Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan is heading to Europe as the Independent TD is set to top the poll in Ireland Midlands-North-West.

Fine Gael’s Mairead McGuinness will take the second seat, according to the RTE Exit Poll.

But there’s going to be a scramble for the last seat with Sinn Fein’s Matt Carthy, Independent Marian Harkin and Fianna Fail’s duo of Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher and Thomas Byrne.

Fianna Fail will need to transfer strongly between each their candidates to ensure it holds its seat.

None of these four candidates can be regarded as safe.

Mr Flanagan will get 20pc of the votes, meaning he may even be elected on the first count.

Mr Carthy is on 13pc, Ms Harkin on 11pc, Mr Gallagher on 11pc and Mr Byrne on 10pc.

Fine Gael’s Jim Higgins on 7pc, Labour’s Lorraine Higgins on 4pc and Independent Ronan Mullen on 4pc are all out of the running.

However, their transfers will be vital to the outcome.

Online Editors