Castlerea man Luke 'Ming' Flanagan and Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowan appear to be leading the way in the European elections in the Midlands Northwest constituency.
But a first count isn’t expected until this evening, or perhaps even tomorrow.
Counting resumed in Castlebar at 9am and they are now adjudicating over doubtful papers, which may become spoiled or be deemed valid.
This is a 15-county constituency and there are five seats up for grabs.
There are likely to be over 700,000 votes for the 320 count staff to go through, so the count will continue until at least Wednesday.
They are putting the votes into bundles of 50 and then putting them onto the stage in the TF Royal Theatre.
It’s very much an imperfect science, but those with biggest piles so far are Independent MEP Ming and Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowan, while Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh, Aontu’s Peadar Toibin and Independent Ireland’s Ciaran Mullooly are going well.
Sinn Féin are in trouble and may have no seat, though Michelle Gildernew, from Fermanagh, can’t be ruled out.
Fianna Fáil senator Lisa Chambers is another candidate – she thinks Ming will retain his seat.
Ming himself is confident of taking a seat and believes one his local rivals, Mullooly, is also well positioned.
All will become much clearer when we have a first count.
