A recount has been taking place in the Castlecomer electoral area in Kilkenny after 10 votes separated two candidates.

Returning officer Michael Delahunty confirmed the recount after the 10 votes separated the last candidate to be elected, Michael McCarthy (Fianna Fáil), and Sinn Féin candidate Caitriona Redmond.

McCarthy was elected on the ninth count with 1,301 votes. The recount was to begin at 11am today.

Labour councillor Maurice Shortall topped the poll in Kilkenny, bucking the national trend, which saw the party decimated in many areas.

Sinn Féin performed strongly across the city and county, with Melissa O’Neill making history when she became the first Sinn Féin councillor elected to Kilkenny County Council.

“I only came into the campaign three weeks ago,” said the lone parent. “The reaction on the doorsteps was ‘we need change’ - it was a cry for help from the people really,” she said.

Andrew McGuinness (FF), son of the PAC chairman John McGuinness, topped the poll in Kilkenny City East.

Fine Gael have suffered significant losses, with the loss of a number of high-profile, long-serving councillors, while Sinn Féin look set to gain a number of seats on the council.

Malcolm Noonan of the Green Party has also secured a seat in Kilkenny City West.

Veteran councillor Mary Hilda Kavanagh (Fine Gael) was elected on the fourth count in the Castlecomer Electoral Area.

She is the longest serving female councillor in the country, having sat on Kilkenny County Council for the past 40 successive years. Her party colleague and chairman of Kilkenny County Council Pat Dunphy (Fine Gael) was also elected on the fifth count of the Piltown Electoral Area.