Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher elected in Donegal constituency

Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher has been elected from the Donegal constituency. The Fianna Fáil candidate's total of votes ensured he secured the third seat following the count at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny. The Cope', contesting his seventeenth election, was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1981. He held a number of Minister of State roles and also served as a member of the European Parliament in three separate terms. He previously contested the 2020 General Election, however, he narrowly missed out.Spoke to Ocean FM, the successful candidate says he expects Fianna Fáil to lead the next government: