Maria Walsh gets poll boost in bid to win Euro seat

MAYO Fine Gael candidate Maria Walsh is in strong contention to win a seat for her party in the European Parliament elections in the Midlands North West constituency.

That's according to the results of a Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll published this morning.

The Shrule-based candidate received an 11 per cent rating in the poll, placing her in a good position to take the fourth seat.

Her party colleague, outgoing MEP Mairead McGuinness, is on course to top the poll after attracting a 26% rating.

She is placed ahead of two other outgoing MEPs,  Luke Ming Flanagan, Independent (18%) and Matt Carthy, Sinn Fèin (14%).

Independent Peter Casey, who finished second in last year's presidential election, is on nine per cent.

The poll shows Fianna Fàil struggling to win a seat with Brendan Smith TD on eight per cent and Anne Rabbitte TD on five per cent.