# 2014 Donegal County Council election

An election to all 37 seats on Donegal County Council took place on 23 May 2014 as part of the 2014 Irish local elections. County Donegal was divided into 5 local electoral areas 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). In addition, the town councils of Ballyshannon, Bundoran and Letterkenny were all abolished.
The arrest of one candidate, a woman, was ordered ahead of the election.
Gary Doherty of Sinn Féin and independent Frank McBrearty Jnr, a former county mayor and formerly of Labour, were the first candidates to be elected. Both were elected on the first count in the Stranorlar Electoral Area. Another candidate Ian McGarvey, who went into the election as Ireland's oldest Mayor, was re-elected in the Letterkenny Electoral Area. The count concluded in Letterkenny in the early hours of Monday 26 May, when Mick Quinn of Sinn Féin narrowly triumphed over independent Donal Cullen just after 5 am. Independents did well, according to local media in the Donegal LEA at the expense of both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and would increase their representation by 5 overall on the council. Overall while Fianna Fáil made gains in Letterkenny and Glenties they lost a seat in Donegal compared to 2009. Michael Farren retained a solitary seat for Labour in Inishowen. Fine Gael lost 2 seats overall in the Donegal and Inishowen LEAs. Sinn Féin won a second seat in each LEA except Donegal.

## Results by party

Results published here. (archive link)
| Party | Party | Seats | ± | 1st pref | FPv% | ±% |
| | Fianna Fáil | 11 | +1 | 21,069 | 29.1% | |
| | Sinn Féin | 9 | +5 | 14,204 | 19.6% | |
| | Fine Gael | 6 | -2 | 11,351 | 15.7% | |
| | Labour | 1 | -1 | 2,723 | 3.8% | |
| | Independent | 10 | +5 | 21,258 | 29.4% | |
| Total | Total | 37 | +8 | 72,306 | 100.0% | — |

## Results by local electoral area

^ *: Outgoing councillor.

### Donegal

Donegal: 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| | Independent | Niamh Kennedy | 12.52 | 1,738 | 1,742 | 1,755 | 1,790 | 1,838 | 1,886 | 1,940 | 2,174 | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Sean McEniff | 11.83 | 1,642 | 1,643 | 1,671 | 1,686 | 1,739 | 1,748 | 1,890 | 1,896 | 1,897 | 1,906 | 1,913 | 2,244 | |
| | Independent | Tom Conaghan | 11.38 | 1,580 | 1,581 | 1,597 | 1,648 | 1,652 | 1,801 | 1,920 | 1,943 | 1,948 | 2,117 | | | |
| | Independent | John Campbell | 8.78 | 1,219 | 1,221 | 1,237 | 1,259 | 1,272 | 1,320 | 1,370 | 1,441 | 1,475 | 1,671 | 1,706 | 1,744 | 1,752 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Brendan Byrne | 7.90 | 1,096 | 1,096 | 1,098 | 1,103 | 1,107 | 1,116 | 1,207 | 1,380 | 1,441 | 1,584 | 1,599 | 1,624 | 1,639 |
| | Sinn Féin | Noel Jordan | 7.84 | 1,088 | 1,088 | 1,101 | 1,112 | 1,122 | 1,162 | 1,194 | 1,219 | 1,242 | 1,355 | 1,366 | 1,827 | 1,888 |
| | Fine Gael | Barry O'Neill | 7.65 | 1,062 | 1,064 | 1,072 | 1,089 | 1,125 | 1,141 | 1,163 | 1,227 | 1,235 | 1,542 | 1,566 | 1,703 | 1,785 |
| | Sinn Féin | Michael McMahon | 6.99 | 970 | 973 | 1,026 | 1,036 | 1,159 | 1,166 | 1,195 | 1,202 | 1,206 | 1,211 | 1,211 | | |
| | Fine Gael | John Boyle | 6.39 | 887 | 887 | 888 | 897 | 897 | 913 | 931 | 1,125 | 1,178 | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | John McNulty | 5.88 | 816 | 816 | 822 | 827 | 828 | 839 | 845 | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Michael Naughton | 4.25 | 590 | 591 | 604 | 621 | 628 | 651 | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Jonathan Kennedy | 2.71 | 376 | 376 | 381 | 407 | 412 | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Joseph McNulty | 2.56 | 356 | 364 | 376 | 379 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Bernie Mulhern | 1.62 | 225 | 225 | 235 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Laurence McManus | 1.51 | 209 | 211 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Patricia McCafferty | 0.19 | 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 22,050 Valid: 13,881 (62.95%) Spoilt: 132 Quota: 1,984 Turnout: 14,014 (63.55%) |||||||||||||||||

