European Elections 2024: Michael McNamara, Kathleen Funchion and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú elected as MEPs in Ireland South as Mick Wallace loses 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.

“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.”

Ms Ni Mhurchú hopes to use all the skills she learned in her previous working life in the European Parliament.

“I also hope to harness my attributes and policies as a person and as a mother..as a carer, as a wife..all of those things. Politics being people centred as it should be should be in tune with people ‘s feelings and what they are going through. And empathy is a a key factor that I would be seeking to promote and helping people in any way I can.”

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

“Rural Ireland unfortunately hasn’t had its full fair share of all the benefits of membership of the European Union. And I really want to ensure that our rural communities are protected and that they are fully supported so that we can continue to have families and young people and older people living and thriving in rural Ireland.”

Also elected on the 20th count was Michael McNamara (Independent) and Kathleen Funchion of Sinn Fein. Mick Wallace (I4C) failed to retain his seat.

Independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan has become the first MEP elected in Midlands-North West after the 19th count in Castlebar.

Reacting to his re-election, Flanagan said he was “honoured to get the opportunity” to represent the constituency.

He added: “I am missing a few people like my mother, my father and my father-in-law who are not here.

“It is absolutely amazing and beyond my wildest dreams.”

He thanked the voters of Midlands-North West for having faith in him and said: “You have been let down too often, but I am not going to let you down.”

Vote transfers have changed the picture against as Independent Ireland candidate Ciaran Mullooly has taken over Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew to get back to the 5th position.

Lisa Chambers has now been eliminated from the running.

Nina Carberry (Fine Gael), Barry Cowen (Fianna Fail), and Maria Walsh (Fine Gael) are all looking likely to be elected as the count continues.

Taoiseach Simon Harris arrived at TF Royal Hotel in the last hours of count to meet Fine Gael candidates Nina Carberry and Maria Walsh who are soon to be elected as MEPs for the Midlands Northwest constituency.

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.”

Earlier, Fianna Fail’s Billy Kelleher was re-elected as an MEP in the Ireland South constituency.

Billy Kelleher talks about his joy at being elected in the 18th count in Ireland South

Fine Gael’s Sean Kelly was the first person elected to the European Parliament in the constituency.

Grace O’Sullivan was eliminated after the 19th count, losing the Green Party’s only seat in Europe.

Kelleher retained his seat in the European Parliament in the 18th count when he received 12,271 transfers from John Mullins of Fine Gael, bringing his vote to 120,105, The quota was 114,761.

Mr Kelleher is the second person to be elected in Ireland South.

Ireland South

Cork man Kelleher celebrated with his staff and party leader Micheal Martin at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork after the 18th count.

The Cork man celebrated with his staff at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork.

“It is emotional to be adjudicated by your peers and to be found to be in good stead with them is a huge honour,” he said, thanking his wife, children and colleagues.

“Today really is a crowning achievement, to be vindicated for the last five years as their representative in Europe.”

Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said “there’s a real prospect” of Mr Kelleher’s running mate Ms Ní Mhurchú taking a second seat.

“Suffice to say that the Fianna Fail campaign was around the idea that we need to send serious, committed, pro-European Union candidates, be critical yes, but pro the union (to the European Parliament).”

Green Party representative Grace O’Sullivan has lost her seat as an MEP for Ireland South.

She is the fourth MEP to lose her seat nationwide after her party colleague Ciaran Cuffe, independent Clare Daly and Sinn Fein’s Chris MacManus.

In a statement, Ms O’Sullivan said: “Serving as a Member of the European Parliament for Ireland South has been the honour of my life and I am extremely grateful to the people of Ireland South who trusted me with their votes in 2019, and in 2024. ”

She said she “came close” to retaining her seat.

Ms O’Sullivan added: “While losing my seat is disappointing on a personal level, it is just the latest chapter in a long story.

“For over 40 years I have been standing up for what I believe in, and fighting for what is right.”

Anti-immigrant campaigner Derek Blighe (IF) was eliminated in the 16th count.

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Midlands-North West

Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan has become the seventh MEP to be elected nationwide – with seven more yet to be declared.

He reached the quota after count 19, helped by thousands of transfers following the distribution of the votes for Aontu leader Peadar Toibin, who had been eliminated in the previous round.

Earlier, Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew benefited from transfers from party colleague Chris MacManus. But she has since fallen behind Ciaran Mullooly again.

MacManus lost his seat as an MEP and was excluded after count 17.

Reacting today after he was eliminated, MacManus said: “It’s no secret that Sinn Fein didn’t have a good election day. Me and my team have worked very hard the last couple of weeks during the actual campaign.

Chris MacManus speaks after losing seat as MEP

“I committed myself to the full four years of being the MEP and worked as hard as I possibly could. Unfortunately, it wasn’t me to be elected this time.

“Now, I am only hoping that my transfers work to ensure that Michelle Gildernew is there right till the end of the possibility of winning a seat.”

The 17th count shook the positions of the remaining candidates in the run for five seats. Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry received a fair amount of transfer votes bringing her back into second position, with 86,268 votes. Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen is next up, in third, just 30 votes ahead of sitting Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh.

John Moran is elected Limerick Mayor