A full recount has been ordered in the Ireland South European Election constituency.
Sinn Féin’s Liadh Ní Riada requested the recount as she was poised to miss out on the fifth and final seat to the Green Party’s Grace O’Sullivan – by just over 300 votes.
Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly and Fianna Fáil's Billy Kelleher have already been elected – with Fine Gael's Deirdre Clune and Independent Mick Wallace also expected to take seats.
A recheck of every bundle will start this morning to make sure the O'Sullivan and Ní Riada votes are all in the right place.
That is likely to be followed by a full recount of all 750,000 votes which is expected to start on Tuesday.
BREAKING: A full recount of bundles (to make sure everything’s in the right place) & a full recount has been requested by Sinn Fein & @LiadhNiRiadaMEP - it’s been agreed to by the returning officer #IrelandSouth #EP2019
— Stephen Murphy (@StephenMNews) May 29, 2019
Senator O'Sullivan said she understands why Sinn Féin requested the re-count – but she is hopeful she can hang on to her lead.
“This is going to draw it out,” she said. “It will be torturous now; the waiting.”
“I would have loved to go home here this evening knowing that I have that fifth seat and no contention – but that is not the case.
She said Ms Ní Riada’s team informed her ahead of time that they would seek the re-count.
“You can understand that when it comes down to a few hundred, an error could have been made,” she said.
“At this point in time, I am the holder of the fifth seat. It is my gift at this moment.
“I hope to hold it but we won’t know that for some time to come.”
At the Ireland South count #EP2019 @GraceOSllvn has 75,000 votes in the first count. We are quietly confident she may win a seat. It would be a massive achievement by her and a great boost for our @europeangreens. #GreenWave @greenparty_ie pic.twitter.com/gifyLCnuTw
— Eamon Ryan (@EamonRyan) May 27, 2019
All eight seats in Ireland’s two other constituencies have been filled.
In Castlebar yesterday, Independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy and Fine Gael’s Maria Walsh joined Mairead McGuinness on the confirmed list.
In Dublin, the Green Party’s Ciarán Cuffe, Fine Gael’s Frances Fitzgerald, Independent TD Clare Daly and Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrew were all elected earlier this week.
With reporting from Stephen Murphy in Cork