### Glenties

Glenties: 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Seamus O Domhnaill | 14.64 | 1,889 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Marie Therese Gallagher | 13.60 | 1,754 | 1,792 | 1,794 | 1,816 | 1,890 | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Enda Bonner | 9.64 | 1,244 | 1,266 | 1,270 | 1,280 | 1,310 | 1,422 | 1,476 | 1,478 | 1,518 | 1,669 |
| | Sinn Féin | John O Fearraigh | 9.51 | 1,227 | 1,230 | 1,239 | 1,269 | 1,270 | 1,431 | 1,616 | 1,628 | 1,864 | |
| | Independent | Micheál Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig | 8.57 | 1,106 | 1,118 | 1,120 | 1,146 | 1,160 | 1,227 | 1,341 | 1,346 | 1,413 | 1,612 |
| | Fine Gael | Terence Slowey | 7.17 | 925 | 931 | 931 | 1,025 | 1,104 | 1,106 | 1,163 | 1,169 | 1,211 | 1,399 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Ian Molloy | 6.94 | 895 | 901 | 903 | 906 | 1,119 | 1,139 | 1,149 | 1,160 | 1,182 | 1,273 |
| | Labour | Seamus Rodgers | 5.75 | 742 | 762 | 764 | 797 | 858 | 886 | 1,009 | 1,019 | 1,096 | |
| | Independent | Michael McClafferty | 5.59 | 721 | 726 | 736 | 868 | 888 | 903 | 962 | 963 | | |
| | Independent | Padraig Doherty | 5.04 | 650 | 661 | 664 | 736 | 745 | 832 | | | | |
| | Independent | Brian Carr | 4.26 | 550 | 555 | 555 | 560 | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Hughie MacGiolla Bhride | 4.23 | 546 | 548 | 551 | 565 | 567 | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | John Curran | 3.91 | 504 | 504 | 513 | | | | | | | |
| | Direct Democracy | Joe McCarron | 1.13 | 146 | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 22,325 Valid: 12,899 (57.78%) Spoilt: 136 Quota: 1,843 Turnout: 13,035 (58.39%) ||||||||||||||

### Inishowen

Inishowen: 9 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Martin McDermott | 12.51 | 2,002 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Jack Murray | 9.23 | 1,476 | 1,483 | 1,499 | 1,546 | 1,553 | 1,582 | 1,591 | 1,594 | 1,706 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Albert Doherty | 8.75 | 1,399 | 1,459 | 1,463 | 1,483 | 1,486 | 1,511 | 1,636 | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Paul Canning | 8.24 | 1,318 | 1,334 | 1,336 | 1,342 | 1,346 | 1,406 | 1,422 | 1,423 | 1,436 | 1,436 | 1,462 | 1,466 |
| | Independent | Nicholas Crossan | 7.83 | 1,252 | 1,258 | 1,284 | 1,327 | 1,430 | 1,441 | 1,506 | 1,510 | 1,652 | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Bernard McGuinness | 7.38 | 1,180 | 1,271 | 1,278 | 1,287 | 1,310 | 1,340 | 1,488 | 1,499 | 1,519 | 1,523 | 1,726 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Rena Donaghey | 7.12 | 1,139 | 1,184 | 1,193 | 1,207 | 1,264 | 1,368 | 1,406 | 1,409 | 1,473 | 1,477 | 1,536 | 1,539 |
| | Labour | Martin Farren | 6.49 | 1,038 | 1,051 | 1,054 | 1,064 | 1,068 | 1,199 | 1,219 | 1,223 | 1,256 | 1,258 | 1,403 | 1,427 |
| | Fine Gael | John Ryan | 6.33 | 1,013 | 1,017 | 1,027 | 1,052 | 1,147 | 1,155 | 1,176 | 1,177 | 1,207 | 1,213 | 1,360 | 1,452 |
| | Sinn Féin | Ciaran McLaughlin | 6.13 | 980 | 989 | 1,009 | 1,034 | 1,063 | 1,074 | 1,093 | 1,096 | 1,224 | 1,268 | 1,307 | 1,310 |
| | Fine Gael | Mickey Doherty | 3.99 | 638 | 652 | 654 | 676 | 686 | 754 | 800 | 803 | 819 | 820 | | |
| | People Before Profit | Joe Murphy | 3.76 | 601 | 609 | 655 | 711 | 724 | 738 | 785 | 788 | | | | |
| | Independent | Patrick McCarroll | 3.47 | 555 | 595 | 612 | 648 | 654 | 671 | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Mary McCauley | 3.23 | 516 | 592 | 596 | 602 | 605 | | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Peter McLaughlin | 2.24 | 359 | 362 | 369 | 374 | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Ryan Stewart | 2.08 | 332 | 340 | 361 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Direct Democracy | Eilis Haden | 0.66 | 106 | 107 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Paul Ferguson | 0.58 | 93 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 30,653 Valid: 15,997 (52.19%) Spoilt: 212 Quota: 1,600 Turnout: 16,209 (52.88%) ||||||||||||||||

