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.