014. Sinn Féin lost 5 seats and was reduced to having representation solely in Ashbourne, Kells and Navan. One of the Sinn Féin losses in Navan was to Emer Tóibín of Aontú, a sister of Peadar Tóibín TD. Through Annie Hoey, Labour regained a seat on the council in Laytown–Bettystown, and in Trim Ronan Moore won a seat for the Social Democrats. The number of Independent councillors increased from 9 to 10.

Sharon Keogan was elected in both the Ashbourne LEA and the Laytown–Bettystown LEA, becoming the first woman in Ireland elected to two electoral areas.[3] She initially objected to being required to choose one of two seats,[3] but later chose Laytown–Bettystown.[4]

Results by party
Party Seats ± 1st pref FPv% ±%
Fine Gael 12 Decrease1 20,549 29.58 Increase6.76
Fianna Fáil 12 Increase2 17,560 25.28 Decrease2.40
Sinn Féin 3 Decrease5 6,845 9.85 Decrease8.32
Aontú 1 Increase1 3,361 4.84 Increase4.84
Labour 1 Increase1 1,710 2.46 Decrease2.68
Social Democrats 1 Increase1 1,533 2.21 New
Green 0 Steady 614 0.88 Increase0.63
Workers' Party 0 Steady 330 0.48 Increase0.11
Direct Democracy 0 Steady 241 0.35 Decrease0.05
People Before Profit 0 Steady 164 0.24 Decrease0.29
Independent 10 Increase1 16,552 23.83 Decrease0.77
Total 40 Steady 69,459 100.00

Results by local electoral area

^ *: Outgoing councillor elected in 2014.
^ †: Outgoing councillor coopted subsequent to the 2014 election.

Ashbourne
Ashbourne: 6 seats[5][6]
PartyCandidateFPv%Count
123456789
Independent Joe Bonner[*] 21.66% 2,170                
Fine Gael Alan Tobin[*] 15.62% 1,565                
Independent Sharon Keogan[*][lower-alpha 1] 11.78% 1,180 1,269 1,277 1,292 1,306 1,395 1,415 1,543  
Fine Gael Suzanne Jamal[*] 11.73% 1,175 1,239 1,258 1,328 1,336 1,479      
Fianna Fáil Conor Tormey[†] 8.15% 817 1,019 1,060 1,132 1,151 1,167 1,176 1,256 1,357
Fianna Fáil Lisa Mellor 7.20% 721 738 740 790 795 889 896 955 1,005
Aontú Joseph Tuite 5.22% 523 562 566 583 590 613 617    
Sinn Féin Darren O'Rourke[*][lower-alpha 1] 5.00% 501 573 581 592 836 847 848 950 1,148
Social Democrats Paul Nolan 4.00% 401 546 569 574 611 621 627 668  
Fine Gael John Stillman 3.88% 389 414 430 435 439        
Sinn Féin Aisling O'Neill 3.10% 311 378 387 389          
Fianna Fáil Sarah-Jane Reilly 2.65% 266 284 287            
Electorate: 21,081   Valid: 10,019   Spoilt: 196   Quota: 1,432   Turnout: 10,215  

    Kells
    Kells: 7 seats[7][8]
    PartyCandidateFPv%Count
    12345678
    Fianna Fáil Seán Drew[*] 14.06% 1,996              
    Fine Gael Sarah Reilly[*] 13.85% 1,966              
    Sinn Féin Johnny Guirke[*][lower-alpha 1] 11.82% 1,678 1,685 1,693 1,724 1,748 1,796    
    Fine Gael Eugene Cassidy[*] 9.95% 1,413 1,421 1,463 1,470 1,514 1,547 1,569 1,792
    Independent David Gilroy[*] 7.87% 1,118 1,122 1,133 1,171 1,234 1,340 1,357 1,493
    Fianna Fáil Paul McCabe 7.46% 1,059 1,109 1,125 1,141 1,195 1,251 1,353 1,546
    Fianna Fáil Mike Bray 7.18% 1,020 1,070 1,088 1,096 1,132 1,178 1,384 1,458
    Sinn Féin Michael Gallagher[*] 7.02% 997 1,013 1,019 1,071 1,120 1,216 1,235  
    Fine Gael Peter Farrelly 6.83% 970 1,000 1,061 1,083 1,136 1,177 1,347 1,410
    Fianna Fáil Oliver Fox 4.92% 698 711 716 716 727 761    
    Aontú Peter Devin 4.03% 572 580 586 609 648      
    Labour Aaron Byrne 2.68% 380 402 414 490        
    Workers' Party Séamus McDonagh 2.32% 330 343 349          
    Electorate: 26,262   Valid: 14,197   Spoilt: 250   Quota: 1,775   Turnout: 14,447  

