European Elections 2024: Final count ends as three well-known faces take seats in Midlands-Northwest

The five-days-long Midlands-Northwest count at TF Royal Hotel in Castlebar came to an end in the early hours of Friday morning.

The final three seats of Midlands-Northwest constituency have been filled by Fine Gael’s Maria Walsh, Nina Carberry and Independent Ireland candidate Ciaran Mullooly after the 21st count.

The exciting five days count saw a long of wait for the first election which concluded on Thursday with independent candidate Luke Ming Flanagan topping the poll in 19th count results while Barry Cowen (FF) got elected in the 20th count becoming the second candidate to pass the quota.

A further redistribution of Luke ‘Ming’ flanagan’s surplus votes decided the fates of remaining four candidates, three of whom were elected while Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew had to be eliminated.

The last three candidates were elected without reaching the quota with Maria Walsh (FG) having 100781 votes, Nina Carberry (FG) having 98872 votes and Ciaran Mullooly (II) having 88177 votes.

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Champion Jockey and businesswoman Nina Carberry has secured the second seat for Fine Gael in the constituency and will join party colleague Maria Walsh in the European Parliament.

In her address to the audience present at count centre Nina thanked her voters and supporters for the faith they have showed in her.

She said: “Many people think I don’t have anything to give, but that’s not true. I have a lot to do and I am ready for my work in Europe.

“I am looking forward to working with Maria and I think we will make a great team to deliver for the constituency.”

Independent Ireland candidate Ciaran Mullooly said he will have a specific focus on regeneration of rural Ireland.

He said: “The farming and rural issues are very high on my agenda. We have a huge decline in population across the country in towns and villages. We have issues there and we need to focus on them.

“I will also be focusing on improving the livelihood of people both in urban and rural areas across Ireland.”

The results of Midlands Northwest constituency remained disappointing for Sinn Fein as the outgoing MEP Chris MacManus lost his seat. The second candidate Michelle Gallagher remained a big challenge for Ciaran Mullooly but she lost the run in the last count.

Taoiseach Simon Harris arrived at TF Royal Hotel in the last hours of count to meet Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh.

Speaking to the media he expressed excitement at the “incredible results” in local elections of Mayo county council and the European elections.

He called it “absolute nonsense” that the two Fine Gael MEP candidates are being described as ‘celebrity candidates’ by many people.

He said: “Nina Carberry is not a celebrity; she is a champion. Using a little less pejorative language would be useful, when you have so many award-winning people who run businesses or who write books, joining an experienced MEP.

“This is an incredible ticket of two female MEPs being elected in Midlands Northwest and I am extremely proud of them. I think the people of Midlands Northwest are also proud of them and that’s why they exceeded all expectations of all pandits who yet again got it wrong in predicting what people of this constituency would do.”

Ireland South

In Ireland South, the final three seats were filled on Thursday afternoon as Michael McNamara (IND), Kathleen Funchion (SF) and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (FF) were elected as MEPs. Sitting MEP Mick Wallace lost his seat.

Counting in Ireland South ended after a gruelling five days which saw Sean Kelly (FG) top the poll in the first count while Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fáil) had to wait until count 18 to be the second candidate to pass the quota.

Upon the redistribution of Grace O’Sullivan’s votes, Ní Mhurchú confirmed her lead over Wallace, who lost his seat in the European Parliament.

McNamara, Funchion and Ní Mhurchú were elected without reaching the quota.

Former RTÉ broadcaster Cynthia Ní Mhurchú secured a second seat for Fianna Fáil and will join running mate Billy Kelleher in Brussels for the next five years.

The barrister and mediator, who hosted the Eurovision Song Contest alongside the late Gerry Ryan in 1994, said she plans to have the celebration of all celebrations for her 58th birthday tomorrow.

Four MEPs elected to represent Dublin in European Parliament

“It is magnificent. I am going to celebrate like there is no tomorrow. The celebrations won’t last a day. They will last many many days.”

Ms Ni Mhurchú said that she has enjoyed every minute of meeting with would be voters over the last few months.

“I have relished every day of the campaign meeting people. I am a people person. The campaign was run in a very organised way but also in a very human way. We did get a chance to engage with people, to meet with groups, to meet with politicians, councillors and families and to go in to schools. It was a very positive campaign.”

Her priorities going forward include protecting rural communities, encompassing farmers and business people.

Dublin

Finally, the Dublin counts concluded on Tuesday afternoon with Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews, Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty, Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan and Labour’s Aodhan Ó Riordáin all elected as MEPs for the Dublin constituency.

All four confirmed their places in the European Parliament after they were the only candidates left remaining in the field after the 19th and final count at the RDS centre in Dublin.

Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan was the last to be eliminated from the closely fought contest.