Resounding Mayo result for Michael D. Higgins

THE Mayo electorate has placed its faith in Michael D. Higgins serving a second term as president of Ireland.

The former Galway West TD attracted 20,642 first preference votes in the constituency in which 42,027 turned out to exercise their franchise.

The next best placed contender was independent candidate, Peter Casey, on 12,850.

The first count returns for the other candidates in Mayo were Joan Freeman (Ind.) 2,663, Sean Gallagher (Ind.) 2,235, Liadh Nì Riada (SF) 2,107 and Gavin Duffy (Ind.) 937.

There were 893 spoiled Mayo votes.