‘Ming’ expected to reach the quota on next count
Luke 'Ming' Flanagan speaking to the media as counting continues at TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar for the Midlands North West constituency. Pic. Niall Carson/PA Wire
The first MEP to be elected for the Midlands North west Constituency in the European Elections will be Castlerea’s Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan who currently has 110,533 votes after the 18th count at the TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar.
It is expected that the Castlerea man, who was on course to be returned to Brussels from the first count, will reach the quota of 113, 325 on transfers from Peadar Tóibín of Aontú who has now been eliminated.
Earlier today sitting MEP Chris McManus (SF) lost his seat in the 17th count. His transfers to Michelle Gildernew (+20,692) has now put her ahead of Ballyleague’s Ciaran Mullooly (II) in the race for the fifth seat.
The Sinn Fein candidate’s vote now stands at 74,795 just ahead of Ciaran Mullooly on 73,101.
All eyes in the count centre are now on where Peadar Tobin’s transfers are headed. After the 18th count Nina Carberry (FG) has 86,865 votes; Maria Walsh (FG) 86,410 and Barry Cowen (FF) 85,952.
With the first four seats all but decided, the race for the fifth seat between Gildernew and Mullooly will be an interesting one as Lisa Chambers (FF) also hangs in there on 60, 537.
