Galway East: 1st Count
The first count has just been announced in the Galway East constituency and as expected, Sean Canney from Belclare has topped the poll and is expected to take a guaranteed seat.
He is followed by Fine Gael's Ciaran Cannon with Anne Rabbitte of Fianna Fail coming in third.
It has now resulted in the elimination of Mairead Ni Chroinin of the greens and Aengus Melia of Direct Democracy Ireland.They have around 1,300 votes between them and their transfers will go all over the field.
A clearer picture will emerge over the course of the following counts but the pundits still believe that Deputy Paul Connaughton and Deputy Colm Keaveney are in distinct danger of losing their seats.
FIRST COUNT
No of seats 3
Electorate 68432
total poll 45617
Spoiled votes 379
Total 45238
Quota 11,310
Canney Sean IND 8447
Cannon Ciaran FG 7123
Rabbitte Anne FF 6928
Connaughton Paul FG 6474
Keaveney Colm FF 5436
Higgins Lorraine LAB 4531
Roche Annemarie SF 2683
Fahy Michael IND 2358
Ni Chronin Mairead GP 769
Melia Aengus DDI 489
Melia and Ni Chroinin eliminated