Longford’s Ciaran Mullooly believes he is in contention for the last seat in the European elections, ahead of the first count this evening.
Castlerea man Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowan appear to be leading the way.
Counting resumed in Castlebar at 9 o’clock this morning.
This is a 15-county constituency and there are five seats up for grabs.
There were over 700,000 votes for the 320 count staff to go through, and the quota will be around 115,000.
They are putting the votes into bundles of 50 and then putting them onto the stage in the Royal Theatre in Castlebar.
Longford’s James Reynolds says he will never run for the National Party again as it is a ‘toxic brand’. He has been speaking at the count for the Midlands-Northwest constituency for the European elections, where he says he is "faring very poorly". pic.twitter.com/IN6gTxoYQ8
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It’s very much an imperfect science, but those with biggest piles so far are Independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowan.
Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh, Aontu’s Peadar Toibin, Independent Ireland’s Mullooly and Fianna Fail’s Lisa Chambers are also going well.
So, it could be a race between seven candidates for five seats, and Fine Gael could take two.
Sinn Féin are in trouble and may have no seat, though Michelle Gildernew, from Fermanagh, can’t be ruled out.
Mullooly believes he is in contention, but it will come down to the wire.
Toibín believes Ming is 'nailed on' to take a seat.
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy believes his party remains in contention for a seat. Speaking to Shannonside Northern Sound's Eoghan Murphy, he said the only certainty is Ming will be re-elected.
All will become much clearer when we have a first count, which is now expected this evening.
Meanwhile, Longford’s James Reynolds has made no impact for the National Party, who he has said he will never run for again because the party’s brand is toxic.
