Two voters make up 50% turnout as remote island of Inishfree goes to the polls

The smallest voting box in Ireland yesterday had a 50% turnout — of two.

One of those voting on Inishfree, an island off Donegal, was born in Long Island, New York, and the other was a Welshwoman.

Maureen O’Sullivan, from south Wales, came to Inishfree in 1963 to live with her late husband.

The widow returned to the “magical” Donegal island where she had many happy years to vote.

She was one of only two. The rest have left.

A whitewashed cottage with a roaring fire and piles of fruit scones was transformed into a polling station after the ballot box was transported from the mainland by powerboat, a 10-minute journey.

It was lifted gingerly from the vessel onto a perilous seaweed-strewn slipway by boatman Oscar Duffy. He put it down to help Garda Margaret Byrne from the boat, taking her by the arm as he walked her up the treacherous walkway.

The Tánaiste has responded to the Taoiseach's 'whingers' comment https://t.co/K2Trd0BMen pic.twitter.com/t7fFQSXimT

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) February 22, 2016

She and election presiding officer Majella Harkin made the 10-minute trek with the box along an uneven sandy track to the polling station, passing the skeleton of an old stone house with only gable walls remaining.

The vote was held at the family home of Philomena Currid, who had made the scones and tea.

For more election news, analysis and general banter join us HERE

Mrs O’Sullivan moved to Inishfree aged 22 with her husband Donal, whose family was from the island.

Elderly women with long skirts and shawls were the main inhabitants then. They used to cook bread over stoves. It was a different world with just a few boats and a few men fishing.

Mrs O’Sullivan said: “It was like a story book. It got you and you were hooked. It kind of stuck with me and I never wanted to leave.”

Philomena Currid, 50, was the other voter. The poll was held in her mother’s home.

She was brought up in the US, one of six children, after her family emigrated but returned to Ireland in February 1968 and went to school on the island for a few years. Ms Currid now lives in Burtonport but returns for the summer holidays.

She said that it was a special place.

It's all to play for as Election 2016 campaigns enter their final days https://t.co/qJKrzBNKHd (DOD) #GE16 pic.twitter.com/7lsAXaI5Wh

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) February 22, 2016

“I feel more safe here on my own on the island, there is always something to do here and I am never bored,” she explained

However, she was gloomy about the future.

“Emigration I am thinking,” she said.

“There is absolutely nothing here, especially in Burtonport, every factory has closed, every shop, we have one shop left, pubs, there is no employment, absolutely no transport if you don’t have your own car. I am not very hopeful, I am not.”

Voting on islands off Cork takes place today along with the rest of Ireland.

For more election news, analysis and general banter join us HERE