Paul Lawless becomes first Aontú candidate elected a TD in Mayo

The sensational election of Paul Lawless as the first Aontú TD for Mayo - and only second in Ireland - has stolen the political headlines in the county and beyond.

The 32-year-old former professional footballer with Derby County, who won a seat on Mayo County Council, for the first time last June, is now preparing for a new life in Dáil Éireann and all it entails.

A member of the teaching staff of Ballyhauns Community School, Lawless took the fifth and final seat due to his transfer-friendly appeal without reaching the quota.

After registering 4,482 in first preferences, he attracted 4,726 during the course of the subsequent ten counts to secure his victory.

It did not quite match Alan Dillon transfer haul of 5,779 in the 2020 election but it was not far off it.

Now after serving one of the shortest ever careers as a councillor in the history of Mayo County Council, he is now off to the Dublin smoke to make a name for himself on the national stage.

In his relatively short time on the council, he caused quite a few ripples with his outspoken views and questions on spending and wasted resources, sometimes causing the blood of other councillors to boil!

Whether or not he can make an impact in such a short period of time in Leinster House remains to be seen.

But his achievement in getting there is worthy of the highest kudos.