The Carlow/Kilkenny by-election ran according to form, with Bobby Aylward taking the seat for Fianna Fail.

The big loser is hard to ascertain. Fine Gael’s candidate David Fitzgerald performed creditably, and will surely be on the ticket in next year’s General Election. Sinn Fein’s Kathleen Funchion seems certain to take a seat then, gaining almost 11,000 first-preference votes.

Perhaps it’s sitting Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan. Supporters of John Bryan fingered Phelan as having blocked Bryan’s candidacy at the Fine Gael convention, something the Glenmore man denied.

In any event, Phelan and constituency colleague Pat Deering are now faced with the prospect of Fitzgerald, a tough competitor, alongside them. Deering is based in Carlow, a distinct advantage. Phelan is in South Kilkenny, and while John Bryan is not running in the area, Bobby Aylward most certainly is.

Add in John McGuinness and Ann Phelan and I reckon the only man to referee the campaign will be Brian “no whistle” Cody.