Sinn Féin “won’t win the fifth seat” in Midlands North West (MNW), according to Michelle Gildernew.
The MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone is currently just over 12,000 votes behind former RTE correspondent Ciarán Mullooly.
Topping the poll in MNW is Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, who is set to secure his third consecutive term in Brussels, followed by Maria Walsh and Nina Carberry.
Early predictions for the five-seater constituency, which covers 15 counties, expected Sinn Féin to return their seat there, held by Chris McManus.
Sinn Féin 'Not overly optimistic'
However, Ms Gildernew said this now seems unlikely.
“We’re still in the mix but I’m probably not overly optimistic that I can overtake Ciaran Mullooly at this stage,” she said.
“I think he’s probably going to scrape the last seat.
“I think we have probably resigned to the fact at this stage that we won’t win the fifth seat.”
Midlands North West count six results:
- Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (Independent) - 79,582
- Nina Carberry (Fine Gael) - 74,349
- Barry Cowen (Fianna Fáil) - 74,237
- Maria Walsh (Fine Gael) - 72,027
- Ciaran Mullooly (Independent Ireland) - 58,396
- Michelle Gildernew (Sinn Fein) - 46,383
- Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fáil) - 44,355
- Peadar Tóibín (Aontú) - 41,696
- Niall Blaney (Fianna Fáil) - 30,523
- Chris MacManus (Sinn Féin) - 30,053
National Party leader Justin Barret has been eliminated and his votes will be shared among remaining candidates.
Dublin count centre in the RDS for local and European election. Image: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ieElsewhere in the race for a seat in the European Parliament, Lynn Boylan looks likely to get a seat in the Dublin constituency, while Kathleen Funchion is still in the race in Ireland South.
In the local elections, Sinn Féin has had a poor showing, electing just 101 councillors with 939 seats filled so far.
'I am really disappointed'
Party leader Mary Lou McDonald said they made some wrong decisions.
“We ran a great, talented slate of people and wanted to give everyone the opportunity to vote for Sinn Féin across all the local election areas,” she said.
“Our candidates were fantastic and worked really, really hard.
“I am really disappointed that we didn’t get more of them over the line.”
Reporting from Barry Whyte.
Main image: Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew at the Midlands North West count centre in Castlebar. Image: Barry Whyte.
