Talks on who will become the next Lord Mayor of Cork were already underway even as the last two candidates took their seats with just a single vote separating them following a recount.

Cork City Council has avoided dissolution after councillors voted last night to accept the city’s 2015 budget.

Most of the country's new Councillors are now elected, and a battle is underway between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to be the largest party on local authorities.

Businesses in tourist centre Killarney are to lobby for key local authority services to be retained following the abolition this month of the town council.