Ms McHugh, a 28-year-old environmentalist from Achill Island in Mayo, is in real contention to squeeze out both sitting MEP Luke Ming Flanagan and Fine Gael's celebrity candidate Maria Walsh for a seat in Midlands North West.

The chances of a snap general election being called this summer in the aftermath of the European elections appear to have dissipated after Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil both slumped in a detailed voter exit poll.