Before the election, the big question in the West Belfast constituency was, would Sinn Féin hold their four seats?
As far as Sinn Féin was concerned, this was firmly answered even before the first-preference votes were announced on Friday afternoon; their tallies left them in no doubt they would get all four MLAs over the line.
And so it proved. Danny Baker, a sitting councillor and a former lord mayor, was elected on the first count with more than 9,000 first preferences; outgoing MLA Órlaithí Flynn took 6,743, Aisling Reilly – a former world handball champion who replaced veteran MLA Fra McCann – 5,681 and Pat Sheehan, a long-standing party representative and former hunger striker, took 6,370.
Standing together flanked by party colleagues from across Belfast, they hugged and held aloft four fingers to represent their four seats as the result was announced.
North Antrim result: Constituency’s first woman MLA elected at DUP’s expense
‘Don’t be scared,’ Mary Lou McDonald tells unionists after Sinn Féin surge
Assembly election: Sinn Féin wins most seats as parties urged to form Executive
Strangford result: Former UUP leader re-elected as Alliance gains second seat
Sinn Féin put their success down to their hard work in the constituency, “rapping every single door in west Belfast” and listening to the messages thus delivered; though west Belfast must surely be the very definition of a Sinn Féin heartland, it surely also benefited from the forward momentum which saw it become the largest party with more than 250,000 first-preference votes overall.
[ Live results hub: View all the latest results for every constituency hereOpens in new window ]
This left the question of the remaining seat. Initially the murmur in the count centre was that outgoing MLA Gerry Carroll of People Before Profit (PBP), could be under threat, potentially from the DUP candidate Frank McCoubrey who polled 4,166 first preferences to Mr Carroll’s 3,279.
Ultimately the lack of transfers to Mr McCoubrey in this predominantly nationalist constituency meant he could not keep that lead, and the elimination of the SDLP candidate Paul Doherty – one of the party’s high hopes for this election – pushed Mr Carroll into the lead and into the last seat.
In his acceptance speech there was a special mention for his baby son Feilimí, who was the toast of the count centre in his “Vote Carroll” Babygro. “He’s definitely topped the poll for being the cutest face in this election,” said his proud father.
On behalf of Sinn Féin’s four newly-elected MLAs, Danny Baker was clear. “On Monday morning, myself and Órlaithí and Aisling and Pat are ready to get to work for everyone.
“Let’s get the Executive formed immediately,” he said. “No excuses, no nonsense, no time for waiting. It’s time for an executive that delivers real change for everyone.”
Five seats filled: Danny Baker (Sinn Féin), Orlaithi Flynn (Sinn Féin), Aisling Reilly (Sinn Féin), Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin), Gerry Carroll (PBP).
