All seats have now been filled in Cork East although three candidates did not make the quota of 9,602 votes.
Fine Gael councillor Noel McCarthy will become Fermoy’s first TD in 33 years after securing 9,561 votes. Mr McCarthy, who is originally from Cobh, said that it will also be the first time in 27 years that Cobh will have a TD.
“The people of Fermoy and Cobh felt they hadn’t a voice, I want to be that voice for them,” he said.
Sinn Féin’s Pat Buckley, who topped the poll in 2020, also took a seat on 9,194 votes.
“I’m very humbled, very proud. It was a savage campaign in a short period and I need to thank my team.
“It’s a very mixed, emotional day. I need to get out and start helping people again. I really want to make a difference.”
Social Democrat councillor Liam Quaide took the fourth and final seat with 7,925 votes.
It is the first time a Social Democrat will take a seat in Cork East.
“There’s a strong appetite for change out there.
“For me, the issue of this election has been disability, and […] the neglect of disability services.”
The youngest TD in the last Dáil, Fianna Fáil’s James O’Connor topped the poll this morning with 9,924 votes.
An emotional Mr O’Connor (27) thanked his team, especially his mother, for their support.
Fine Gael’s Mark Stanton, son of departing TD and former minister of State, David Stanton, was eliminated on the 12th and final count on 7,793 votes.