It's still too close to call for the fourth seat in Ireland South, with the gap between Fine Gael TD Simon Harris and Senator Deirdre Clune unchanged overnight.

It was all about the ballots early in the morning as weary count staff wrestled their way through just over 657,000, 16.5in ballot papers in the Ireland South count centre yesterday.

Ireland South voting sensation Brian Crowley all but made a bid for the presidency as he recorded a fifth poll-topping European election, with his team likening him to the much- loved US president, Franklin Roosevelt.

Fianna Fáil’s Brian Crowley has been elected on the first count in the Ireland South constituency this afternoon.

Brian Crowley will once again top the poll in the Ireland South European elections with Sinn Féin newcomer Liadh Ní Riada and Fine Gael’s Seán Kelly on course to take the second and third seat.

All the predictions of a poll-topping performance by Fianna Fáil MEP candidate Brian Crowley are coming to pass at the Ireland South count centre in Nemo Rangers GAA club, outside Cork city.

A candidate for Cork County Council has warned that the local authority’s draft county development plan is seeking to "strip people of the right to live in the countryside".

She may be languishing in the opinion polls and at risk of losing her seat. But Labour MEP Phil Prendergast has generated more online conversation in the last six months than any other candidate in the Ireland South constituency.

Eamon Gilmore has dismissed speculation about his future as the leader of the Labour party, following two polls published this morning predicting an election wipeout.

Labour will have an "opportunity to reflect" after this week’s local and European elections, according to deputy leader Joan Burton, as the party prepares for a drubbing by disenchanted voters who are turning to Sinn Féin and a mostly left-wing group of Independents.

A new opinion poll for the European elections suggests Fine Gael should take two of the four seats in the Ireland South constituency.

Labour’s rebel MEP Phil Prendergast has reaffirmed her call to oust Eamon Gilmore as leader as she launched the party’s Euro election manifesto with him.

IRELAND had some of the best performers in the European Parliament over the past term, punching above their weight and taking full advantage of the huge additional powers the MEPs have gained.

Following the recent unrest in Labour due to MEP Phil Prendergast’s criticism of Eamon Gilmore’s leadership, it has highlighted a common thread that explains the rise of independents.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has side-stepped concern that scrapping the water tax standing charge will lead to higher usage bills.

A new opinion poll shows fights for several seats in the European elections.

MEP Phil Prendergast has denied that her call for Eamon Gilmore to resign as Labour leader was an "act of desperation" and described as "reactionary" a comment by her colleague Seán Sherlock that she can not be taken seriously as a candidate.

SAINTS and sinners dominated a week that left more losers than winners.

Labour’s Euro election campaign has been plunged into crisis for the second time in five days, after a government minister said the party’s Ireland South candidate could not be taken seriously.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore insisted his leadership is not up for debate as he admitted Coalition confusion on water charges was hitting Labour candidates on the doorsteps.

THE clue is in the name really. Labour. It doesn’t paint word pictures of sunny skies, optimism and basking in the glow of an affectionate electorate.

Ireland South MEP Phil Prendergast said she has no regrets about calling for her party leader’s resignation, saying she was just giving “an honest answer to an honest question”.

Oh, how embarrassing. You’re in the middle of a furious, relationship- ending row, and suddenly the doorbell rings and you remember this is the night you invited the neighbours over for drinks.

Embattled Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore vowed to campaign for MEP Phil Prendergast — even though she does not think he is fit to be Labour leader.

The reality of coalition government is well known to Labour. It has bounced back from the brink before, says Gary Murphy.

Labour MEP Phil Prendergast has held a private meeting with party leader Eamon Gilmore after she called for his resignation.

Eamon Gilmore is reportedly to meet with Phil Prendergast later, after the MEP called for him to be replaced as Labour leader.

Gilmore is safe for now, but a drubbing at the polls could reignite the debate, says Political Editor Mary Regan.

Labour ministers have rallied around leader Eamon Gilmore after a “family row” was prompted by calls for his resignation by the party’s Ireland South MEP, Phil Prendergast.

Coalition infighting dominated the launch of Fine Gael’s manifesto for the crunch European elections.

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, has confirmed her support for the Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.

The leader of the Labour Party Eamon Gilmore says he is not going to get drawn into a "family row" ahead of next month's elections.

Labour politicians are this morning defending their party leader Eamon Gilmore, after an MEP called on him to resign.

A Labour MEP has called on Eamon Gilmore to be replaced immediately as party leader.

Labour has snubbed offers of an informal voting pact in next month’s European elections between the Coalition parties despite pledges of support from Fine Gael candidates.

Labour’s popularity might improve if party leader Eamon Gilmore held a different ministerial post, deputy leader Joan Burton has said.

Labour MEP Phil Prendergast has spoken of her shock at being spat at and called “Labour scum” in Cork City last week.

The Labour Party is predicted to lose all its three seats in the European Parliament in May’s elections, with Sinn Féin taking them, according to bookmakers Paddy Power.

Tune in to TV3 tonight to watch a documentary relating the heartbreaking story of Savita Halappanavar whose death in an Irish maternity ward, when suffering a miscarriage, caused outrage around the world.

The troika, set up to oversee austerity programmes in Ireland and other crisis countries, could not get its own house in order and was reluctant to adapt to differing conditions in its client countries, a European Parliament study found.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has told party members that Ireland needs the party “now more than ever”.

The principles of tolerance, freedom and human rights must be Ireland’s “calling cards” abroad, Tanaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore insisted as he welcomed confirmation that Phil Prendergast will be a European election candidate for the party.

Fianna Fáil is hoping to sweep up anti-pylon and anti-wind turbine rural votes in Cork, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford by putting forward an outspoken anti-pylon campaigner in the European elections.

Ireland has turned the corner on the economic crisis and is playing a key role in EU-wide recovery, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso declared last night.