Fresh faces for 32nd Dáil as Fine Gael and Labour counting their losses

With such a large number of sitting TDs now ousted from Leinster House, the 32nd Dáil will be spattered with unfamiliar and fresh faces.

The annihilation of Labour and massive losses experienced by Fine Gael has helped smaller parties and has encouraged the further growth of independents.

But, perhaps the most significant gains have been for Fianna Fáil, who have come back after a disastrous 2011 election.

Fianna Fáil’s Margaret Murphy-O’Mahony made history when she was the first woman to be elected in Cork South-West.

The mother-of-two said: “I was delighted to make history and hopefully it will open the door to more women. I am against gender quotas; I think women or men should be elected on their own merits but I hope this will encourage more women.”

Although she will be new to Leinster House, Ms Murphy-O’Mahony has been Mayor of Bandon on two occasions and has been both a local and county councillor.

Murphy O'Mahony & Collins elected after reaching quota #CSW #ge16 Daly takes 3rd seat @CorkEveningEcho pic.twitter.com/xv5WHxljAs

— Liz Dunphy (@LizDunphy1) February 27, 2016

At 25, Jack Chambers looks set to be the new baby of the Dáil.

The new Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin West said this election has seen a massive “comeback” for his party.

“I think Fianna Fáil are back and the Irish people had their say,” he said.

“This government wanted a coronation from the start, they had no vision, no energy they just wanted to be re-elected without putting any positive party platform forward.”

The party has made a comeback in constituencies where Fianna Fáil had been wiped out completely last time around.

In Meath West, where Fianna Fáil were left without a TD after the 2011 elections, Shane Cassells topped the poll. He had previously contested for a Dáil seat in 2005 and 2011 without success.

The party have also seen new additions in Waterford with Mary Butler, Cork North West with Aindrias Moynihan, and Galway East with Anne Rabbitte.

However, there were some gains for Fine Gael.

In Dún Laoghaire, Maria Bailey was elected, edging out Fianna Fáil stalwart Mary Hanafin.

When she reached the quota, she became the 100th woman ever to be elected to Dáil Eireann.

An emotional Noel Rock was given a kiss by his grandmother Vera as he was elected in Dublin’s RDS yesterday afternoon.

The first-time Fine Gael TD said: “I was in a constituency where we haven’t had a candidate for 24 years, I was four years old the last time we had a seat in this constituency so it’s been a difficult day for the party, but the team made it work,” he told the Irish Examiner after the count.

However, he admitted that his time in Leinster House may be short-lived before he is going to the people again.

“We certainly will be preparing just in case for another election, but I think people elect one TD at a time, ultimately they don’t necessarily elect a government, but it is now our job, our responsibility to try and elect a government.”

Kate O’Connell was also elected for the first time representing Fine Gael in Dublin Bay South.

Independents have also benefited this time around.

In Kerry, it was a family affair as sitting Independent Michael Healy-Rae saw his brother Danny also gain a seat in Leinster House.

In Clare, Independent Michael Harty who campaigned on the No Doctor, No Village message was elected after the ninth count with 11,962 votes.

Arriving at the count centre Mr Harty admitted: “I have never been to a count before — I have never walked into a count in the manner I did this evening.”

Another colourful character entering the Dáil is Anti Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit’s (AAA-PBP) Gino Kenny who took the final seat in the Dublin Mid-West constituency.