We had to wait until just after 7pm – but we finally got a result in the Local Elections for Laois on Day 2 with five of the 19 seats now filled.
The first count came in the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District where Paschal McEvoy topped the poll after first preference votes.
Sinn Fein’s Aidan Mullins was the first to be elected there with Fianna Fail’s McEvoy and Independent Ben Brennan in next.
Counting was adjourned with Padraig Fleming (Fianna Fail) and Aisling Moran (Ind) almost there with PJ Kelly (Fine Gael) just 92 votes ahead of party colleague Vivienne Phelan.
Counting will resume at 11.30am today in the Borris-In-Ossory-Mountmellick District.
Nobody has reached the quota there but Conor Bergin (Fine Gael), James Kelly (IND), Paddy Bracken (Fianna Fail), John King (Fine Gael) and Ollie Clooney (IND) are certs.
The final seat will come down between Seamus McDonald of Fianna Fail and Paddy Buggy of Fine Gael.
Declan Good of Fianna Fail has just been eliminated and the count will resume with the redistribution of his 284 votes.
While in Portlaoise, Fine Gael’s Willie Aird topped the poll and was elected on the first count.
Jason Phelan (Sinn Fein) and John Cowhig (Independent) were both eliminated and their votes redistributed.
That resulted in Caroline Dwane-Stanley (Sinn Fein) being elected and thus brought the conclusion of counting for the night.
John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail), Tommy Mulligan (Independent), Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail) and Barry Walsh (Fine Gael) are in good places to take the next seats.
With a battle likely to ensue between Marie Tuohy (Labour), Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail) and Thomasina Connell (Fine Gael) for the last seat.
Photographer Paul Dargan was in the count centre and captured some great images.
Check them out below:
