How it started ...
Three first-time TDs have been elected in Dublin South-Central.
Fianna Fáil's Catherine Ardagh, Jen Cummins of the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin's Máire Devine will join long-time Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh in Dáil Eireann.
In what was a competitive race, two incumbent TDs - the leader of the Right to Change party Joan Collins and the Green Party’s Patrick Costello - both failed to hold their seats.
After 14 counts, 12 eliminations and 26 hours of counting, Ms Ardagh was the first over the line. She was also the only candidate to exceed the quota.
The outgoing senator, who ran unsuccessfully in both 2016 and 2020, said she was "humbled and honoured" to be selected to serve the people of Dublin South-Central, and promised to make educational access for children with additional needs one of her key priorities in office.
Ms Ardagh will now follow in the footsteps of her late father Séan, who served as a TD in Dublin South-Central from 1997 - 2011.
The three remaining TDs were elected on the 15th and final count.
Jen Cummins, a member of Dublin City Council, exceeded many expectations when she finished second in the constituency. Her success will be viewed as a further boost for the Social Democrats, with the party performing particularly well in the Dublin region in Election 2024.
Sinn Féin fielded three candidates in this constituency - taking 31% of of first-preference votes between them.
However, that figure is down on Aengus Ó Snodaigh’s personal share from 2020, when he almost doubled the quota in Dublin South-Central with 39% of the vote.
A TD since 2002, Mr Ó Snodaigh is currently Sinn Féin's Party Whip and its Spokesperson on Irish, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture.
His running mate, Ms Devine, took the fourth and final seat in Dublin South-Central.
She is a registered mental-health nurse who has served as a member of Dublin City Council and Seanad Éireann.
Among those to miss out on a seat in Dublin South-Central were Hazel De Nortúin from People Before Profit–Solidarity and the Labour Party’s Darragh Moriarty, whileMs Collins and Sinn Fein’s third candidate Daithí Doolan were also in the mix.
An emotional Ms Collins thanked her supporters after she was eliminated on count 12, telling them it had been "an honour and a privilege to have served". She said she had no plans to run again but would "always be an activist".
Meanwhile, in another blow for the Green Party, outgoing TD Patrick Costello exited the race in the 9th count.
How it ended ...
