Cronin is the only female TD in Kildare North

Sinn Fein’s “comradely” campaign saw Réada Cronin safely returned to represent Kildare North as the only female TD.

She stressed the importance of running a second candidate in the constituency.

She is a consistently strong performer for the party and was the third highest candidate after the first count with just over 6,800 first preferences. Only Aidan Farrelly and James Lawless got more support in the 16 runner field in the first count.

On this occasion her party opted to run two candidates and colleague Caroline Hogan was eliminated in the third county, transferring 930 votes to Cronin.

“I’m very tired but very happy and satisfied that we held on to the seat,” she said.

She said her success and that of Shona Ní Raghallaigh in Kildare South came after an coverall poor performance  by the party in the local elections in the north of the county- which saw them win just one seat on Kildare County Council (Ms Ní Raghallaigh in her first election).

Dep Cronin said the changes made to some boundaries in the electoral areas within the county made it hard for the candidates.

“We came fourth in a three seater, we came fifth in a four seater and sixth in a five seater. We did well enough  but didn’t get elected. It’s possible we ran too many candidates and there are learnings after every election and we are delighted to have won this seat and made sure that everyone on both Kidare constituencies will have republican representation in the next Dáil.”

In a sense her re-election came as no surprise - even if some opinion polls suggested that support for her party had dipped in the run up to polling day.

“People were eager for change. You can’t get all the ground covered in a campaign of a few weeks duration but people did want change . We talk to people all the time. I try to get out and canvass at least two or three times a month and knock on doors so people know they don’t just see us at election time.”

She joked: “I don’t know if I’m winning them over, but I’m certainly wearing them down.”