Fine Gael’s Pete Roche has been elected to the Dáil for Galway East.

The Abbeyknockmoy native has 15 years of experience as a public representative with Galway County Council. A part-time farmer, he has run his campaign on issues of agriculture, housing, childcare and health.

Married to Bridie, Mr Roche has four sons – Alan, Adrian, Mark and Colin, who passed away in November 2010. He has long been a vocal ambassador for suicide awareness and prevention.

Fine Gael ran three candidates in Galway East and Mr Roche benefitted from a large amount of inter-party transfers to claim his seat comfortably in the 11th count.

The party had hoped to target the newly added fourth seat in the constituency. Despite Mr Roche’s election, the strategy was unsuccessful. Outgoing FG TD Ciarán Cannon had endorsed Niamh Madden, who was the first of the three to be eliminated.