Galway’s Pat Murphy was elected Connacht IFA chair and Cork’s Harold Kingston was elected Munster IFA chair at the IFA election count in Castleknock on Tuesday.

While Murphy was elected on the first count, beating Roscommon’s John Hanley, the Munster election went to a full recount for its three candidates.

After the first count, Kingston received 1,429 votes, Kerry’s Pat O’Driscoll received 1,303 votes and Clare’s Willie Hanrahan received 1,243 votes.

We have to listen to the grassroots and deliver for them

Hanrahan was eliminated and it moved on to the second count. This resulted in Kingston getting 1,982 votes and O’Driscoll getting 1,925 votes, leaving a difference of 57 votes. O’Driscoll then called for a recount.

Kingston was the victor at 1.25am when the final result was announced, taking 1,985 of the votes compared to Pat O’Driscoll’s 1,919.

Speaking after his election, Murphy said the IFA has “a lot of work to do. We have to listen to the grassroots and deliver for them.”

Kingston said he was thrilled to get the opportunity. “It’s a daunting opportunity as well in the way that agriculture is at the moment … we’re an easy target to hit.”