Live: Ross Lahive eliminated in European election count

5.24PM

The Irish People (TIP) candidate Ross Lahive has been eliminated from the running for a seat in the Ireland South constituency in the European Parliament elections.

The fourth count of the Ireland South constituency got underway at Nemo Rangers on Tuesday following the earlier elimination of Independent candidate Christopher Doyle in the third count and Independent candidate Ciarán O’Riordán in the second count.

Returning officer Martin Harvey announced the elimination of Ross Lahive from the running for a seat in Ireland South, following the distribution of Mr Doyle’s 3,492 votes.

There could be up to 10 counts before Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher is elected to take the second seat in the Ireland South constituency, following the election of Fine Gael’s Seán Kelly to the first seat in Ireland South on Monday evening.

Mr Kelleher is currently on 93,290 votes, having received an additional 206 votes from Mr Doyle’s votes, and will need to meet the quota of 114,761 before he can be elected.

Clare TD Michael McNamara is still polling strongly, with a total of 57,298 votes, as is Fianna Fáil’s Cynthia Ní Mhurcú on 56,259 votes, Independent Mick Wallace on 53,701 votes, and Sinn Féin’s Kathleen Funchion on 50,955.

4.24PM

Independent candidate Christopher Doyle has been eliminated from the running for a seat in the Ireland South constituency in the European Parliament elections.

The third count of the Ireland South constituency got underway this morning following the elimination of Independent candidate Ciarán O’Riordán.

Returning officer Martin Harvey announced at the count centre at Nemo Rangers GAA Club on Tuesday the results of the third count, being the distribution of Mr O’Riordán’s 2,485 votes.

There could be up to 10 counts at Nemo Rangers before Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher is elected to take the second seat in the Ireland South constituency, following the election of Fine Gael’s Seán Kelly to the first seat in Ireland South on Monday evening.

Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher is currently on 93,084, having received an additional 47 votes from Mr O’Riordán’s votes.

Clare TD Michael McNamara is currently polling strongly, with a total of 57,154, as is Fianna Fáil’s Cynthia Ní Mhurcú on 56,048 votes, Independent Mick Wallace on 53,428 votes, and Sinn Féin’s Kathleen Funchion on 50,755.

Counting of votes may take days until all five seats in the Ireland South constituency are filled.

EARLIER

COUNTING continues at Nemo Rangers GAA Club this morning following Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly’s re-election to the European Parliament on Monday evening.

The incumbent MEP was the first candidate to win a seat in Ireland South following the first count of ballots which got underway on Monday.

Fianna Fáil’s Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has polled strongly and is in the mix to win a seat in Ireland South, alongside party colleague Billy Kelleher who received a first preference vote of 91,074 in the first count.

Independent TD Michael McNamara, Sinn Féin’s Kathleen Funchion, the Green Party’s Grace O’Sullivan and Independent Mick Wallace are also in the mix for a seat in the constituency.

The count centre for the Ireland South constituency erupted in cheer on Monday evening following the announcement by Returning Officer Martin Harvey that Fine Gael’s Seán Kelly had won the first seat in the constituency after a long two days of counting ballots.

Mr Kelly exceeded the quota of 114,761, winning 122,777 votes out of a total poll of 713,323.

There were 24,759 invalid ballot papers and 688,564 valid ballot papers.

While Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher looks set to also be returned to the European Parliament, it is unlikely that he will be elected today.

Counting of votes may take days until all five seats in the Ireland South constituency are filled.