How the candidates are positioned after all first preferences tallied
Martin Kenny and Frank Feighan are in poll position but it is all to play for in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency race
The first preference vote tally is finished in Sligo-Leitrim with no candidates having passed the quota of 11,300 they need for election, second preference votes are being sorted now with the first count not predicted until after 8:30 tonight.
Here is how the candidates are looking heading into the second preference count: Frank Feighan (FG) 8,947 votes; Martin Kenny (SF) 7,733 votes; Eamon Scanlon (FF) 5,809 votes; Michael Clarke (Ind) 5,393 votes; Chris MacManus (SF) 5,158 votes; Marian Harkin (Ind) 4,307 votes; Edel McSharrey (FF) 4453 votes; Paddy O’Rourke (FF) 4082 votes; Maire Casserly (Ind) 2411votes; Nessa Cosgrove (LP) 2411 votes; Gino O’Boyle (PBP) 1658 votes; Graham Monaghon (Aontú) 1106 votes.
Marian Harkin looks in real danger of losing her seat now and will rely heavily on second preference votes in the next round to stay in the race, though she has performed strongly in this respect historically.
Frank Feighan and Martin Kenny are in strong positions to retain their seats with Michael Clarke, Eamon Scanlon, and Chris McManus in a tight race for the final for the final seats, though Marian Harkin is still in with an outside chance if transfers go her way.
Transfers could well favour the party-aligned candidates over independents in the next rounds of the contest.