Fitzmaurice returns from moving cattle to be declared TD

Independent candidate Michael Fitzmaurice clawed back a 1,114-vote deficit after the first count to emerge victorious in the Roscommon South Leitrim by-election this evening.

Roscommon / South Leitrim .. Meet your new Dail Deputy .. Michael Fitzmaurice TD. #rsl14 #ntfm pic.twitter.com/BtWwAv0F2l

— Zara King (@ZaraKing) October 11, 2014

Fianna Fáil candidate Ivan Connaughton, who saw his lead cut in every subsequent count, conceded defeat before the result was made official.

It took the most of 12 hours to fill the seat.

The country's newest TD did not attend the count centre until the evening – as “there was cattle to be moved”.

He will take his seat in the Dáil on Tuesday, minutes before the Budget is delivered, along with Paul Murphy.

The Anti Austerity Alliance TD won out in Dublin South West, who also ousted the first-count poll topper, Sinn Féin’s Cathal King.