First time Dail entrant Peter Burke with his dad, also Peter.

We have our four new TDs

Westmeath has its four new TDs, following an all-night counting session which has just ended.

Two new faces have been elected – Fine Gael’s Peter Burke, together with Independent candidate Cllr Kevin Boxer Moran, along with sitting TDs Willie Penrose, of Labour, returns, together with poll topper, Robert Troy from Fianna Fáil.

There could yet be a legal challenge to the election outcome after Deputy James Bannon said that he would take “careful advice” and then decide on whether or not to pursue a legal option.

The count pretty much equals in length the famed “Long Count” of 1965, which saw a six-day battle royale between PJ Lenihan and Gen Sean MacEoin.

This election took started at 9am on Saturday last and ended at 8.17 am this morning.

Along the way, there were fifteen counts and two recounts.

In total, eighteen candidates ran.