Former Irish rugby international Gerry "Ginger" McLoughlin, who famously scored a try at Twickenham in 1982 carrying half of the English pack over the line, has won a seat in the Limerick City Council elections.
McLoughlin (53), who stood as an independent, secured the fourth and final seat in the city's Ward 2.
Friends and family broke into a rousing rendition of the famous Limerick rugby anthem The Isle as the former international was elected on the ninth count.
He was roundly congratulated by most of the other candidates and he had a special word for Mr Joe Kemmy, brother of Jim Kemmy, when he said the late Labour TD was the only politician he had ever campaigned for in Limerick.
Mr McLoughlin had highlighted special-needs education, improved leisure and sporting facilities and care of the elderly as his priorities during his election campaign.
He was one of several independent candidates who polled 40 per cent of first preference votes across Limerick City Council's four wards.
The Fianna Fáil vote collapsed in Limerick city, dropping from 28 per cent in 1999 to just 12 per cent. Among the notable casualties were the current Limerick mayor, Mr Dick Sadlier, and veteran Fianna Fáil councillor, Mr Jack Bourke, who had served on the local authority for more than 30 years.
Overall, Fine Gael secured five seats, Labour four, Independents six and Fianna Fáil just two of the six seats they won in 1999.
In Limerick County Council, the longest-serving councillor, Fine Gael's Paddy Hourigan, lost his seat in Castleconnell after 32 years.