How it started ...
Three seats in Laois have been filled.
Fine Gael's Willie Aird topped the poll from the beginning and was elected on the fifth count with 9,619 votes.
Seán Fleming from Fianna Fáil passed the quota with 10,693 votes on the eighth and final count.
Returning Officer Rory Hanniffy deemed Independent Republican Brian Stanley elected on the final count even though he fell short of the quota by 58 votes.
Mr Stanley topped the poll for Sinn Féin in 2020.
Mr Hanniffy invited those elected to speak at the podium following the count.
Mr Stanley thanked Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil for running a "clean campaign" but he said "that didn't hold across the board unfortunately".
Fianna Fáil's Seán Fleming, who has been re-elected for another term, said he was grateful to all who voted for him.
"If you're dreaming of something, that dream can become a reality," Mr Aird said, who is in his 60s and was a first-time candidate.
How it ended ...
