BREAKING: Conor Sheehan, Lab, elected on the 15th and final count in Limerick City with 6,395 votes

LABOUR’S City North councillor Conor Sheehan has sensationally taken the final seat in Limerick City.

The 31-year-old beat Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan in a nerve-shredding race which went late into late this evening at Limerick Racecourse. He ended up winning the seat by 598 votes.

It marks a stunning comeback for the Corbally man, who at one stage was 391 votes behind Cllr O’Donovan in the race for the fourth and final seat in Limerick City which was always considered to be wide open.

Just before returning officer Vincent Murray confirmed his election, Cllr O’Donovan graciously approached her rival for a congratulatory embrace.

Cllr Sheehan has regained what has traditionally been a Labour seat in Limerick City, dating back to the days of the late Jim Kemmy.

The last Labour TD to represent Limerick City in 2020 Jan O’Sullivan was stood beside Cllr Sheehan as he fought back tears following his election.

His election follows a two-day count in the Limerick Racecourse which saw Fianna Fail TD Willie O’Dea top the poll, Kieran O’Donnell of Fine Gael coming in second, and Sinn Fein’s Maurice Quinlivan taking the third seat.

Going into the final count, there were just 16 votes between the pair.

Most notably, Green Party TD Brian Leddin, who lost his seat, sent 558 votes the Labour man’s way.

He also secured 318 of Independent councillor Frankie Daly’s vote and 54 of Sinn Fein Senator Paul Gavan’s transfer.

But Cllr O’Donovan herself continued to rally, picking up significant transfers to set up the tense finale.

Mr Leddin transferred 376 votes to Cllr O’Donovan, Senator Gavan sent 130 votes her way and Cllr Daly’s transfer was 172.

And going into the last count, Mr Quinlivan’s surplus gave her a boost of 186 votes, as opposed to just 121 for her rival. Ms Ryan transferred 1,643 to Cllr Sheehan and 1,041 to Cllr O'Donovan sealing the result.