LATEST: Well known Kilkenny TD trails newbie candidate
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A new candidate to enter the General Election race in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency is exceeding expectation so far following the conclusion of tallies and leads a well known Kilkenny TD.
First time candidate Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats) is currently showing as having 4.7% of first preference votes in an impressive first showing in a General Election.
Meanwhile, Malcolm Noonan, outgoing Green Party TD and Minister of State, is on 4.2%.
Across the country there is a trend that Green Party candidates seem to be in trouble at the polls and here in Carlow-Kilkenny it looks no different, at this early stage.
Patricia Stephenson is a fresh face in Kilkenny politics, hoping to secure a first-ever seat for the Social Democrats in Carlow-Kilkenny.
The new candidate lives with her partner in Coollcullen, between Old Leighlin and Castlecomer, where the couple have renovated an old parish hall.
Originally from Belfast, Ms Stephenson moved here a few years ago after six years working in East Africa in the aid/humanitarian sector, before her return to Ireland. Her aunt and uncle live close to ‘Comer, where she visited a lot as a child. She has been a member of the Social Democrats for about three and a half years, with a strong family pedigree in politics; her late father was a former councillor and chair of the SDLP.
More to follow...