Independent Marian Harkin (71) scraped through to regain a Sligo-Leitrim seat in the general election, defying a big drop in first-preference support that left her chasing Michael Clarke of Independent Ireland.

Despite the advantages of incumbency, Harkin needed many transfers after falling well short of her 2020 tally. The path to regaining her seat was “narrow and it’s slippy”, she had said.

But the elimination of Independent Marie Casserly delivered 1,103 votes and Fianna Fáil’s Edel McSharry provided another 1,161 votes.

A former teacher, Harkin made her name as a campaigner for regional development.

Reared in Ballintogher, Co Sligo, she became active in politics when living in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, where her late husband ran a business.

She contested the 1999 European election but lost out on a seat to Dana Rosemary Scallon. She was first elected to the Dáil in 2002 and was elected to the European Parliament in 2004, 2009 and 2014.