      Laytown–Bettystown
      Laytown–Bettystown: 7 seats[9][10]
      PartyCandidateFPv%Count
      1234567891011
      Independent Sharon Keogan[*][lower-alpha 1] 17.80% 2,039                    
      Fine Gael Sharon Tolan[*] 15.49% 1,774                    
      Fine Gael Paddy Meade[*] 12.71% 1,455                    
      Fianna Fáil Wayne Harding[*] 10.44% 1,196 1,228 1,236 1,240 1,251 1,257 1,265 1,270 1,287 1,301 1,451
      Labour Annie Hoey[lower-alpha 1] 9.54% 1,093 1,172 1,268 1,279 1,282 1,294 1,324 1,397 1,435    
      Fianna Fáil Stephen McKee[*] 8.93% 1,023 1,264 1,296 1,299 1,300 1,311 1,314 1,319 1,358 1,413 1,471
      Fianna Fáil Tom Behan 7.52% 861 892 970 971 972 975 983 1,013 1,025 1,123 1,164
      Sinn Féin Eimear Ferguson[*] 5.03% 576 633 667 668 669 776 816 846 915 971 1,038
      Aontú Peter Whelan 3.29% 377 403 409 416 420 430 440 446 474 529  
      Independent Tom Kelly[*] 2.40% 275 322 365 376 377 382 395 407 440    
      Direct Democracy Anthony Connor 2.10% 241 270 274 280 280 293 315 347      
      Social Democrats Rob Corr 1.44% 165 177 198 200 200 202 232        
      People Before Profit William Lacey 1.43% 164 178 192 196 196 199          
      Sinn Féin Fergal O'Byrne 1.41% 162 187 190 192 193            
      Independent Patrick Smith 0.45% 51 65 68                
      Electorate: 25,236   Valid: 11,452   Spoilt: 201   Quota: 1,432   Turnout: 11,653  
        Navan: 7 seats[11][12]
        PartyCandidateFPv%Count
        1234567891011
        Fianna Fáil Tommy Reilly[*] 12.79% 1,330                    
        Aontú Emer Tóibín 12.37% 1,286 1,289 1,306                
        Independent Francis Deane[*] 11.11% 1,155 1,161 1,173 1,187 1,250 1,273 1,303        
        Sinn Féin Eddie Fennessy[†] 9.51% 989 990 999 1,002 1,019 1,029 1,044 1,095 1,433    
        Fianna Fáil Padraig Fitzsimons[†] 9.42% 979 987 989 1,032 1,058 1,122 1,139 1,185 1,220 1,238 1,316
        Independent Alan Lawes 8.76% 911 912 924 925 932 974 978 1,034 1,087 1,141 1,214
        Fine Gael Yemi Adenuga 6.16% 640 641 649 665 684 707 781 806 867 881 1,225
        Green Séamus McMenamin 5.91% 614 615 670 686 696 707 723 761 803 839 942
        Sinn Féin Sinéad Burke[*] 5.41% 562 563 571 575 594 602 609 651      
        Fine Gael Ross Kelly 5.30% 551 552 560 573 590 628 714 756 794 805  
        Independent Wayne Forde[*] 3.06% 318 319 324 330 353 361 370        
        Fine Gael Karen Byrne 2.58% 268 268 270 276 285 291          
        Independent Stephen Ball 2.23% 232 233 239 245              
        Fianna Fáil Jenny McHugh 2.18% 227 229 230 266 269            
        Fianna Fáil Madeleine Thornton 1.70% 177 180 182                
        Social Democrats Amy McGrath 1.52% 158 158                  
        Electorate: 23,167   Valid: 10,397   Spoilt: 195   Quota: 1,300   Turnout: 10,592  

          Ratoath
          Ratoath: 7 seats[13][14]
          PartyCandidateFPv%Count
          1234567
          Fianna Fáil Damien O'Reilly[*][lower-alpha 1] 17.52% 2,198            
          Independent Gillian Toole[*] 15.72% 1,972            
          Independent Brian Fitzgerald[*] 14.43% 1,810            
          Independent Nick Killian[*] 12.35% 1,549 1,598          
          Fine Gael Gerry O'Connor[*] 9.76% 1,224 1,259 1,339 1,384 1,408 1,470 1,542
          Fine Gael Maria Murphy[*] 9.28% 1,164 1,366 1,386 1,430 1,469 1,635  
          Independent Seán Henry 5.48% 688 805 832 878 947 970 1,118
          Fianna Fáil Deirdre Geraghty-Smith 4.62% 579 744 831 873 940 1,071 1,304
          Independent Fergus O'Riordan 3.83% 481 496 594 609 710 790  
          Fine Gael Bee Flanagan 3.52% 442 456 517 548 567    
          Sinn Féin Maria Uí Ruairc 3.48% 437 469 499 517 567    
          Electorate: 25,803   Valid: 12,544   Spoilt: 221   Quota: 1,569   Turnout: 12,765  

            Trim
            Trim: 6 seats[15][16]
            PartyCandidateFPv%Count
            123456
            Fine Gael Noel French[*] 27.23% 2,954          
            Fine Gael Joe Fox[*] 14.47% 1,570          
            Fianna Fáil Aisling Dempsey 10.25% 1,112 1,385 1,447 1,567    
            Fine Gael Niamh Souhan 9.48% 1,029 1,271 1,321 1,397 1,436 1,508
            Fianna Fáil Vera Kelly 8.02% 870 931 948 1,085 1,148 1,193
            Social Democrats Ronan Moore 7.46% 809 996 1,050 1,064 1,143 1,402
            Sinn Féin Caroline Lynch[*] 5.82% 632 776 799 817 923  
            Independent Trevor Golden[*] 5.56% 603 845 886 923 1,138 1,332
            Aontú Des Doran 5.56% 603 703 719 725    
            Fianna Fáil Sinéad Geraghty 3.97% 431 470 494      
            Labour Tracy McElhinney 2.18% 237 352        
            Electorate: 25,574   Valid: 10,850   Spoilt: 222   Quota: 1,551   Turnout: 11,072  

              Footnotes
              1. See change below.

