The smooth return to the Dáil of Sinn Féin’s Martin Kenny (55) in the second Sligo-Leitrim seat came despite his first preference vote almost halving from four years ago. 

Unlike in 2020 when Mr Kenny was the only candidate, Sinn Féin adopted a dual candidate strategy with Chris MacManus.

Mr Kenny has been in politics since his co-option to Leitrim county council in 2003, returning there in the 2004 local election. He first won a Dáil seat in 2016.

A father of four, Mr Kenny was party justice spokesman. But he was unexpectedly moved to communications and transport in 2023 when Mary Lou McDonald gave the justice portfolio to Kerry TD Pa Daly. Mr Kenny previously declared ambitions to become justice minister.

His car was burned in 2019 in a suspected arson attack, after he supported refugees moving to Co Leitrim. On another occasion a car crashed through the gates of his home. He also received threatening messages.

He was a mushroom grower before community work with former republican prisoners.