In pictures: NI council elections

The Alliance Party celebrate in BelfastPacemaker

Across the divide - the Alliance Party was the big winner of this election with unprecedented success in Belfast and beyond

Tears of joy in Belfast as Áine Groogan's parents celebrated her impressive win for the Green Party, topping the poll in BotanicPacemaker

Tears of joy in Belfast as Áine Groogan's parents celebrate her impressive win for the Green Party, topping the poll in Botanic

Alison BenningtonPA

Light at the end of the tunnel? Alison Bennington became the DUP's first openly gay elected representative.

A class of their own - former classmates Mal O'Hara, Carl Whyte and John Finucane were each elected for different parties

A class of their own - former classmates Mal O'Hara, Carl Whyte and John Finucane were each elected for different parties in Belfast

A Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) totem pole

The TUV had high hopes but their vote collapsed, with the party losing more than half of the 13 seats they won in 2014

Star Wars wedding

May the Fourth Be With You - just down the road from the Belfast count, "normal" life continues as the city hosted a Star Wars-themed wedding

The DUP's Carla Lockhart was election agent for Margaret Tinsley, but had to leave Friday's court early to have her babyMargaret Tinsley

The DUP's Carla Lockhart was election agent for Margaret Tinsley, but had to leave Friday's court early to have her baby