UPDATED: Third election recount gets underway in Kildare

A third election recount is underway at the Kildare County Council election count centre at Punchestown Racecourse.

There was a dramatic finish to penultimate stages of the election to select Newbridge councillors this evening at the count centre in Naas.

James Stokes, who has campaigned on mental health issues affecting Travellers, was eliminated on the tenth count.

Remarkably, he finished level with Aontu runner Melissa Byrne on 1098 votes at the conclusion of the that count.

But the regulations governing local elections dictate that when this happens whoever has the most first preferences must go through.

At the end of the opening count Ms Byrne had 691 votes Mr Stokes had 643.

That left four candidates to fill three seats.

But before the eleventh count could start, Sinn Féin requested another recount - reportedly on the basis that the quota had been altered by a single vote at the start of the second recount.