LATEST: First time candidate falls just short of the three big parties in Carlow-Kilkenny

Patricia Stephenson of the Social Democrats has been excluded from the race for a seat in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency after the eleventh count.

The first time candidate put in a very impressive showing by amassing a total of 6,425 votes before being excluded.

Of the eight candidates remaining prior to the conclusion of count eleven, she was the only candidate that was not from the big three parties of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin.

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