A number of Roscommon natives and connections face a nervous wait as counts begin in five of the Seanad Éireann Elections.
Councillor Maura Hopkins was the last Roscommon person to be confirmed as a candidate, contests the Administrative Panel.
Councillor Nigel Dineen contests for the Commercial and Industrial Panel as does Westmeath County Councillor Aengus O’Rourke, who lives in Barrybeg on the Roscommon side of Athlone.
Outgoing Senator Terry Leyden, is seeking re-election to the Labour panel. He was first elected to the upper house in 2002.
Castlerea native Dr. Keith Swanick, who works as a GP in Belmullet, contests the election for the Cultural and Educational Panel.
We will have updates on twitter.com/RoscommonDaily
Meanwhile, the Poll for the University Panel closes tomorrow at 11am at there are three local connections vying for seats.
London based Human Rights Campaigner Barry Johnston, who is originally from Creagh, has been nominated to contest the National University of Ireland Panel.
He will be joined in the election by Ballygar based GP Dr. Martin Daly, who is well know to Roscommon people for his involvement on the Management Board of Roscommon County Hospital and with Roscommon GAA Teams.
Former Minister Michael McDowell SC, who has a holiday home near Rooskey, is also one of the 30 candidates in the running for one of the three National University of Ireland position.
Seanad Éireann consists of sixty senators, composed as follows:
Eleven nominated by the Taoiseach, three elected by graduates of the National University of Ireland, three elected by graduates of the University of Dublin (Trinity College) and 43 elected from five special “panels” of nominees, nominated by TDs, outgoing Senators and members of City and County Councils.