MEGAN Fearon revelled on Friday night in being endorsed by the electorate in Newry & Armagh as one of Sinn Féin's youngest MLAs.
The 25-year-old politics and economics graduate has represented the constituency for the last four years after replacing then-MP Conor Murphy, who stood down from the Assembly as part of Sinn Féin's policy of abolishing double jobbing.
But she admitted to being "simply thrilled" at getting a formal mandate from the people instead of just a nod from the party as Sinn Féin voted-managed its support to near perfection.
Although the DUP's William Irwin topped the poll, both Fearon and running mate Cathal Boylan nudged over the 6,817 quota by a few votes (21 and five respectively) while Conor Murphy was about 1,000 first preferences short of the finish line.
Fearon from Dromintee in South Armagh - who had replaced party colleague Chris Hazzard as the youngest MLA on her co-option in 2012 - said: "We conducted a thoroughly disciplined campaign and we got all the right votes in the right places for the right people."
She has been a vocal campaigner in areas such as drug awareness and raising mental health issues especially among younger people.
Boylan added: "We're extremely lucky to have a mix of youth and experience in this party, and our 19,500-plus first preferences is a ringing endorsement of the work we do for all the people."
Transfers to Conor Murphy saw him elected on the final count along with the SDLP's former All-Ireland winner Justin McNulty.
But it was DUP Willie Irwin wearing the broadest smile - and arguably biggest rosette too - after being swept home with more than 1,100 votes over quota and his nearest rivals.
A relative later-comer to politics (he was well into his 40s when persuaded by then-DUP leader Ian Paisley to stand for election after a personal family tragedy), he put his success down to "hard graft"
He said: "Our work for all the people ensured we were strong not just in areas like Richhill, Loughgall and Hamiltonsbawn, but across the whole constituency."
The second stage of the process in Newry & Armagh involved the transfer of Irwin's 1,163 surplus, which went to other hues of unionism, helping to elect of UUP stalwart and sitting MLA Danny Kennedy.
Former DUP golden boy Paul Berry, dipping his toe back into regional politics after a period of exile, was nowhere in the race, while interestingly Emmet Crossan, representing the Cannabis is Safer Than Alcohol party, polled more than the Greens and Alliance combined.
Elected: William Irwin (DUP), Megan Fearon (SF), Cathal Boylan (SF), Conor Murphy (SF), Danny Kennedy (UUP, Justin McNulty (SDLP).
