Counting in the European elections is under way, with candidates across Ireland’s three constituencies of South, Midlands-North-West and Dublin hoping to take one of 14 MEP seats.
However, the results of the first tally will not be declared until after 10pm due to ongoing voting in other EU member states.
Nevertheless, these counts are likely to take days.
However, based on limited tallying it does appear that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will take seats in each European constituency.
In Dublin, Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan also seems to be in contention for a seat.
Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman has said that he expects a “complete dog fight for that final seat”, adding that “Niall Boylan’s in that fight, Ciarán Cuffe, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Clare Daly and probably Bríd Smith as well.
“I suspect it will be well into tomorrow before we have a sense of the final Dublin seat”, he said.
Sitting independent MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan appears to be in contention for a seat in Midlands-North-West.
In Ireland South, tallying is very limited, however Billy Kelleher of Fianna Fáil appears to be in good position, along with Seán Kelly of Fine Gael.
According to tallies in his native Co Clare, independent TD Michael McNamara is also polling very strongly.
Despite no tally being declared until polling stations across the EU close, the segregating of the ballot papers allowed observers to get a sense of which candidates are performing well.
In Dublin, incomplete tallies suggested Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews and Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty were leading.
Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe, Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan, Labour representative Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Sinn Féin hopefuls Daithí Doolan and Lynn Boylan will be fighting over the remaining two seats.
In the South constituency, Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly and Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher are considered to be in contention for re-election.
Sinn Féin will be hoping to regain a seat in the region with Kathleen Funchion, while Independent TD Michael McNamara is predicted to take the fourth seat.
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In Midlands-North-West, there were reports of strong support for Fine Gael’s incumbent Maria Walsh, and her running mate Nina Carberry.
Fianna Fail’s Barry Cowen and Independent Ireland candidate Ciaran Mullooly have also polled well in some regions across the vast constituency.
