Aontú wins second seat as Lawless joins Tóibín in Dáil

Aontú has returned a second TD for the first time with the election of Paul Lawless in Mayo.

He will join party leader Peadar Tóibín in the Dáil, who has been elected again in Meath West.

Mr Lawless had run unsuccessfully in the 2020 election, but won a seat on Mayo County Counil in 2024.

He played international football at youth level and had signed a professional contract with Derby County.

He is now a maths and PE teacher at Ballyhaunis Community School.

Mr Tóibín said his party had the highest percentage increase of any party in this election since the last election.

They could go on to nab a third Dáil seat, with Sarah O'Reilly well in contention in Cavan-Monaghan.

However Mr Tóibín said it was "anybody’s guess where that last seat will go".