Fianna Fáil's Bobby Aylward has been elected to the Carlow-Kilkenny Dáil by-election with a final vote count of 26, 529.

David Fitzgerald of Fine Gael was excluded in the ninth count with 21, 632.

In a statement following the final count Cllr David FitzGerald congratulated Mr Aylward and said he will continue to work hard in his role as councillor to the people of Kilkenny.

FF supporters in high mood pic.twitter.com/9u0YPeCsoX — Damien Tiernan (@damienrte) May 24, 2015

Michael Martin and Bobby Aylward at Kilkenny Count, expecting but not yet declaring victory pic.twitter.com/3fmTK1LFcH — Damien Tiernan (@damienrte) May 23, 2015