European seats filled as counting concludes at Mayo centre

THE final four seats in the five-seat Midlands North-West constituency were filled in the early hours of this morning as counting of votes concluded at the TF Royal in Castlebar.

Joining Luke 'Ming' Flanagan in Brussels, who was elected earlier in the evening, are Barry Cowen, Fianna Fail, outgoing Mayo MEP Maria Walsh, her Fine Gael running mate Nina Carberry and Independent Ireland's Ciaran Mullooly.

It took until the 21st count to decide the last seat, with Mayo Senator Lisa Chambers eliminated on count 19 in a marathon count that has continued all week.