WATCH: Kilcormac's John Leahy is deemed elected in Birr LEA

At 1 o'clock on Sunday afternoon John Leahy was deemed elected in the Offaly Local Election Count Centre in Mucklagh and to have come second, behind Peter Ormond, in the Birr Local Electoral Area.

Leahy got 1,815 votes on the first count which exceeded the Quota of 1,712 votes by 103. 

A delighted Leahy, surrounded by family, supporters and well-wishers, was warmly congratulated with handshakes and hugs. There was no victorious lifting up onto shoulders by the Independent man's supporters, perhaps because they were following the advice of the count staff in the Mucklagh Centre  who had told candidates they would prefer traditional victory hoisting not to happen.

The turnout in Birr LEA was 53.5% with 12,139 people voting of a total electorate of 22,679. There are 15 candidates in the LEA vying for 6 seats in the most competitive LEA of the three LEAs in Offaly.

There were 159 invalid Ballot Papers.