Mayo MEP Maria on course to retain her seat in Brussels
The first count has been completed
Outgoing Mayo Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh is on course to retain her seat in the five-seat midlands north west constituency of the European Parliament elections.
She has received 71,476 first preferences, putting her in fourth place as her party is in strong contention to take two seats out of five with a percentage of 21.4%.
Her running mate, Nina Carberry, is in third spot with 73,888.
Outgoing Independent MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan tops the poll on 78,214 with Deputy Barry Cowen (FF) in second place with 73,908.
Ciaran Mullooly (Ind. Ireland) is in fifth spot with 57,297, ahead of Michelle Gildernew (SF) on 45,807 while Mayo Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers has registered 44,069 first preferences, a result that will ensure the Castlebar-based representative is on the party ticket for the next general election.
While Fianna Fáil has the highest percentage (21.8%) of first preferences of votes - Donegal Senator Niall Blaney secured 30,387 - the party's three candidate strategy is unlikely to pay off.
However, Chambers can expect a solid transfer from Blaney when the count gets to that point.
The Sinn Féin support has dropped to 11.1% while Independents have secured a 21.2% of the vote.
The quota is 113,325, so much can happen before the seats are filled.
The result of the first count is as follows.
FIRST COUNT
Electorate: 1,318,190
Turnout: 53.2%
Quota: 113,325
Valid votes: 679,946
Spoiled votes: 20,754
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan (Ind) – 78,214
Barry Cowen (FF) – 73,908
Nina Carberry (FG) - 73,888
Maria Walsh (FG) – 71,476
Ciaran Mullooly (Ind Ire) – 57,297
Michelle Gildernew (SF) – 45,807
Lisa Chamber (FF) – 44,069
Peadar Toibin (Aontu) – 40,742
Niall Blaney (FF) – 30,387
Chris McManus (SF) – 29,427
Peter Casey (Ind) – 21,102
Saoirse McHugh (Ind) 18,976
Rory Hearne (SD) 15,023
Hermann Kelly (IFP) 13,905
Pauline O'Reilly (GP) 13,710
John Waters (Ind) 13,692
Fergal Landy (Lab) 6,970
Michelle Smith (ind) 6,712
Anthony Cahill (IP) 4,535
Justin Barrett (NP) 4,086
Brian O'Boyle (PBP -SOL) 3,982
James Reynolds (NP) 3,210
Margaret Maguire (IF) 3,117
Dr. Gerry Waters (Ind) 3,015
Charlotte Keenan (Ind) 1,120.
Stephen Garland (Ind) 1,079.
Daniel Pocock (Ind) 524.
Keenan, Garland and Pocock have been eliminated and the second count takes place tomorrow.