# 2014 Kerry County Council election

An election to all 33 seats on Kerry County Council took place on 23 May 2014 as part of the 2014 Irish local elections, an increase from 27 seats at the 2009 election. County Kerry was divided into four 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). In addition, the town councils of Killarney, Listowel and Tralee were abolished.
Fianna Fáil emerged as the largest party on the council after the elections gaining 2 additional seats, 1 in Listowel and 1 in the Killarney LEA. The party ended up with 9 seats, the same numbers as Fine Gael, who lost 1 seat overall, and who were also slightly behind Fianna Fáil in terms of first preference votes. Sinn Féin had an excellent election, winning 5 seats overall and 4 in North Kerry where had they run a third candidate in Tralee they would have won a third seat. Labour had a very bad election losing half of their seats and both councillors returned were elected for the Tralee LEA. Michael Gleeson of SKIA retained his seat as did both the Healy-Rae's and Independents returned 7 councillors overall, 8 including SKIA. The Listowel results were subject to a full recount in 2016.

## Results by party

| Party | Party | Seats | ± | 1st pref | FPv% | ±% |
| | Fianna Fáil | 9 | 2 | 15,526 | 22.25 | 4.68 |
| | Fine Gael | 9 | 1 | 15,207 | 21.79 | 5.58 |
| | Sinn Féin | 5 | 3 | 9,899 | 14.19 | 3.78 |
| | Labour | 2 | 2 | 4,597 | 6.59 | 8.39 |
| | SKIA | 1 | | 2,039 | 3.07 | 0.23 |
| | People Before Profit | 0 | | 390 | 0.56 | New |
| | Independent | 7 | 4 | 22,009 | 31.54 | 15.67 |
| Total | Total | 33 | 6 | 69,817 | 100.00 | |

## Results by local electoral area

^ *: Outgoing councillor.

### Kerry South and West

Kerry South and West: 9 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 |
| | Independent | Johnny Healy-Rae | 16.8% | 3,495 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Michael Cahill | 11.1% | 2,306 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Michael O'Shea | 8.9% | 1,846 | 1,942 | 1,978 | 1,993 | 2,044 | 2,278 | | | | |
| | Independent | Dan McCarthy | 7.5% | 1,566 | 1,943 | 1,957 | 2,021 | 2,070 | 2,081 | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Norma Moriarty | 7.3% | 1,512 | 1,643 | 1,651 | 1,726 | 1,759 | 1,770 | 1,801 | 1,806 | 1,915 | 2,002 |
| | Fine Gael | Seamus (Cosai) Fitzgerald | 6.8% | 1,413 | 1,466 | 1,467 | 1,468 | 1,481 | 1,634 | 1,709 | 1,740 | 2,577 | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Breandan Fitzgerald | 6.8% | 1,406 | 1,444 | 1,448 | 1,462 | 1,469 | 1,499 | 1,510 | 1,522 | | |
| | Fine Gael | P.J. Donovan | 6.3% | 1,318 | 1,411 | 1,418 | 1,603 | 1,627 | 1,647 | 1,722 | 1,724 | 1,731 | 1,749 |
| | Fine Gael | Patrick Connor-Scarteen | 6.2% | 1,290 | 1,510 | 1,517 | 1,528 | 1,554 | 1,604 | 1,806 | 1,815 | 1,822 | 1,843 |
| | Sinn Féin | Damian Quigg | 5.9% | 1,227 | 1,325 | 1,342 | 1,422 | 1,492 | 1,520 | 1,630 | 1,649 | 1,764 | 1,886 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Francis Flynn | 4.9% | 1,036 | 1,154 | 1,221 | 1,238 | 1,344 | 1,435 | 1,690 | 1,777 | 1,943 | 2,010 |
| | Fine Gael | Matt Griffin | 3.4% | 706 | 732 | 737 | 742 | 757 | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Johnny Porridge O'Connor | 3.3% | 692 | 749 | 780 | 785 | 910 | 988 | | | | |
| | Independent | Donie O'Sullivan | 2.4% | 495 | 555 | 579 | 608 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Pádraig Garvey | 3.2% | 489 | 537 | 542 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 32,975 Valid: 20,797 Spoilt: 221 Quota: 2,080 Turnout: 21,018 (63.7%) ||||||||||||||

