SDLP leader Colum Eastwood with councillors Brian Tierney, Angela Dobbins and Rory Farrell
Following a shocking results day on Friday for Sinn Fein in Derry, the SDLP will be hoping to be making further inroads into the republican party.
Five wards (DEAs) were finalised on Friday.
Today, Saturday, may 4, the last three wards will be decided today.
The Electoral Office said this morning given the following figures.
* The Moor DEA turnout is 60.37%
* Sperrin DEA turnout is 61.43%
* Waterside DEA turnout 51.82%
Of the 107,875 people eligible to vote in Derry City and Strabane’s DEAs, 61,798 votes were cast resulting in 57.23% voter turnout.
The big shock on Friday was Sinn Fein’s loss of three seats in the Derry and Strabane Council area, sending shockwaves around the Foyle Arena count centre.
Former mayor Maoliosa McHugh, Caoimhe McKnight and Eric McGinley will not be returning to the council chamber after losing their seats.
Gus Hastings of the SDLP, independent Warren Robinson and the DUP’s Thomas Kerrigan also failed to secure enough votes to win their seats back.
In the Derg DEA, Sinn Fein lost one of the three seats they held to SDLP newcomer Cara Hunter.
The SDLP also took a seat off Sinn Fein in the Ballyarnett DEA where Rory Farrell was elected at the expense of Caoimhe McKnight, who had been co-opted to replace Elisha McCallion after she won the Foyle Westminster seat.
Three new parties will be represented when this council returns to business.
Dr Anne McCloskey elected to Derry council with Aontu founder Peadar Toibin
DUP newcomer Ryan McCready has also been elected in the Faughan DEA where he joins his party colleague, returning councillor Graham Warke.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood was in a jubilant mood at the count centre as newcomer to the political arena, Mary Durkan, topped the poll in the Foyleside DEA and was elected on the first count.
He said: “We set out a plan a number of months ago to make this a staging post for the Westminster election which we lost by 169 votes and we haven’t forgotten that.
“I think on today’s performance we are in a full position to take that seat back and on the votes that have been counted we are the largest party again.
“Sinn Fein have had a bad day and we have had a good day.”
Mr Eastwood will be hoping that today will be just as good, if not better, than Friday.
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