All four seats in the Wexford constituency have now been filled following eleven counts over two days.
On the first day of counting Independent Verona Murphy topped the poll with 11,340 votes while day two saw Fianna Fáil’s James Browne take the second seat with 11,292 votes, Sinn Fein’s Johnny Mythen finished on 10,550 and Labour’s George Lawlor on 10,066 votes.
Verona Murphy said she is in the “honoured and privileged position” to be in Wexford having topped the poll as “an independent female candidate” and now elected TD.
“It’s phenomenal and a little overwhelming” she told a packed count centre.
“Nobody expected that we would reach the top of the poll, but it’s an absolute honour and for the people of Wexford who put me here. I can say that your trust is in safe hands and I’ll do exactly what I said I’d do that last time, work hard and I didn’t know what was involved the last time, but I do this time”.
Fianna Fáil’s James Browne thanked the other 11 candidates who were not successful.
“Anybody to put their neck on the line, is a huge, huge deserving of respect”, he said.
Johnny Mythen dedicated his win to his mother who will be 90 years old in March and could not be at the count centre.
“Mam this is for you as well” he said. He also spoke about the challenges faced by candidates while out on the campaign trail.
“Canvassing now is difficult with social media where there are people willing to rip you apart,” he said.
George Lawlor paid tribute to his predecessor and Labour’s director of elections Brendan Howlin, who spent 42 years in politics in Wexford.
“Thanks Brendan not just for your work here on this campaign but your unstinting loyalty to the party, the county and indeed the country.”