The most impressive breakthrough performance in this Local Election campaign in Laois was that of Independent candidate Tommy Mulligan.
He took the third seat in Portlaoise, with outgoing Fine Gael candidate Thomasina Connell the one to lose out.
Marie Tuohy was also a considerable success story as she held on to the seat she was co-opted into, impressively picking up a raft of transfers from across the board. Naeem Iqbal had polled strongly initially to be only eight votes behind Tuohy on the first count.
We look back at the count in detail as well as hearing from Tommy Mulligan (Independent), Naeem Iqbal (Fianna Fail), Catherine Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail), John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fail), Marie Tuohy (Labour) and Barry Walsh (Fine Gael).
Plus, this episode plays out with an airing of the Skies oer Ballyroan, the famous Ballyroan song which gets an airing on big moments for that community as it did on this occasion when their man Barry Walsh was elected.
All interviews were recorded in the Count Centre so may contain references to upcoming counts, which now have been completed.
SEE ALSO – Check out all our 2024 Local Election coverage here
