Election result was pure gold

A VOTER had a ‘golden moment’ yesterday when she was reunited with a precious Claddagh ring which fell into a ballot box on Friday.

Noreen Brennan from Kiltimagh got back the gold band – an inheritance from her late mother Annie – at the election count in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

Count staff had earlier discovered the ring in a ballot box

‘I’m so relieved,’ the mother of five declared as returning officer Fintan Murphy handed back the ring.

Counting staff raised their heads briefly from their task and cheered as the handover took place.

Noreen was casting her vote at the No. 2 box in Kiltimagh National School when the ring slipped from her finger.

‘I was shoving in the paper when the ring got caught,’ she said. ‘Next thing I knew it was in the ballot box.’