Fianna Fáil’s Bobby Aylward has won the Carlow-Kilkenny by-election.

He overtook 13 candidates to take the seat left vacant by EU Commissioner Phil Hogan.

After 17.5 hours counting in Cillin Hill, returning officer Marie Garehy announced that Bobby Aylward finished with with 26,529 votes.

Fine Gael’s David Fitzgerald pocketed 21,632 while Sinn Fein’s Kathleen Funchion took home 16, 437 votes.

Renua’s Paddy McKee faired well in the new party’s first test, taking 6,530 votes.

It was a bad day for Labour however, with Willie Quinn crashing out on the sixth count with just 5,575 votes.

Party leader Michael Martin admits he is a happy man after the result:

It is the first by-election victory for Fianna Fáil since Brian Lenihan won Dublin West in 1996.

Mr Martin hopes it is a sign that Fianna Fáil can make gains nationally: