How it started ...
A trio of first-time TDs have been elected in Dublin Rathdown.
The Social Democrat's Sinéad Gibney claimed the second seat on the 10th count with 10,612 votes.
It was her first outing in the constituency for the party following an unsuccessful run in the European elections in June.
Fine Gael's Maeve O'Connell claimed the third seat, the second for her party, with 9,752 votes.
There was thunderous applause for FF’s Shay Brennan as he took the 4th seat with 8,999 votes, occupying a seat that was once held by his father Séamus Brennan.
Surrounded by his family and his mother Anne, he said it was an honour to have been elected.
All three candidates said they were '’delighted’’ to have won in the constituency where the Green’s Catherine Martin lost her seat earlier.
Ms Gibney was overcome with emotion, a mixture of relief and expectation after two long days in the count centre.
Ms Gibney said she was '’over the moon’’ and couldn't believe she had done it. '
"’You cannot believe the year I had.’’ she told RTÉ after winning the seat.
"A week before I was selected to run for the European elections my dad died. He was so proud of me would be so proud of me today and I'm going to do him so proud in the Dáil. So this is for him.’’ she said choking back the tears.
Mr Brennan also had an emotional night, saying: ‘’I’d like to think that he [Séamus Brennan] would have been very proud of me today. Very poignant’’ he said.
Fianna Fáii won a seat here for the first time since 2007.
When asked what changed, Mr Brennan said: ‘’Hard work, it's down to the absolute dedication of the team and hard work they’ve put in."
Fine Gael’s Maeve O’Connell will join her husband Colm Brophy in the Dáil, the only husband and wife duo in the chamber.
"We’re trying to figure out if we’ll have lunch together, car pooling so it’s the practicalities, these are the conversations we’ve had so far," Ms O’Connell said.
The first seat was won by Fine Gael’s Neal Richmond, the incumbent TD.
The Green’s Catherine Martin lost her seat earlier in the evening.
How it ended ...
