Photos: Michael Scully
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05 Sept 2025
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05 Sept 2025
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James Stokes and Melissa Byrne
The deadlock in the race to elect new councillors to represent the Newbridge area appears to have been broken.
At the end of the fourth recount in Punchestown this evening James Stokes emerged with a two vote to spare over Aontu's Melissa Byrne. He now proceeds to the 11th count
Ms Byrne was a gracious loser thanking the count staff for their strenuous efforts to conduct the count as evenhandedly as possible.
"It has been a memorable and incredible experience for for us and it was evident that the count staff wanted to see every vote followed to its conclusion. Both James and I were under pressure and he handled with grace," said Mr Byrne.
Ms Byrne had a sizeable entourage of people supporting her and they came to the count centre from all over Ireland.
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