### Killarney

Killarney: 8 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 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 |
| | Independent | Danny Healy-Rae | 23.9% | 4,388 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SKIA | Michael Gleeson | 11.7% | 2,139 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Brendan Cronin | 11.2% | 2,050 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Joe Culloty | 9.2% | 1,683 | 2,249 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Bobby O'Connell | 6.4% | 1,176 | 1,321 | 1,340 | 1,343 | 1,381 | 1,395 | 1,406 | 1,423 | 1,522 | 1,572 | 1,619 |
| | Independent | Donal Grady | 5.8% | 1,064 | 1,236 | 1,250 | 1,264 | 1,308 | 1,371 | 1,435 | 1,539 | 1,586 | 1,725 | 2,006 |
| | Fine Gael | John Sheahan | 5.2% | 957 | 1,119 | 1,137 | 1,146 | 1,269 | 1,291 | 1,340 | 1,398 | 1,458 | 1,539 | 1,705 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Niall Kelleher | 4.2% | 771 | 1,100 | 1,152 | 1,159 | 1,180 | 1,214 | 1,319 | 1,427 | 1,598 | 1,731 | 1,839 |
| | Sinn Féin | John Buckley | 4.0% | 739 | 935 | 957 | 963 | 973 | 1,063 | 1,100 | 1,147 | 1,189 | 1,288 | 1,448 |
| | Labour | Seán Counihan | 3.8% | 692 | 805 | 821 | 835 | 880 | 920 | 975 | 1,050 | 1,083 | 1,167 | |
| | Independent | Lynda Horgan | 2.9% | 541 | 691 | 701 | 709 | 724 | 799 | 839 | 922 | 994 | | |
| | Independent | Tom Doherty | 2.5% | 462 | 573 | 586 | 598 | 624 | 657 | 720 | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | John O'Shea | 2.5% | 456 | 556 | 562 | 571 | 604 | 635 | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Anne McEllistrim | 2.4% | 441 | 603 | 631 | 635 | 657 | 672 | 741 | 805 | | | |
| | Independent | Brian McCarthy | 2.1% | 383 | 466 | 472 | 477 | 488 | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Cathal Walshe | 1.9% | 356 | 421 | 432 | 446 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 28,741 Valid: 18,298 Spoilt: 146 Quota: 2,034 Turnout: 18,444 (64.2%) |||||||||||||||

### Listowel

A full recount began of the ballots for the Listowel LEA on 10 February 2016. This followed a court case taken by Dan Kiely, who ended the original count within five votes of two elected candidates. Voters filled in the ballot for the 2014 European Parliament election simultaneously with the local election ballot, and some put preferences 1-2-3 on one ballot and 4-5-6 on the other. The returning officers' official guidelines advised to accept the latter ballots, but the Supreme Court ruled they were invalid under Article 80(2) of the Local Election Regulations 1995. When the "count afresh" began, "at least 10 ballots" were excluded based on the Supreme Court ruling. Candidates' counting agents scrutinised about 300 "doubtful" ballot papers; 32 on which they could not agree were taken under Garda Síochána escort to Limerick, where a Circuit Court judge ruled 14 of them invalid. After the eleventh and final count, in the early hours of 12 February, the same seven candidates had been returned as in 2014, with Kiely four votes behind Moloney.
Listowel: 7 seats - 2016 recount :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 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 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Brassil | 12.93% | 1,905 | 1,905 | 1,905 | 1,905 | 1,843 | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Robert Beasley | 12.62% | 1,859 | 1,859 | 1,859 | 1,859 | 1,859 | 1,843 | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Aoife Thornton | 10.76% | 1,586 | 1,619 | 1,639 | 1,820 | 1,832 | 1,833 | 1,901 | 1,843 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Dianne Nolan | 8.62% | 1,270 | 1,291 | 1,348 | 1,384 | 1,388 | 1,396 | 1,480 | 1,490 | 1,546 | 1,681 | 1,843 |
| | Fine Gael | Liam Purtill | 7.06% | 1,040 | 1,056 | 1,095 | 1,111 | 1,113 | 1,113 | 1,135 | 1,142 | 1,329 | 1,413 | 1,573 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Jimmy Moloney | 6.82% | 1,005 | 1,023 | 1,045 | 1,060 | 1,081 | 1,082 | 1,187 | 1,194 | 1,276 | 1,382 | 1,523 |
| | Independent | Dan Kiely | 6.32% | 932 | 958 | 989 | 1,040 | 1,049 | 1,050 | 1,135 | 1,138 | 1,185 | 1,408 | 1,517 |
| | Fine Gael | Mike Kennelly | 5.74% | 846 | 853 | 877 | 891 | 893 | 893 | 985 | 998 | 1,237 | 1,339 | 1,521 |
| | Fine Gael | Tim Buckley | 5.65% | 833 | 855 | 866 | 876 | 881 | 882 | 922 | 928 | 0 | | |
| | Independent | Michael O'Gorman | 5.44% | 802 | 848 | 940 | 985 | 987 | 990 | 1074 | 1079 | 1128 | 0 | |
| | Labour | Pat Leahy | 5.15% | 759 | 771 | 794 | 912 | 915 | 916 | 964 | 970 | 1,134 | 1,232 | 0 |
| | Independent | Tom Walsh | 4.47% | 659 | 695 | 711 | 718 | 720 | 0 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Katie Lucid McCabe | 3.83% | 565 | 578 | 592 | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | People Before Profit | Brian Finucane | 2.65% | 390 | 426 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Kate Carmody | 1.93% | 285 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 24,685 (59.8%) Valid: 14,736 Spoilt: 194 Quota: 1,843 Turnout: 14,930 (60.5%) |||||||||||||||
Listowel: 7 seats - Original 2014 count :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 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 |
| | Fianna Fáil | John Brassil | 12.96% | 1,912 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Robert Beasley | 12.61% | 1,861 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Aoife Thornton | 10.29% | 1,518 | 1,619 | 1,639 | 1,822 | 1,836 | 1,837 | 1,904 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Dianne Nolan | 8.61% | 1,271 | 1,291 | 1,348 | 1,385 | 1,389 | 1,397 | 1,480 | 1,490 | 1,546 | 1,680 | 1,841 |
| | Fine Gael | Liam Purtill | 7.06% | 1,042 | 1,056 | 1,095 | 1,113 | 1,115 | 1,115 | 1,137 | 1,144 | 1,331 | 1,414 | 1,574 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Jimmy Moloney | 6.82% | 1,006 | 1,023 | 1,045 | 1,061 | 1,084 | 1,085 | 1,191 | 1,198 | 1,281 | 1,388 | 1,529 |
| | Independent | Dan Kiely | 6.34% | 935 | 958 | 989 | 1,043 | 1,053 | 1,054 | 1,139 | 1,142 | 1,189 | 1,414 | 1,524 |
| | Fine Gael | Mike Kennelly | 5.74% | 847 | 853 | 877 | 893 | 895 | 895 | 987 | 1,000 | 1,239 | 1,341 | 1,526 |
| | Fine Gael | Tim Buckley | 5.65% | 833 | 855 | 866 | 876 | 880 | 881 | 921 | 926 | | | |
| | Independent | Michael O'Gorman | 5.44% | 802 | 848 | 940 | 986 | 988 | 991 | 1,076 | 1,081 | 1,130 | | |
| | Labour | Pat Leahy | 5.14% | 759 | 771 | 794 | 912 | 916 | 917 | 965 | 971 | 1,135 | 1,233 | |
| | Independent | Tom Walsh | 4.47% | 659 | 675 | 711 | 718 | 720 | 720 | | | | | |
| | Labour | Katie Lucid McCabe | 3.84% | 566 | 578 | 592 | | | | | | | | |
| | People Before Profit | Brian Finucane | 2.64% | 390 | 426 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Kate Carmody | 1.93% | 285 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 24,685 (59.8%) Valid: 14,756 Spoilt: 173 Quota: 1,845 Turnout: 14,929 (60.5%) |||||||||||||||

