Castlerea's Luke 'Ming' Flanagan has moved to within 10,000 votes of reaching the quota in the European elections in the Midlands Northwest constituency.
He climbed to 103,653 votes after the 16th count announcement at 12.30am, before counting was suspended until 9am tomorrow, with the quota standing at 113,325.
Ming is over 20,000 votes clear of second placed Fine Gael's Maria Walsh (86,060) and Nina Carberry (82,086).
I'm going to reach the quota. #UnderstandsTheJob #MNW
— Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (@lukeming) June 12, 2024
Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowan also looks certain of a seat, on 78,841, but the fifth and final seat is up for grabs.
It looks to be between Independent Ireland's Ciaran Mullooly (71,107) and Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew (53,129).
Though the Ballyleague/Lanesboro man is almost 18,000 votes clear of the Tyrone woman, her running mate Chris McManus is likely to be eliminated next - and around 20,000 of his transfers are expected to go to Gildnernew.
But Mullooly is confident he will do well in the remaining counts.
16th count results:
Flanagan (IND): 103,653 (+8,339)
Walsh (FG): 86,060 (+3,750)
Carberry (FG): 82,086 (+1,722)
Cowen (FF): 78,841 (+633)
Mullooly (II): 71,107 (+2,444)
Toibin (Aontu) 54,531 (+1,309)
Gildernew (SF): 53,129 (+1,875)
Chambers (FF) 50,648 (+2,070)
McManus (SF) 35,235 (+1,619)
Blaney (FF) 34,074 (+476)
35235
Eliminated: Niall Blaney (FF) 34,076
