O'Dea victory:One of the country's highest poll-toppers, Fianna Fáil's Willie O'Dea, stormed home in his Limerick East constituency where he secured 19,082 first preference votes.
The popular Fianna Fáil candidate was met with a rousing reception when he arrived at the count centre in Greenmount Racecourse in Co Limerick last night. When asked for his reaction to his poll-topping performance - which saw him exceed the quota by more than 10,000 votes - Mr O'Dea said he was "elated".
"In my wildest dreams I didn't anticipate I'd get this kind of vote and it's a very humbling experience to think that so many people out there have placed such confidence in me," said Mr O'Dea.
"Nevertheless, I'm highly elated and I'm looking forward to celebrating later tonight with my supporters," he added.
When asked which part of the constituency he performed well in, he said there were "very few boxes" in Limerick East where he didn't top the poll.
The Limerick East TD said he was delighted with how his party had performed nationwide but refused to say what ministerial post he would like when the government is formed, insisting he was "always happy to serve".
Meanwhile Fianna Fáil first-timer Niall Collins was also celebrating in Limerick last night following his victory in the Limerick West constituency where he topped the poll.
The 34-year-old accountant will fill the seat of his uncle Michael Collins who resigned from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in 2003 after it emerged he was on a list of tax defaulters. Niall Collins was elected in the first count beating Fianna Fáil deputy John Cregan who received the fourth highest vote in the country in 2002 when he topped the poll in the West Limerick constituency.