McGuinness retains Euro seat in emphatic style with second FG seat likely

OUTGOING Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinesss has retained her seat in the European Parliament for the Midlands North West Constituency in emphatic style.

She registered 132,630 in the first count, putting her 15,644 over the quota.

It's shaping up to be a memorable election for Fine Gael at the Castlebar count centre as the party is on course to win two of the four seats.

Former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh, the party's second candidate from Shrule in Co. Mayo, has secured 64,500 first preferences.

She currently lies in fourth place in the four-seat constituency behind outgoing independent MEP Luke 'Ming' Flanagan on 85,035 and outgoing Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy with 77,619.     

Peter Casey (Independent) is behind Walsh on 56,650 as is Green Party candidate, Achill's Saoirse McHugh, with 51,019. Both of them are in the battle for the final seat. The quota is 118,986.

A final result is not expected until Wednesday with Fianna Fáil set to be left feeling very disappointed.

The key first count details from Midlands North West are as follows:

Numbers of seats: 4

Electorate: 1,224,888

Total poll: 616,555

Spoiled votes: 21,628

Total valid poll: 594

Quota: 118,986

FIRST COUNT

Cyril Brennan PBP 8,130

Matt Carthy SF 77,619

Peter Casey, Ind 56, 650

Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Ind 85,034

Patrick Greene DDI 1,352

Dominic Hannigan LP 12,378

Fidelma Healy Eames, Ind 15,991

Dilip Mahapatra, Ind 2,450

Mairead McGuinness FG 134,630

Saoirse McHugh GP 51,019

Jimmy Millar, Ind 1,322

Diarmuid Mulcahy Ind 789

Olive O’Connor, Ind 1,132

Michael O’Dowd Renua 6,897

Anne Rabbitte FF 30,220

Brendan Smith FF 42,814

Maria Walsh FG 64,500

Elected: McGuinness