### Tralee

Tralee: 9 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 | Toiréasa Ferris | 16.8% | 2,679 | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Pa Daly | 13.3% | 2,122 | | | | | | | | |
| | Fianna Fáil | Norma Foley | 9.6% | 1,541 | 1,680 | | | | | | | |
| | Labour | Terry O'Brien | 8.0% | 1,285 | 1,402 | 1,469 | 1,574 | 1,584 | 1,649 | | | |
| | Fine Gael | Jim Finucane | 7.8% | 1,242 | 1,310 | 1,352 | 1,387 | 1,390 | 1,460 | 1,671 | | |
| | Fine Gael | Pat McCarthy | 7.3% | 1,160 | 1,247 | 1,262 | 1,283 | 1,294 | 1,331 | 1,436 | 1,468 | 1,564 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Tom McEllistrim | 6.8% | 1,087 | 1,184 | 1,215 | 1,231 | 1,246 | 1,284 | 1,319 | 1,322 | 1,569 |
| | Labour | Graham Spring | 5.6% | 899 | 970 | 997 | 1,046 | 1,051 | 1,080 | 1,238 | 1,255 | 1,431 |
| | Fianna Fáil | Ted Fitzgerald | 5.2% | 829 | 886 | 927 | 946 | 957 | 996 | 1,047 | 1,056 | |
| | Independent | Sam Locke | 5.1% | 815 | 933 | 1,051 | 1,081 | 1,089 | 1,253 | 1,316 | 1,321 | 1,439 |
| | Independent | Johnnie Wall | 4.8% | 763 | 871 | 934 | 973 | 978 | 1,063 | 1,152 | 1,158 | 1,304 |
| | Fine Gael | Grace O'Donnell | 4.1% | 657 | 701 | 725 | 795 | 802 | 836 | | | |
| | Independent | Tommy Collins | 3.2% | 511 | 631 | 697 | 725 | 731 | | | | |
| | Labour | Gillian Wharton-Slattery | 2.5% | 396 | 450 | 479 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 30,300 Valid: 15,986 Spoilt: 224 Quota: 1,599 Turnout: 16,210 (53.5%) |||||||||||||

## Changes
### Co-options

| Party | Outgoing | LEA | Reason | Date | Co-optee |
| Fianna Fáil | John Brassil | Listowel | Elected to the 32nd Dáil at the 2016 general election. | 14 March 2016 | John Lucid |
| Independent | Danny Healy-Rae | Killarney | Elected to the 32nd Dáil at the 2016 general election. | 14 March 2016 | Maura Healy-Rae |
| Sinn Féin | Dianne Nolan | Listowel | Resigned seat to take up a new job. | 23 October 2017 | Tom Barry |

### Changes in affiliation

| Name | LEA | Elected as | Elected as | New affiliation | New affiliation | Date |
| Michael Cahill | Kerry South and West | | Independent | | Fianna Fáil | 16 July 2016 |