Day two of the count in Donegal is expected to reach a nail-biting conclusion as four candidates battle for three seats today.
Fianna Fáil candidates Charlie McConalogue and Pat the Cope Gallagher, outgoing Fine Gael Minister Joe McHugh and Independent Thomas Pringle are all vying for the remaining Dáil positions today.
But the distribution of Sinn Féin duo Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Lochlainn’s surplus votes is still unpredictable.
Thomas Pringle made great gains last night with a distribution of 2,798 from Doherty’s surplus.
There are only 778 votes now separating the four candidates.
Counting will resume at 10am in the morning with the distribution of Pádraig Mac Lochlainn’s 982 surplus.
Speaking to Donegal Daily last night, Pat the Cope Gallagher said he was hopeful that Fianna Fáil’s seats are safe. But, with the Sinn Féin surge shaking things up across the State, how the government will look in two week’s time is another uncertainty, he says: