Ireland South count to go right down to the wire

A dogfight to the last is expected in Ireland South with three seats yet to be filled. A fifth day of counting will be required to determine the final order, with Deirdre Clune, Liadh Ní Riada and Grace O’Sullivan all battling to secure the seats.

The candidate who ends up taking the fifth seat will face a further wait before assuming their role as it is the so-called ‘cold storage’ seat, which will only become available when Britain leaves the European Union. While Sinn Féin members at the count centre in Nemo Rangers GAA Club were remaining tight-lipped about their next steps, the Green Party say they are “in fighting mode” as the last seat looks like it could come down to just a few hundred votes.