Sinn Fein MEP Chris McManus, from Sligo, has been eliminated after the 17th count in the European elections in Midlands Northwest.
He replaced Matt Carthy in the European Parliament four years ago after his colleague was elected to the Dail – but he received only 36,157 votes in this election.
Castlerea’s Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan has moved to within 7,000 votes of the quota of 113,000 and could be elected on the next count.
Fine Gael’s Maria Walsh and Nina Carberry, and Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen, are in line for the next three seats.
Ballyleague/Lanesboro man Ciaran Mullooly is in pole position for the fifth and final seat, leading Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew by nearly 18,000 votes.
However, Gildernew is expected to take the majority of McManus’s transfers, so the race is still on for the final seat.
McManus was devastated after being eliminated.
17th count results:
Flanagan (IND): 106,461 (+2,808)
Carberry (FG): 86,268 (+4,182)
Cowen (FF): 84,965 (+6,125)
Walsh (FG): 84,935 (+1,875)
Mullooly (II): 71,933 (+826)
Chambers (FF) 59,664 (+9,016)
Toibin (Aontu) 55,399 (+868)
Gildernew (SF): 54,103 (+974)
Eliminated: Chris McManus - 36,157
