Micheál Martin said he had been responsible for the 'most substantive policy change' in North-South relations

Senator Conor Murphy said Micheál Martin missed an opportunity to send a ‘positive message’ to unionist and Protestant communities.

Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry said the result was ‘disappointing’ for him personally.

Counting began at centres across the North at 8am on Friday morning after voters cast their ballots across the 11 council areas on Thursday.

Three days of hearings will be held in the Seanad chamber this autumn and a report of the findings will be published.

This year sees the first return of the full celebrations since the pandemic