### Letterkenny

Letterkenny: 10 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Liam Blaney | 9.33 | 1,763 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Ciaran Brogan | 8.98 | 1,698 | 1,701 | 1,707 | 1,718 | 1,718 | 1,730 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | John O'Donnell | 8.95 | 1,692 | 1,697 | 1,708 | 1,721 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Ian McGarvey | 7.08 | 1,338 | 1,345 | 1,352 | 1,366 | 1,367 | 1,403 | 1,424 | 1,424 | 1,447 | 1,478 | 1,504 | 1,541 | 1,648 | 1,744 | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | James Pat McDaid | 6.95 | 1,314 | 1,321 | 1,328 | 1,331 | 1,331 | 1,340 | 1,373 | 1,373 | 1,430 | 1,459 | 1,496 | 1,645 | 1,759 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Gerry McMonagle | 6.42 | 1,213 | 1,214 | 1,232 | 1,249 | 1,249 | 1,272 | 1,280 | 1,280 | 1,307 | 1,312 | 1,372 | 1,414 | 1,441 | 1,530 | 1,533 | 1,546 | 1,552 |
| | Independent | Michael McBride | 6.02 | 1,138 | 1,141 | 1,144 | 1,160 | 1,161 | 1,181 | 1,203 | 1,204 | 1,231 | 1,268 | 1,289 | 1,330 | 1,456 | 1,522 | 1,533 | 1,633 | 1,698 |
| | Sinn Féin | Mick Quinn | 5.69 | 1,076 | 1,078 | 1,085 | 1,090 | 1,090 | 1,106 | 1,118 | 1,118 | 1,122 | 1,132 | 1,144 | 1,157 | 1,212 | 1,244 | 1,254 | 1,297 | 1,304 |
| | Independent | Dessie Shiels | 5.05 | 955 | 956 | 969 | 993 | 993 | 1,019 | 1,056 | 1,056 | 1,120 | 1,151 | 1,229 | 1,300 | 1,381 | 1,514 | 1,522 | 1,555 | 1,573 |
| | Fine Gael | Jimmy Kavanagh | 4.74 | 896 | 896 | 900 | 920 | 920 | 942 | 984 | 985 | 1,050 | 1,177 | 1,224 | 1,283 | 1,347 | 1,587 | 1,590 | 1,977 | |
| | Independent | Donal Cullen | 4.67 | 883 | 887 | 903 | 914 | 914 | 928 | 960 | 962 | 973 | 984 | 999 | 1,010 | 1,032 | 1,074 | 1,077 | 1,224 | 1,258 |
| | Fine Gael | Noel McBride | 4.38 | 828 | 830 | 833 | 836 | 836 | 847 | 872 | 874 | 879 | 944 | 952 | 972 | 1,012 | 1,038 | 1,040 | | |
| | Independent | Pascal Blake | 3.43 | 648 | 649 | 658 | 676 | 676 | 698 | 723 | 723 | 767 | 803 | 853 | 913 | 957 | | | | |
| | Independent | Charlie McClafferty | 3.21 | 607 | 608 | 615 | 624 | 624 | 630 | 659 | 661 | 716 | 749 | 772 | 800 | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Watson | 2.54 | 480 | 483 | 489 | 495 | 495 | 505 | 526 | 527 | 547 | 570 | 622 | | | | | | |
| | Letterkenny Residents Party | Tom Crossan | 2.26 | 428 | 429 | 441 | 457 | 457 | 467 | 487 | 488 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | David Fisher | 2.20 | 415 | 415 | 429 | 446 | 446 | 465 | 497 | 497 | 522 | 537 | | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Grace Boyle | 2.19 | 413 | 414 | 417 | 422 | 422 | 461 | 490 | 491 | 503 | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Christy Galligan | 1.99 | 377 | 378 | 381 | 385 | 385 | 419 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Siobhan McLaughlin | 1.79 | 338 | 338 | 352 | 353 | 353 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Peter Cutliffe | 1.15 | 218 | 219 | 225 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | People Before Profit | Billy Banda | 0.97 | 183 | 183 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 31,406 Valid: 18,901 (60.18%) Spoilt: 163 Quota: 1,719 Turnout: 19,064 (60.70%) |||||||||||||||||||||
Tom Crossan had been elected for the Letterkenny Residents Party at the 2009 Letterkenny Town Council election. Following his failure to be elected to Donegal County Council, the party dissolved and in December 2014, the acting registrar of political parties proposed to cancel the party's registration. It was not included in the February 2015 register.

