BREAKING: New cathaoirleach for Kildare County Council

Leixlip's Joe Neville is the new cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council.

The Fine Gael councillor was elected this afternoon with the support of the Fianna Fáil councillors in the first KCC meeting since the local elections of June 7.

Cllr Neville's family, including his wife, children and parents, were present at the annual meeting hosted at Aras Chill Dara.

The poll topping chartered accountant followed his dad Tom into local politics. His father will also be remembered as a garda superintendent, who served in Naas.

But he had to come through a vote - which saw 21 councillors vote for him.

This was after Social Democrats councillor Aidan Farrelly nominated Nuala Killeen for the role and said some on KCC are unfair to other parties when the destination of these roles is decided.

The new leas cathaoirleach is Kevin Duffy, the Monasterevin-based Fine Gael councillor, who was unopposed for the role.

Cllr Neville was the first councillor elected in the Leixlip area, garnering nearly 38% of the first preferences and comfortably exceeding the quota on the opening count.