The Social Democrats retained their seat in Kildare North after Aidan Farrelly, a 37-year-old county councillor, was elected, succeeding party co-founder Catherine Murphy. He was one of three first-time TDs elected in the five-seater.
Mr Farrelly, a lecturer at Maynooth University with a background in youth work, ran as the Social Democrats candidate following the retirement of Ms Murphy. She had served as TD for Kildare North since 2011, and also between 2005 and 2007.
Kildare North was one of the final constituencies to finish counting, with all seats filled shortly after 3pm on Monday.
Fine Gael also retained its seat in the constituency – but it was Cllr Joe Neville, rather than Bernard Durkan, who was elected to the 34th Dáil.
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Mr Durkan spent 42 consecutive years as a TD, but on Sunday evening, he conceded he would not be retaining his seat. He said he would step back from public life.
Fianna Fáil’s James Lawless, a junior minister in the Department of Transport in the outgoing Government, was elected on the eighth count, the first candidate to be elected. Naoise Ó Cearúil will join his running mate in the 34th Dáil after his election.
Réada Cronin, the Sinn Féin candidate, comfortably retained her seat. She was first elected in 2020.