### Stranorlar

Stranorlar: 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | Sinn Féin | Gary Doherty | 18.51 | 1,967 | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Frank McBrearty Jnr | 14.97 | 1,591 | | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Patrick McGowan | 13.30 | 1,414 | 1,439 | 1,444 | 1,452 | 1,491 | 1,509 | 1,619 | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Gerry Crawford | 11.48 | 1,220 | 1,247 | 1,247 | 1,265 | 1,277 | 1,285 | 1,332 | 1,371 | 1,393 |
| | Fine Gael | Martin Harley | 10.69 | 1,136 | 1,153 | 1,159 | 1,165 | 1,222 | 1,250 | 1,315 | 1,334 | 1,421 |
| | Sinn Féin | Liam Doherty | 9.92 | 1,054 | 1,356 | 1,357 | 1,372 | 1,390 | 1,447 | 1,474 | 1,482 | 1,559 |
| | Fine Gael | Bert Galbraith | 6.53 | 694 | 701 | 705 | 713 | 719 | 720 | 724 | 724 | 730 |
| | Independent | Seamus Kee | 4.08 | 430 | 474 | 476 | 482 | 498 | 539 | 549 | 552 | 619 |
| | Independent | Alan McMenamin | 2.94 | 312 | 319 | 330 | 335 | 351 | 395 | 419 | 424 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Claudia Kennedy | 2.85 | 303 | 309 | 311 | 313 | 340 | 350 | | | |
| | People Before Profit | Charlotte (Charlie) McDyer | 2.23 | 237 | 247 | 252 | 255 | 262 | | | | |
| | Labour | Brian McCrea | 2.15 | 228 | 234 | 234 | 235 | | | | | |
| | Independent | Tim Meehan | 0.36 | 38 | 39 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 19,396 Valid: 10,628 (54.79%) Spoilt: 147 Quota: 1,519 Turnout: 10,775 (55.55%) |||||||||||||

## Changes
### Co-options

| Party | Outgoing | LEA | Reason | Date | Co-optee |
| Sinn Féin | Mick Quinn | Letterkenny | Health issues. | 27 March 2017 | Adrian Glackin |
| Fianna Fáil | Sean McEniff | Donegal | Death. | 21 April 2017 | Micheál Naughton |
| Fine Gael | John Ryan | Inishowen | Work commitments. | 15 May 2018 | Mickey Doherty |
| Independent | John Campbell | Donegal | Personal reasons. | 8 January 2019 | Seamus Maguire |