Dramatic slump in Fianna Fáil vote in Donegal

As the dust settles in the wake of yesterday’s historic events in Donegal, much of the focus will centre on the Fianna Fáil slump and the fact that Tánaiste Mary Coughlan became one of the most high-profile casualties of the election.

On examination it is clear that the decision to field two candidates in Donegal South West certainly hampered any hopes Fianna Fáil had of taking a seat there, while the decision not to add a second candidate in Donegal North East appears justified with the election of Charlie McConalogue.

But there can be no doubt about the extent of the slump in support. In 2007 the two candidates in Donegal South-West – Mary Coughlan and Pat the Cope Gallagher – took more votes between them (20,136) than the entire vote across Donegal this time around (16,358).

Elected with a surplus on the first count in 2007, Mary Coughlan had 10,530 first preferences then compared to the 4,956 she took this time around.

And her running mate Brian O’Domhnaill fared equally dismally taking 4,789 first preferences this time compared to the 9,606 that saw Pat the Cope Gallagher elected with ease on the second count in 2007.

In Donegal North East there was also a huge slump in Fianna Fáil support, but there the single candidate strategy paid off when Charlie McConalogue pipped Jimmy Harte for the last seat without reaching the quota.

However when it is considered that Fianna Fáil had two TDs elected in Donegal North East last time and effectively three the time before that (when Niall Blaney was IFF) the shift in the power base is evident even in Donegal North East.

Last time out Fianna Fáil ran three candidates in Donegal North East – Jimmy McDaid, Niall Blaney and Cecilia Keaveney – and between them polled 19,374 first preferences.

In contrast the single Fianna Fáil candidate Charlie McConalogue took just 6,613 first preference votes this time in Donegal North East and while it was enough to see him elected, there were already concerns being expressed yesterday about the consequences such a dramatic slump could have for the next local elections – particularly in the Letterkenny and Milford electoral areas.

In terms of the numbers Fianna Fáil took 39,510 first preferences in Donegal in 2007, compared to 16,358 first preferences in both constituencies in 2011.