Grace O'Sullivan says she is hopeful of being in contention for the fourth seat in the Ireland South Constituency in the European elections.

The Green Party candidate is at least guaranteed the fifth and final 'cold storage' seat - which only comes into play after Brexit.

It comes after a decision by Sinn Féin on Tuesday to withdraw the request for a full recount for its candidate Liadh Ní Riada.

The distribution of her votes is taking place, with Fine Gael's Deirdre Clune the closest competitor to Grace O'Sullivan.

She says anything can happen - and that it is very difficult to call who will take up what seat.

"I suppose I'm holding fast - I got a first preference vote of nearly 76,000 votes, and Deirdre Clune got 64,600.

"So I'm hoping that I'm actually in contention with Deirdre Clune for that fourth seat."

"Because the pattern over the last week wasn't very clear how it was being distributed, it's anyone's call as to who will get that fourth seat and who will get that fifth".

Fine Gael's Sean Kelly and Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher had already been deemed elected but could not be declared until the recount is complete.

Independent TD Mick Wallace is set to come in third.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, Ms Ní Riada congratulated Senator O'Sullivan on her election.

"I want to warmly congratulate Grace on her election to the European Parliament.

"I am happy that the democratic process has delivered the clarity we sought given that the initial difference was so tight.

"We ran a hard-fought campaign and we left everything on the pitch. Unfortunately, we came up short this time around."

Main image: Green Party Senator Grace O'Sullivan at the press conference in Dublin's Buswells Hotel in 2018 | Image: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland