Irish Farmers Association (IFA) branches in Cork, Kerry, Dublin, Limerick, Cavan and Longford have been counted and have voted in favour of Eddie Downey.
This is according to the latest reports from the IFA election count centre in the Castleknock Hotel in Dublin.
In its presidential race, out of 945 branches, 636 have been counted, just over 60 per cent. In this 704 votes have gone to the Meath man, while 566 votes have been declared to Laois man Jer Bergin.
Meanwhile in the deputy presidential race, Cork’s Tim O’Leary is soaring in the lead. Here 533 out of 945 branches have been completed, with O’Leary winning 694 votes and New Ross farmer JJ Kavanagh securing 350. Cork West has been declared for O’Leary, while Longford and Dublin have been declared for JJ Kavanagh.
In addition three candidates are contesting the position of Munster chairman, former Kerry IFA Chairman James McCarthy, IFA’s current national dairy chairman Kevin Kiersey from Waterford and former Limerick IFA chairman Eddie Scanlan. Vote counting in this race began at lunchtime.
