Exhausted new TDs and candidates thank campaign teams, families and counters

OFFALY'S two new Dail Deputies – Tony McCormack TD and John Clendennen TD – have pledged to work tirelessly for the people of Offaly following their election.

Speaking to supporters, family, friends and count centre staff in Birr just after 2am on Sunday morning the duo extended thanks to all those who had helped them in their campaigns.

Thanks to their campaign teams were also expressed by two unsuccessful candidates – Sinn Fein's Cllr Aoife Masterson and Fianna Fail's Cllr Claire Murray.

Cllr Masterson polled particularly strongly and also attracted transfers from right across the field meaning she was just 116 votes behind the last TD to be elected.

Returning Officer Sean Ryan paid tribute to all candidates who stood in the election and thanked his count centre staff for their hard work from 7.30am on Saturday morning.

"The staff were prepared to to stay here as we did not want the candidates to have to come back in the morning and go through it all again."

Cllr Masterson, who was first candidate to speak, said it had been an absolute honour to receive such a warm reception during the campaign.

She thanked the count centre staff for their incredible work. "You made a very stressful and difficult time for us memorable.

The Tullamore based candidate also thanked her party colleague and campaign team whom she said had "been with me morning, noon and night."

"We didn't get over the line this time but I'm sure we will do so in the future," concluded Ms Masterson extending congratulations to the three TDs elected.

Cllr Claire Murray also thanked her campaign team and all those who had voted for her. Congratulating the new Dail Deputies, she also thanked the count staff for their hard work.

Newly elected Fianna Fail TD, Tony MCCormack said it was historic in the way the count had been finished in Offaly in the one day by the hard-working staff.

He thanked his mother, brother, sister, wife, sons, friends and party colleagues who had canvassed and worked for him throughout a "fantastic" campaign.

Deputy McCormack also paid tribute to the outgoing Fianna Fail TD, Barry Cowen and former Taoiseach, Brian Cowen and their wives, for their support.

"The hard work starts tomorrow and I will repay the trust of the electorate," he pledged.

Congratulating the two elected TDs, he also extended commiserations to the unsuccessful candidates. "It's not easy to go and put your head on the block."

Thanks to the count staff for their dedication was also extended by newly elected Fine Gael TD, John Clendennen who said the count had been conducted in a fair, honest and transparent manner.

He added that the dream of being elected a TD had been an objective of his for many years.

He thanked his supporters and his family – his wife, father, mother, son, brother and sisters – for their support and recalled the untimely death of his mother-in-law in an accident when the local elections count was in progress last June.

The new Fine Gael TD thanked the over 37,000 voters who had turned out to put their trust in candidates and said it was not an easy task for people to put their names forward for election.

The first TD to be elected, Independent Deputy Carol Nolan - who topped the poll and was elected on the fifth count – had left the count centre late on Saturday night before the conclusion of the count on Sunday morning as had the other unsuccessful candidates.