Newly elected Sinn Féin TD for Meath West, Johnny Guirke topped the poll with 12,652 first-preference votes in the three-seat constituency
Guirke, from Oldcastle, has been a member of Meath County Council since first elected in 2014 and increased his vote by 10 per cent in last year’s local elections
Married to Mary, the father of three daughters and one son worked in construction in the US for 18 years and is a founding member of the Aidan McAnespie GAA Club in Boston.
The councillor, who is in his early 50s, campaigned on childcare and housing costs, commuter issues and mental health.
He is also chairperson of the 30-strong committee of Moylagh JFK 50 Mile Challenge which has raised €748,000 for cancer services in recent years.