Childers win sees Labour celebrate another victory

LABOUR celebrated another major victory in the European and local elections after Nessa Childers won a seat for the party in the Ireland East constituency for the first time in 30 years.

Ms Childers was elected on the final count without reaching the quota to claim the last of the three MEP seats, while Liam Aylward’s successful retention of his seat meant Fine Gael was unable to repeat its impressive feat of 2004 in returning their two candidates to the European Parliament.

It marked a great result for Labour in the East constituency – which consists of most of Leinster excluding Dublin, Longford and Westmeath – as well as for Ms Childers personally.