Sinn Féin’s Rose Conway-Walsh has been elected in Mayo in the general election, after becoming the first female candidate ever to top the poll in the Mayo constituency.

After unsuccessful runs in the 2011 and 2016 general elections, she was catapulted into Dáil Éireann four years ago with a massive 14,633 first preference votes.

Her tally was more modest on this occasion but no less satisfying.

The 54-year-old mother of two is regarded as an extremely hard worker, caring and compassionate.

Her work in the community in Erris, a depopulated region, laid the groundwork for her subsequent success in politics.

First elected to Mayo County Council in 2009, she became a senator in 2016, topping the poll in the agricultural panel.

Married to Noel, the couple have two sons, Peter and Anthony.