Ms Toireasa Ní Fhearaoise, the daughter of Sinn Féin TD Mr Martin Ferris, was yesterday unanimously co-opted onto Kerry County Council following her father's resignation after the ending of the dual mandate.
She is one of only two women councillors on the 27-member council. The other is Labour's Ms Maeve Spring.
Ms Ní Fhearaoise (23) was also the council's nominee to the South-West Regional Authority, the statutory body responsible for strategic planning in the Cork and Kerry area.
Earlier this summer Mr Ferris was informed that his membership on the authority was "terminated" because he had missed too many meetings.
Mr Ferris explained at the time that his attendance at meetings on the morning of the last Tuesday of each month ran counter to his Dáil commitments as he had to get to Dublin from Kerry. Ms Ní Fhearaoise is a graduate in law and European studies from the University of Limerick. She is a fluent Spanish speaker and has lived and worked in Spain and Mexico. She has also worked with human rights lawyers in Chicago.
She was co-opted on the proposal of Cllr Billy Leen (Ind), and seconded by Cllr Denis Foley (FF).
Several councillors paid tribute to Mr Ferris for his work during his four years on the council. Mr Michael Healy-Rae (Ind), said Mr Ferris had made enormous personal sacrifices for his political beliefs.
Mr Paul O'Donoghue (FF), said he been struck by the compassion and sense of fair play shown by Mr Ferris in the course of his council work.