Aubrey McCarthy has won the Dublin University constituency’s third and final Seanad seat following a “simple” recount requested by Hazel Chu’s team.
Today’s recount placed McCarthy 64 votes ahead of Chu. He secured 3,770 votes total, with 1,814 first-preference votes. He finished short of the quota, which was 4,450. He was elected following the elimination of all other candidates.
Chu’s team requested the recount after McCarthy finished just 31 votes ahead of her following the 15th count last night.
McCarthy studied education at Trinity, having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1993, and a Master of Arts in 2023. He founded Tiglín, a residential treatment programme offering a variety of social care services for men and women who are impacted by homelessness and addiction. Tiglín has reportedly helped 1,100 people since its inception in 2008. It is also Ireland’s first carbon-neutral social housing project.
McCarthy was awarded the Irish Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2024, and the Trinity Alumni Award in 2023. He is also an entrepreneur, currently employing over 40 people.
His priorities, as outlined during his campaign, include housing, education, tackling violence against women, and supporting small and medium Irish enterprises.
The two other seats in the Dublin University constituency were filled by Independent senators Lynn Ruane and Tom Clonan, who were re-elected on Thursday night.