Battle is now on for fourth seat

THE number crunching is well underway at the general election count centre in Castlebar this afternoon as the battle for the final seat between Lisa Chambers (FF) and Michelle Mulherin (FG) hots up.

Michael Ring was deemed elected having reached the quota at 1.30 p.m., with Sinn Féin candidate Rose Conway-Walsh eliminated.

Conway-Walsh's 7,853 votes are now being distributed, with Chambers predicted to benefit more from her transfers than Ballina-based Mulherin.

As it stands, 603 votes separate the two candidates, Chambers on 9,503 and Mulherin on 8,900.

In the distribution of Dr. Jerry Cowley's vote in the ninth count, Chambers picked up 785 votes to Mulherin's 404 to pull another bit ahead.

It is estimated that this count will take in the region of one-and-a-half hours, with an announcement due at around 3.30 p.m.