              Results by gender
              2019 Meath County Council election[17][18]
              Candidates by gender
              Gender Number of
              candidates              		  % of
              candidates              		 Elected
              councillors              		  % of
              councillors
              Men 50 64.1% 27 67.5%
              Women 28 35.9% 13 32.5%
              TOTAL78 40 

              Changes after 2019
              Party Outgoing Electoral area Reason Date Co-optee
              Independent Sharon Keogan Ashbourne Elected for two areas; chose to sit for Laytown–Bettystown[3] June 2019 Amanda Smith[19][4]
              Sinn Féin Darren O'Rourke Ashbourne Elected to the 33rd Dáil for Meath East at the 2020 general election[20][21] February 2020 Aisling Ó Néill[22]
              Sinn Féin Johnny Guirke Kells Elected to the 33rd Dáil for Meath West at the 2020 general election[23][24] February 2020 Michael Gallagher[22]
              Independent Sharon Keogan Laytown–Bettystown Elected to the 26th Seanad on the Industrial and Commercial Panel at the 2020 Seanad election[25][26] June 2020 Geraldine Keogan[27]
              Labour Annie Hoey Laytown–Bettystown Elected to the 26th Seanad on the Agricultural Panel at the 2020 Seanad election[25] 8 June 2020 Elaine McGinty[28]
              Fianna Fáil Damien O'Reilly Ratoath Death of councillor Sept. 2023 TBD

              References
              1. Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee No. 1 (13 June 2018). Report 2018 (PDF). Government Publications. pp. 84–87, 157. ISBN 978-1-4064-2990-9. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
              3. "Keogan becomes first woman in Ireland elected to two electoral areas". Meath Chronicle. Navan. 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
              4. Doyle, Kevin (1 July 2019). "'Sad day for democracy' - Fianna Fáil candidate loses out on council seat after colleagues vote against co-option". Irish Independent. Dublin. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
              5. "Declaration Of Result: Ashbourne LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              6. "Ashbourne LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019 – Results of Counts 1 to 9 of 9" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              7. "Declaration Of Result: Kells LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              8. "Kells LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019 – Results of Counts 1 to 8 of 8" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              9. "Declaration Of Result: Laytown–Bettystown LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              10. "Laytown–Bettystown LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019 – Results of Counts 1 to 11 of 11" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              11. "Declaration Of Result: Navan LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              12. "Navan LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019 – Results of Counts 1 to 11 of 11" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              13. "Declaration Of Result: Ratoath LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              14. "Ratoath LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019 – Results of Counts 1 to 7 of 7" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              15. "Declaration Of Result: Trim LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
              16. "Trim LEA - Local Election - 24 May 2019 – Results of Counts 1 to 6 of 6" (PDF). Meath County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              17. Walshe, Louise; McCullen, Richard (27 May 2019) [25 May 2019]. "Meath County Council: Star of Gogglebox takes seat in Navan". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
              18. DHPLG 2019, p. 247.
              19. Carolan, Michael (1 July 2019). "Amanda Smith co-opted onto Meath County Council". LMFM. Drogheda. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
              20. Bowers, Shauna (10 February 2020) [9 February 2020]. "Meath East results: SF tops the poll while FG's Regina Doherty loses seat; Minister for Social Protection comes in fifth in three-seater". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
              21. Bowers, Shauna (10 February 2020) [9 February 2020]. "Election 2020: Darren O'Rourke (Sinn Féin)". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
              22. Doyle, Simon (25 February 2020). "Three Sinn Féin members co-opted onto Louth and Meath County Councils". LMFM. Drogheda. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
              23. Walsh, Louise (10 February 2020) [9 February 2020]. "Meath West results: Surprise at Fianna Fáil loss as seismic shift to left". The Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              24. "Election 2020: Meath West". The Irish Times. Dublin. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
              25. O'Halloran, Marie (4 April 2020). "Seanad election results: Full list of Senators voted in to new Seanad". Irish Times. Dublin. Archived from the original on 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
              26. Donohoe, John (3 April 2020). "Sharon Keogan becomes Meath's third senator". Meath Chronicle. Navan. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
              27. "Gilroy new council chairperson". Meath Live. 6 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020.
              28. Donohoe, John (10 June 2020). "Newly elected representative hopes to be a councillor for all generations, present and future". Meath Chronicle. Navan. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020.

              Sources
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