John Downing: John Moran in pole position to be Limerick mayor before real test of whether political experiment can truly work

John Moran listens to the result of the first count in Limerick's mayoral election. Photo: Niall Carson, PA Wire

John Downing

It is still mathematically possible for any one of the three in the chasing pack to catch frontrunner John Moran in the marathon count for Limerick’s historic first mayoral election.

But observers at the count centre at Limerick Racecourse privately said it was less likely that Independent Helen O’Donnell, Fianna Fáil’s Dee Ryan or Fine Gael’s Daniel Butler could attract vast numbers of transfers to win out.