How it started ...
The Sligo-Leitrim constituency count resembled a modern-day Gaelic football match; it appeared to follow a predictable structure until we entered the home straight.
Then, we witnessed a Lazarus-like comeback and the election of the four candidates in the final three counts.
After the first count, incumbent Marian Harkin admitted there was a "narrow, slippery path ahead" and a "mountain to climb" after her first preference vote fell 38% (2,265 votes) compared to 2020.
However, Ms Harkin navigated that path and was the final candidate to reach the summit after a surge of transfers.
Fine Gael's Frank Feighan topped the poll. He led throughout and was the first to exceed the quota on the 11th count. The party's one-candidate strategy was effective as Mr Feighan polled consistently across the three counties.
Sinn Féin’s Martin Kenny, who polled second, exceeded the quota comfortably on the 12th count. The party’s second candidate, Chris MacManus, who finished sixth, transferred 75% of his 6,932 votes to Kenny. A second seat will be on the party’s radar in the future.
Fianna Fáil’s Eamon Scanlon and Ms Harkin were elected without reaching the quota on the final count. The four, who are no strangers to Kildare Street, will represent the northwest constituency in the 34th Dáil.
Independent Ireland’s Michael Clarke was in the top three until the penultimate count. He ultimately finished fifth, outside of the top four. He didn't have the same transfer success as Harkin when the count entered the home straight.
Fianna Fáil’s three-candidate strategy helped them retain a seat. Eamon Scanlon will be returning to the Dáil for a third time. The Ballymote native won a seat in 2007, lost it in 2011, regained it in 2016, lost it in 2020 and has regained it again.
"It’s 3-2 at this stage," Scanlon said to strong applause in his acceptance speech.
Ms Harkin's ability to pick up transfers from across the political spectrum, helped her retain a seat in Dáil Éireann for a third time.
The election saw 18 candidates standing in the Sligo-Leitrim Constituency: including three outgoing TDs, a former TD, a former MEP and seven councillors.
While familiar faces will return to the Dáil from the northwest; several candidates from smaller parties in the constituency will be pleased with their performance.
The victorious candidates spoke of the privilege of election and acknowledged all who stood in their acceptance speeches.
As journalists, commentators and party supporters were awaiting the first count result, ATU staff ran the cross-party tally through an Artificial Intelligence programme and asked it to forecast the outcome.
Some commentators were doubtful about the AI projection. It forecasted a Harkin seat, an outcome that seemed unlikely in the eyes of many at the time. Some 31 hours later, the computer proved to be correct about all four seats.
How it ended ...
