Michael Stewart, who runs a 'Love Ballyclare' Facebook page, external, and allegedly nominated himself as an April fools joke, has been elected to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

Fiona Ferguson, who has been elected to Belfast City Council for People Before Profit, says her party benefited from parties right across the political spectrum.

DUP leader Arlene Foster refuses to be drawn on whether or not Jim Wells will be disciplined for his comments about the election of Alison Bennington to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

"It was very unseemly and he did not go through the proper processes," she said. "We will look at all of the behaviour during this election, the good and the bad, once the election is out of the way... but I'm not going to preempt any action".

Vickki McAuley has just had a baby, works as a doctor in an Emergency Department, is doing a part-time degree and has just been elected as an Alliance councillor.

And she's not even wearing dark glasses...

Una Kelly
BBC Foyle

Gary Donnelly, a well-known independent republican, has topped the poll in Derry's Creggan electoral area.

Over many years he has refused to condemn violent dissident republicanism.

But in the wake ofLyra McKee's murder, externalhe spoke out about the killing and called on the New IRA to desist from further attacks.

People Before Profit councillor Fiona Ferguson, who was elected for Oldpark, says her party's transfers "from right across the board" reaffirms that it "represents both sides of the community".

She added: "We're seeing a trend of smaller, more progressive parties doing really well, which is great to see."

Mark Devenport
BBC News NI Political Editor

As day one of the count drew to a close, the most striking development was the strong showing for Alliance.

At the halfway point, their vote share was up by five percentage points, and they had broken out of their Greater Belfast heartlands by taking seats in places like the ABC council (Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon) and Derry and Strabane where they previously had no representation.

Alliance haven't been the only winners - the strong performances of Green and left-wing People Before Profit candidates appear to indicate a generational change.

BBC News NI's Mark Simpson looks at the state of play with roughly a quarter of council seats to be decided.

First-time UUP candidate Darren Guy has topped the poll in the Waterside District electoral area in Derry and Strabane.

His late father, Jim, served as Mayor of Derry in 1987.