A West Cork candidate has been elected by the skin of her teeth - taking the final seat in her constituency by a single vote after two recounts.

Social Democrat Holly McKeever Cairns (29) pipped Independent candidate Finbar Harrington by a vote after two recounts in the Bantry local electoral area.

"One vote, every vote counts. You couldn't write it," Ms McKeever Cairns told Independent.ie

Following the first count on Monday night it was announced that Mr Harrington had won the seat by a single vote - but Ms McKeever Cairns called for a recount.

That evening a closed door meeting between the candidates and the Returning Officer Maurice Manning found a number of invalid votes had been included in the first count.

Five invalid ballots had been included in the count.

The quota was reduced by one to 2,308 votes. Mr Harrington's total of first preference votes fell by one while Ms McKeever Cairn's total rose by two. By the sixth count both candidates were running neck and neck for the final seat.

After the first recount the tables had turned and Ms McKeever Cairns had won by a single vote.

Mr Harrington then sought a recount which was completed just before 9pm tonight.

Read More

Ms McKeever Cairns described the final moments before she pipped her rival as "very tense" particularly when the last thing to do was to scrutinise the votes.

"I do feel tired because there were so many counts," she said.

"It's difficult to believe we're not going into another count, it's like a routine.

"Finbar won the first by one vote and I won the third by one vote. If it had come to a draw I would've won because I had more first preferences."

Asked what she will do following the win, she said "we're gonna celebrate a lot, we're delighted".

"I was the 19th [Soc Dem] councillor to be elected. 10 women and nine men so I just tipped the gender balance," she added.

Total Seats by Party

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Carlow County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Cavan County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Clare County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Cork City Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Cork County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Donegal County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Dublin City Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Fingal County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Galway City Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Galway County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Kerry County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Kildare County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Kilkenny County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Laois County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Leitrim County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Limerick City and County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Longford County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Louth County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Mayo County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Meath County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Monaghan County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Offaly County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Roscommon County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Sligo County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,South Dublin County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Tipperary County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Waterford City and Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Westmeath County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Wexford County Council,0

