FG lose out to PDs after sixth Laois-Offaly count

The sixth count has yielded a final declaration of the five seats that will be filled for the next Dail, and contrary to the pundits, it’s Fine Gael who lost out to Tom Parlon and not Fianna Fail as was widely predicted.

Brian Cowen (FF) topped the poll, Tom Parlon (PD) was second to be declared and then as successive candidates were eliminated, it emerged that Olwyn Enright (FG), John Moloney (FF) and John Flemming (FF) were re-elected.

The big story in Laois-Offaly is the end of 60 years of the Flanagan name as part of the political landscape, and also the emergence of the first PD deputy for the area, in Tom Parlon, and the first woman candidate to be returned as a deputy.