Independent MEP Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan has topped the polls in the Midlands Northwest elections – but no candidate has been elected. 

The incumbent MEP won 78,214 first-preference votes in the 679,000-strong constituency. 

Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen took second place with 73,908 votes, while new Fine Gael candidate Nina Carberry tails closely behind with 73,888 votes. 

Sitting Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh received 71,476 votes, while Independent Ireland candidate and former RTÉ presenter Ciaran Mullooly had over 57,000 votes. 

Sitting Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus looks likely to lose his seat, receiving just over 29,000 first preferences. 

The three lowest-ranking candidates have been eliminated. 

The quota has been set at 113,325, meaning it will take some time before a candidate is elected. 

The fight for the final seat in the Midlands Northwest constituency will likely be between Mr Mullooly, Sinn Féin candidate Michelle Gildernew and Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín. 

Staff counting the ballot papers for the Local and European elections in the RDS Dublin. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie

In Ireland South, Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly won back his seat in the European Parliament after topping the polls. 

He said he is “not worried” about the far-right and Ireland has shown little interest in it. 

“I'm not worried at all about the far right in terms of their influence in Europe in Parliament. 

“They'll make a lot of noise, they'll probably get a lot of publicity, but the people doing the real work and making the decisions will be up behind the scenes to get things done.”

Dublin elections

In Dublin, the 14th count has still not yielded any result or successful candidate. 

Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews topped the polls at 62,000 – but with a quota of 75,000 and few transfers going to the top candidates, it’s been a slow march to the European Parliament in the RDS so far. 

Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty is also expected to earn a seat with 61,344 first-preference votes. 

Sinn Féin candidate Lynn Boylan earned 35,431, putting her in a comfortable spot to gain a seat. 

Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan started with 30,637 votes but transfers have brought him to 37,000 votes by the 14th count. 

The competition for the final two seats remains between the two Boylans, Labour’s Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Green Party candidate Ciarán Cuffe. 

Counting will get underway from 9am in count centres around Ireland.