41.4% of voters in the Sligo-Strandhill electoral area gave their first preference vote to a candidate not from one of traditionally larger parties.
According to tally figures, 3,454 of 8,342 voters avoided Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin or Labour in their first preference an increase from 3,154 in the local elections in 2019.
The statistics are evident as Independent Socialist candidate Declan Bree’s first preference total of 1,553 votes, would see him elected on the first count while People Before Profit’s Gino O’Boyle tallied 744 first preference votes look likely to see him elected.
Note: The figures above are tally figures – the official count for Sligo-Strandhill will begin later.