His brother, Finance Minister Michael McGrath, was on hand to congratulate him on his victory. It is the second time Seamus McGrath has gotten the highest number of first-preference votes in the local elections across the whole country.

Co-opted onto the council to replace Michael when he first got a Dáil seat, Seamus continues to be a reliable vote-winner for Fianna Fáil.

Seán Martin had a similar path to Cork City Council, co-opted after the seat was vacated by the now-Tánaiste Micheál Martin in the 1990s. He has continued to win a seat at each local election in the South-Central area ever since and 2024 proved no exception.

The Tánaiste said the results for his party show Fianna Fáil would be a major force in local government for the next five years. “We have had a great result so far here in Cork,” he added.

Sheila O'Callaghan, the sister of Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher, was also elected to Cork County Council on the first count, after winning 17% of first preference votes in Cobh.

There was joy too for the brothers of Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins. The Cork South-West TD was celebrating with John Collins, a first-time winner for a council seat in the Bandon-Kinsale LEA, while Councillor Danny Collins was re-elected in Bantry.

Collins had its first run out they were set to “clean sweep the boards”.

In Kerry, the reign of the Healy-Rae dynasty continues unabated. Jackie Healy-Rae, son of Kerry TD Michael, topped the poll in Castleisland with 2,890 first preference votes, exceeding the quota of 1,936 in the first count.

His support has increased on 2019, when he received 2,621 first-preference votes.

Both he and his father were thrust upon the shoulders of supports as they celebrated, with the younger Healy-Rae tweeting “five more years”. Patriarch Michael, meanwhile, was perhaps downplaying it when he said “the Healy-Rae flag is flying good in Kerry”.

There was more joy for the Healy-Raes as two children of TD Danny Healy-Rae also took seats on Kerry County Council. Maura Healy-Rae had almost double the quota to top the poll in Killarney, while her brother Johnny topped the poll to win a seat in Kenmare.

“The only thing going Green in Kerry are the hills in the summer,” Johnny quipped, referring to the Eamon Ryan-led party.

Incidentally, another Healy-Rae-backed candidate, Liam ‘Speedy’ Nolan, also secured a council seat in Listowel.

In Limerick, another Independent Ireland TD was celebrating a fraternal victory as Richard O’Donoghue was on hand to lift his brother John up when he got over the line in Adare-Rathkeale.

Tómas Grealish has been canvassing for his TD brother Noel in Galway for over two decades but, this weekend, the first-time candidate was successful himself in winning a seat in Athenry-Oranmore.

“It’s a great honour,” he said. “It was a bit unusual canvassing for myself. I was well used to it down through the years for my brother Noel and for [retiring councillor] Jim Cuddy.

“We had a great campaign team and got a great response on the door. I’m just looking forward now to working my socks off for the next five years and pay back the people who voted for me.” 

Máirín McGrath, who is the daughter of independent Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath, was elected on the first count in the Cahir area of Tipperary County Council.

Róisín Kenny, the sister of Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny, was elected to Leitrim County Council in the early hours of Sunday.

More familial ties were making waves in the capital, as father-and-son duo Baby and Britto Pereppadan both won seats in South Dublin County Council in Tallaght South and Tallaght Central, respectively, on Sunday afternoon. Baby first won a seat in 2019 and now his son has done likewise on his first attempt.

Another political dynasty in Tipperary was celebrating success at the weekend, as Micheál Lowry took a seat in Thurles. The son of long-time TD, and controversial former minister, Michael Lowry was one of the success stories for Team Lowry as their five councillors were all elected to Tipperary County Council.

The name McGuinness carries a serious amount of political heft in the midlands, no more so in the form of formidable long-time Fianna Fáil TD John McGuiness. His son Andrew duly topped the poll for the Kilkenny LEA. His uncle Eugene McGuinness, who ran as an Independent, was the third elected councillor. He has committed to running in the next general election against his brother John.

In Meath, Aontú’s Emer Tóibín — sister of leader Peadar — took a seat for the party in Navan.

Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy’s brother Colm was re-elected in Monaghan to the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney LEA.