#Elections2019: Five brace for battle over last three slots

Five European election candidates are bracing themselves for a major battle for what looks like just three remaining seats in Midlands North West with the election count expected to drag on into the middle of this week.

Veteran Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness is set to cruise home when the Midlands North West first count takes place at 1pm today, with unofficial tallies suggesting she will have a 150,000-plus first preference votes — one of the highest votes in the country.