LIVE BLOG: Large contingent of supporters accompany Cork South West TDs on first day in Dáil

Cork South West's two new TDs have joined re-elected TD Jim Daly today on the first day's sitting of the 32nd Dail.

Independent Michael Collins and his supporters travelled by bus from West Cork, leaving at 3am, while a bus of supporters for FF's poll-topper Margaret Murphy O'Mahony also landed on Kildare St in Dublin today.

Our next video below shows some of the West Cork contingent arriving at Leinster House this morning, to support their successful candidates.

Deputy Murphy O'Mahony did not travel to Dublin with the contingent, as she travelled to the capital yesterday, but the new FF deputy plans to return on the coaches back to the West tonight.

The Beara deputy has been attracting quite a lot of media attention this morning, bringing the 'message of rural Ireland' to the fore, referring to cuts in Leader funding, among several other issues, which he vows to bring to national attention.

Our reporter Jackie Keogh is reporting from inside the Dail today and posting photos of this historic occasion on Twitter @southernstarIRL (see below).

It is the first time Cork South West has had an independent TD since the 50s, with former Cllr Michael Collins taking his seat on the same day as the constituency's first ever female TD.

And while all the media attention today has been on the new TDs, re-elected TD Fine Gael's Jim Daly said he was also looking forward to the challenge of a new Dáil:

Liveblog starts here at 10am, on March 7th. Please check back for regular updates:

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