Seats To Be Filled,#000000,Wicklow County Council,0

FF,#02994A,Carlow County Council,6

FF,#02994A,Cavan County Council,8

FF,#02994A,Clare County Council,13

FF,#02994A,Cork City Council,8

FF,#02994A,Cork County Council,18

FF,#02994A,Donegal County Council,12

FF,#02994A,Dublin City Council,11

FF,#02994A,Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council,7

FF,#02994A,Fingal County Council,8

FF,#02994A,Galway City Council,5

FF,#02994A,Galway County Council,14

FF,#02994A,Kerry County Council,10

FF,#02994A,Kildare County Council,13

FF,#02994A,Kilkenny County Council,11

FF,#02994A,Laois County Council,6

FF,#02994A,Leitrim County Council,6

FF,#02994A,Limerick City and County Council,12

FF,#02994A,Longford County Council,6

FF,#02994A,Louth County Council,7

FF,#02994A,Mayo County Council,11

FF,#02994A,Meath County Council,12

FF,#02994A,Monaghan County Council,4

FF,#02994A,Offaly County Council,8

FF,#02994A,Roscommon County Council,6

FF,#02994A,Sligo County Council,5

FF,#02994A,South Dublin County Council,8

FF,#02994A,Tipperary County Council,9

FF,#02994A,Waterford City and Council,7

FF,#02994A,Westmeath County Council,9

FF,#02994A,Wexford County Council,12

FF,#02994A,Wicklow County Council,7

FG,#00477B,Carlow County Council,6

FG,#00477B,Cavan County Council,7

FG,#00477B,Clare County Council,8

FG,#00477B,Cork City Council,7

FG,#00477B,Cork County Council,20

FG,#00477B,Donegal County Council,6

FG,#00477B,Dublin City Council,9

FG,#00477B,Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council,13

FG,#00477B,Fingal County Council,7

FG,#00477B,Galway City Council,3

FG,#00477B,Galway County Council,11

FG,#00477B,Kerry County Council,7

FG,#00477B,Kildare County Council,11

FG,#00477B,Kilkenny County Council,9

FG,#00477B,Laois County Council,7

FG,#00477B,Leitrim County Council,6

FG,#00477B,Limerick City and County Council,14

FG,#00477B,Longford County Council,9

FG,#00477B,Louth County Council,5

FG,#00477B,Mayo County Council,12

FG,#00477B,Meath County Council,12

FG,#00477B,Monaghan County Council,5

FG,#00477B,Offaly County Council,4

FG,#00477B,Roscommon County Council,2

FG,#00477B,Sligo County Council,6

FG,#00477B,South Dublin County Council,7

FG,#00477B,Tipperary County Council,12

FG,#00477B,Waterford City and Council,7

FG,#00477B,Westmeath County Council,5

FG,#00477B,Wexford County Council,9

FG,#00477B,Wicklow County Council,9

Ind,#525656,Carlow County Council,2

Ind,#525656,Cavan County Council,1

Ind,#525656,Clare County Council,5

Ind,#525656,Cork City Council,5

Ind,#525656,Cork County Council,10

Ind,#525656,Donegal County Council,8

Ind,#525656,Dublin City Council,9

Ind,#525656,Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council,5

Ind,#525656,Fingal County Council,6

Ind,#525656,Galway City Council,6

Ind,#525656,Galway County Council,12

Ind,#525656,Kerry County Council,9

Ind,#525656,Kildare County Council,3

Ind,#525656,Kilkenny County Council,1

Ind,#525656,Laois County Council,3

Ind,#525656,Leitrim County Council,4

Ind,#525656,Limerick City and County Council,6

Ind,#525656,Longford County Council,3

Ind,#525656,Louth County Council,6

Ind,#525656,Mayo County Council,6

Ind,#525656,Meath County Council,10

Ind,#525656,Monaghan County Council,3

Ind,#525656,Offaly County Council,3

Ind,#525656,Roscommon County Council,9

Ind,#525656,Sligo County Council,3

Ind,#525656,South Dublin County Council,9

Ind,#525656,Tipperary County Council,15

Ind,#525656,Waterford City and Council,6

Ind,#525656,Westmeath County Council,2

Ind,#525656,Wexford County Council,8

Ind,#525656,Wicklow County Council,9

SF,#1B4919,Carlow County Council,1

SF,#1B4919,Cavan County Council,1

SF,#1B4919,Clare County Council,1

SF,#1B4919,Cork City Council,4

SF,#1B4919,Cork County Council,2

SF,#1B4919,Donegal County Council,10

SF,#1B4919,Dublin City Council,8

SF,#1B4919,Fingal County Council,4

SF,#1B4919,Galway County Council,1

SF,#1B4919,Kerry County Council,4

SF,#1B4919,Kildare County Council,1

SF,#1B4919,Laois County Council,2

SF,#1B4919,Leitrim County Council,2

SF,#1B4919,Limerick City and County Council,2

SF,#1B4919,Louth County Council,7

SF,#1B4919,Mayo County Council,1

SF,#1B4919,Meath County Council,3

SF,#1B4919,Monaghan County Council,6

SF,#1B4919,Roscommon County Council,1

SF,#1B4919,Sligo County Council,2

SF,#1B4919,South Dublin County Council,6

SF,#1B4919,Tipperary County Council,2

SF,#1B4919,Waterford City and Council,6

SF,#1B4919,Wexford County Council,2

SF,#1B4919,Wicklow County Council,2

Lab,#AF1414,Carlow County Council,2

Lab,#AF1414,Cork City Council,1

Lab,#AF1414,Cork County Council,2

Lab,#AF1414,Donegal County Council,1

Lab,#AF1414,Dublin City Council,8

Lab,#AF1414,Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council,6

Lab,#AF1414,Fingal County Council,6

Lab,#AF1414,Galway City Council,1

Lab,#AF1414,Kerry County Council,2

Lab,#AF1414,Kildare County Council,5

Lab,#AF1414,Kilkenny County Council,2

Lab,#AF1414,Laois County Council,1

Lab,#AF1414,Limerick City and County Council,3

Lab,#AF1414,Louth County Council,3

Lab,#AF1414,Meath County Council,1

Lab,#AF1414,South Dublin County Council,2

Lab,#AF1414,Tipperary County Council,1

Lab,#AF1414,Waterford City and Council,4

Lab,#AF1414,Westmeath County Council,2

Lab,#AF1414,Wexford County Council,2

Lab,#AF1414,Wicklow County Council,2

GP,#2C703F,Clare County Council,1

GP,#2C703F,Cork City Council,4

GP,#2C703F,Cork County Council,2

GP,#2C703F,Dublin City Council,10

GP,#2C703F,Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council,6

GP,#2C703F,Fingal County Council,5

GP,#2C703F,Galway City Council,2

GP,#2C703F,Galway County Council,1

GP,#2C703F,Kildare County Council,3

GP,#2C703F,Kilkenny County Council,1

GP,#2C703F,Limerick City and County Council,2

GP,#2C703F,Louth County Council,1

GP,#2C703F,Offaly County Council,1

GP,#2C703F,South Dublin County Council,4

GP,#2C703F,Waterford City and Council,2

GP,#2C703F,Westmeath County Council,2

GP,#2C703F,Wicklow County Council,2

SD,#601772,Cork County Council,1

SD,#601772,Dublin City Council,5

SD,#601772,Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council,1

SD,#601772,Fingal County Council,2

SD,#601772,Galway City Council,1

SD,#601772,Kildare County Council,4

SD,#601772,Limerick City and County Council,1

SD,#601772,Meath County Council,1

SD,#601772,Offaly County Council,1

SD,#601772,South Dublin County Council,1

SD,#601772,Wicklow County Council,1

SPBP,#6a100f,Carlow County Council,1

SPBP,#6a100f,Cork City Council,1

SPBP,#6a100f,Dublin City Council,2

SPBP,#6a100f,Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council,2

SPBP,#6a100f,Fingal County Council,1

SPBP,#6a100f,Sligo County Council,1

SPBP,#6a100f,South Dublin County Council,3

Aon,#939393,Cavan County Council,1

I4C,#000000,Dublin City Council,1

I4C,#000000,Fingal County Council,1

Aon,#939393,Meath County Council,1

I4C,#000000,Sligo County Council,1

Aon,#939393,Wexford County Council,1

WP,#525656,Cork City Council,1

SKIA,#525656,Kerry County Council,1

IDP,#525656,Offaly County Council,1

R,#d89800,Offaly County Council,1

WUA,#e1c423,Tipperary County Council,1



Online Editors