Kathleen Lynch: How can I walk away from such loyalty?

A high-profile Labour election casualty insists she will not retire from politics despite losing her seat after 14 years.

Former junior minister Kathleen Lynch, who was in the mix for the fourth and final seat in Cork North Central until the final count on Sunday, said she couldn’t walk away from those who campaigned and voted for her. “They believe in Labour. How can I walk away from such loyalty? I won’t. That loyalty is inspiring. I won’t be retiring.”

Her brother-in-law, former Labour TD Ciarán Lynch and ex-chair of the banking enquiry, who lost his seat in Cork South Central, said that the current political vacuum could threaten investment and job creation.