There were a few upsets in the council elections in Mid Ulster this year.
Ulster Unionists lost Mark Glasgow in Cookstown while the SDLP lost Sharon McAleer, who has been a councillor for nine years and says it a blow for female representation. They also said goodbye to long-time councillor Martin Kearney but did gain a seat in Mayola with Denise Johnston.
The drive for five Independent Republicans didn't deliver the seats they had hoped although their numbers were up and it was down to the wire for the SDLP's Malachy Quinn in Torrent - but he kept his seat.
Read more: Northern Ireland council election 2023: Dates, candidates, where to vote and more you need to know
A total of 66 candidates contested 40 seats across the seven district electoral areas of Carntogher, Clogher Valley, Cookstown, Dungannon, Magherafelt, Moyola and Torrent.
Sinn Féin fielded the most candidates with 21, followed by the DUP with 11, the SDLP and the UUP both fielded seven, there were six independents vying for seats, five for Alliance and the TUV, three for Aontu and one Cross-Community Labour Alternative.
In the 2019 Mid Ulster election Sinn Féin won the most seats with 17, followed by the DUP with 9, the SDLP and UPP both clinched six and there were two independents.
This year, Sinn Fein claimed 19, leading the board while taking an additional two seats at council but they also lost Sean McGuigan. The party's NI leader, Michelle O'Neill told us: "We fought a very positive campaign and I think people have endorsed that campaign. They have endorsed the fact they want to see the Assembly back up and running.
"I'm really grateful for every single voter that came out and voted for Sinn Fein. The wider picture is positive across the North and just this morning, we've had a councillor, Paul Burke, elected in Lisburn city - that's a historic occasion."
The DUP also increased its seats on the council, from nine to 11. The success of both parties came at the expense of others and leaves them with a combined 30 seats out of the total 40.
The council election took place on Thursday May 18 and the results were counted on Friday at Meadowbank Sport Arena in Magherafelt finishing in the early hours of Saturday.
Sinn Fein's Sean Clarke retained his seat in the first count in Magherafelt. He told us: "We thought we had a good chance, but the size of the vote was a bit of a surprise."
His party colleague, Cathal Mallaghan, who was running in Cookstown said: "It was a huge vote and I am just delighted that after four years of really hard work that people came out and supported me and I am really appreciative of that."
Wilbert Buchanan from the DUP had to wait a while to hear his fate in Cookstown, he said: "I'm delighted. It was a long wait but we got there in the end."
The SDLP's, Sharon McAleer, who lost her Clogher Valley seat thanked everyone who voted for her and supported her throughout the election. She added: "It's a pity because I had a lot of projects started. I feel for the people who voted for me because I'm not getting those things finished. I am disappointed for women because I am another lady candidate who has been put out... and I had a lot to offer."
Barry Monteith, Dungannon, said the Independent Republicans ran a positive campaign, adding: "Myself and Dan work as hard as we can and people see the work we did on behalf of ordinary people."
Dan Kerr, his colleague in Torrent Valley, added: "We managed to add roughly 450-500 votes... its very positive."
The SDLP's Malachy Quinn said after a close call in the same ward said he was "very relieved".
"It was a tough election - we knew it was going to a tough election. DUP are driving voters, unfortunately one direction so the SDLP was under pressure but I am absolutely delighted I was able to hold on to my seat."
Here is the full list of the candidates standing in Mid Ulster electoral area and who the winners were:
Mid Ulster District Council
Carntogher - 5 seats, 8 candidates (69.92% turnout)
James Artt (TUV)
Kyle Black (DUP)
Córa Corry (Sinn Féin)
Martin Kearney (SDLP)
Paddy Kelly (Sinn Féin)
Noreen McEldowney (Aontú)
Brian McGuigan (Sinn Féin)
Sean McPeake (Sinn Féin)
Elected - 4 SF, 1 DUP
Brian McGuigan
Sean McPeake
Paddy Kelly
Cora Corry
Kyle Black
Clogher Valley - 6 seats, 8 candidates (68.4% turnout)
Frances Burton (DUP)
Gael Gildernew (Sinn Féin)
Meta Graham (UUP)
Sharon McAleer (SDLP)
Eugene McConnell (Sinn Féin)
Kevin McElvogue (Independent)
Seán McGuigan (Sinn Féin)
Mark Robinson (DUP)
Elected - 2 DUP, 2 SF, 1 IND, 1 UUP
Frances Burton
Mark Robinson
Gael Gildernew
Kevin McElvogue
Eugene McConnell
Meta Graham
Cookstown - 7 seats, 11 candidates (60.75% turnout)
Gavin Bell (Sinn Féin)
Wilbert Buchanan (DUP)
Eva Cahoon (DUP)
Mark Glasgow (UUP)
Timmy Hagan (TUV)
Chris Hilcox (Alliance)
Cathal Mallaghan (Sinn Féin)
Kerri Martin (SDLP)
John McNamee (Sinn Féin)
Louise Taylor (Independent)
Trevor Wilson (UUP)
Elected - 3 SF, 2 DUP, 1 SDLP, 1 UUP
Cathal Mallaghan
John McNamee
Gavin Bell
Kerri Martin
Wilbert Buchanan
Trevor Wilson
Eva Cahoon
Dungannon - 6 seats, 12 candidates (60.1% turnout)
James Burton (DUP)
Gerry Cullen (Cross-Community Labour Alternative)
Clement Cuthbertson (DUP)
Claire Hackett (Alliance)
Ian Irwin (UUP)
Karol McQuade (SDLP)
Dominic Molloy (Sinn Féin)
Barry Monteith (Independent)
Denise Mullen (Aontú)
Kinley Tener (TUV)
Deirdre Varsani (Sinn Féin)
Marian Vincent (Independent)
Elected - 2 DUP, 2 SF, 1 IND, 1 SDLP
Clement Cuthbertson
Dominic Molloy
James Burton
Deirdre Varsani
Barry Monteith
Karol McQuade
Magherafelt - 5 seats, 8 candidates (60.51% turnout)
Ian Brown (UUP)
Wesley Brown (DUP)
Sean Clarke (Sinn Féin)
Padraic Farrell (Alliance)
Raymond Love (TUV)
Christine McFlynn (SDLP)
Paul McLean (DUP)
Darren Totten (Sinn Féin)
Elected - 2 SF, 1 SDLP, 2 DUP
Darren Totten
Sean Clarke
Christine McFlynn
Paul McLean
Wesley Brown
Moyola - 5 seats, 9 candidates (69.37% turnout)
Anne Forde (DUP)
Sheila Fullerton (Aontú)
Jolene Groogan (Sinn Féin)
Denise Johnston (SDLP)
Derek McKinney (UUP)
Donal McPeake (Sinn Féin)
Ian Milne (Sinn Féin)
Glenn Moore (TUV)
Caleb Ross (Alliance)
Elected - 3 SF, 1 DUP, 1 SDLP
Ian Milne
Jolene Groogan
Anne Forde
Donal McPeake
Denise Johnston
Torrent - 6 seats, 10 candidates (65.63% turnout)
Jonathan Buchanan (DUP)
Eimear Carney (Sinn Féin)
Robert Colvin (UUP)
Simon Graham (Alliance)
Paul Kelly (Sinn Féin)
Dan Kerr (Independent)
Niall McAleer (Sinn Féin)
Nuala McLernon (Sinn Féin)
Malachy Quinn (SDLP)
Teresa Quinn (Independent)
Elected - 3 SF, 1 IND, 1 DUP, 1 SDLP
Eimear Carney
Niall McAleer
Dan Kerr
Jonathan Buchanan
Malachy Quinn
Nuala McLernon
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