Retiring Fine Gael TD Michael Ring strongly supported Keira Keogh in her successful bid to win a seat in the Mayo constituency.

A skilled debater, the Westport-based behavioural consultant missed out on a seat in Mayo County Council in last June’s local elections.

She bounced back strongly in the general election canvassing vigorously far and wide often with Deputy Ring, her mentor, by her side.

The local electorate in Westport, anxious that the area, post-Ring, should continue to be represented in Dáil Éireann, handed her a handsome first preference vote which proved significant in the reckoning for one of the final seats.

Ms Keogh honed her debating skills as a member of Junior Chamber International.

Her family owns The Helm pub and restaurant on Westport Quay. She credits her experience of helping out in the hospitality industry as instilling in her “a strong work ethic and community spirit”.