A tour de force by Fianna Fáil saw the party win 51 per cent of the votes in this new three-seater constituency.
Outgoing Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Noel Dempsey repeated his 2002 poll-topping feat, garnering even more first preferences.
After his election on the first count, more than two-thirds of his surplus transferred to Fianna Fáil's second candidate, TD Johnny Brady, who was elected on the second count.
The Fine Gael strategy of running two candidates along with TD Damien English - Cllr Peter Higgins and Meath footballer Graham Geraghty - was questioned on the grounds that it could split the party's vote to the detriment of its outgoing TD, running in just his second general election. However, in the event, the strategy worked well for the party. Geraghty, polling 1,284 in his first venture into politics, transferred about 80 per cent of his votes to his two party colleagues.
Higgins, originally from the small Westmeath section of the new constituency, remained in the race until the penultimate count. On the last count, a huge transfer of 3,386 from Higgins to English saw him elected.
The young Labour candidate, Brian Collins, could use this first general election outing as a base for a Meath County Council seat campaign, as may the Green Party's candidate, Brian Flanagan.
Overall change: New constituency
Outgoing TDs
Noel Dempsey FF
Johnny Brady FF
Damien English FG