Joe Carey (FG) has now won his 4th general election in a row.
The Clarecastle married father of two continues the Carey name that has been in Clare politics since his father Donal won a seat for Fine Gael back in 1982.
Donal was one of the first people that Joe embraced after retaining his seat at the Clare count.
Carey was first elected to the Dáil in 2007 and had served on Clare Co Council from 1997 to 2007.
As a TD, Carey has previously served as a member of the Dáil Committee on Procedures and Privileges, Fine Gael spokesperson on juvenile justice and deputy government chief whip.
Joe Carey’s chances were written off in 2016 and widely written off again this time.
The 44-year-old backbench TD said at the count “it says a bit about me that I am the only incumbent here to retain my seat, that I have been elected four times in a row. I said before never underestimate the Careys and that continues to happen.”
