Constituency wrap: Cork North West

FORMER FG national executive member Áine Collins secured a Dáil seat at her first attempt and pledged job creation will be the party’s priority.

She was elected on the sixth count along with outgoing Fianna Fáil TD Michael Moynihan, who got almost one-in-five first preferences.

FG’s Michael Creed topped the poll with 10,112 votes and was elected on the fifth count, thanks to transfers from unsuccessful party colleague Derry Canty.

The FG gain in the three-seater was at the expense of FF where the party had held two seats since 1992.

Labour’s Martin Coughlan almost trebled his 2007 vote to secure a 14% share of first preferences.

Mr Moynihan, just 13 votes short of the quota when elected for the fourth successive time, said: “It’s been a difficult campaign, no doubt. There was a tsunami against us from day one.”