LIVE UPDATES DAY TWO: Longford Westmeath general election count

* This was our live blog from day two (Sunday, December 1, into Monday, December 2) of the 2024 general election count in Longford Westmeath. Our updates from the first day of counting can be found here.

3.50am: So this is Eve Conway and Adrian Cusack signing off after what we've just calculated was about 34 hours, give or take, at the count centre in TUS since boxes opened on Saturday morning. Thank you for following our coverage and please support local journalism by picking up the Westmeath Independent this Wednesday. We'll have lots more news and reaction as the dust settles on general election 2024. Thank you again, and goodnight!

3.45am: So we're finally done here, after the elections of Sorca Clarke, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Robert Troy and Micheál Carrigy, all of whom were elected since midnight, following the election of poll-topper Peter Burke on Saturday night.

3.40am: The final count is in, resulting in the election of Robert Troy and Micheál Carrigy as the fourth and fifth TDs in Longford Westmeath.

Here is the result of the fifteenth and final count, as declared by returning officer Brídín Concannon.

The result of the final count, which saw the distribution of 4,484 votes for Paul Hogan of Indpendent Ireland:

Carrigy (FG): 9,208 (+291)

Flaherty (FF): 6,563 (+189)

Troy (FF): 10,331 (+804)

Non-transferable: 3,200.

3.22am: A cheer goes up in the press room after it's announced that the final count is coming in five minutes' time. We're nearly there! The elections of Robert Troy and Micheál Carrigy are imminent.

2.50am: We're hearing that the final count in Longford Westmeath looks like it's still about another hour away.

2.20am: Despite the (very) late hour, Boxer's election has given a bit of an energy boost to everyone still here at the count centre in TUS.

The Athlone man and his supporters have departed, but there's still a decent gathering of people in the hall who are awaiting the fifteenth and final count, involving the distribution of 4,484 Paul Hogan votes.

That's all but guaranteed to elect Fianna Fáil's Robert Troy and Fine Gael's Micheál Carrigy, with Longford TD Joe Flaherty losing out.

2.15am: 'Boxer' Moran secured the majority of Clarke's surplus (195 votes) which was enough to take him over the line.

Despite Fianna Fáil's Robert Troy getting the second-most first preference votes, it looks like he will ultimately be the fourth candidate elected, on the next count.

2.05am: Kevin 'Boxer' Moran completes an incredible political comeback - in style!

1.50am: Great excitement here at the count centre as 'Boxer' Moran was hoisted aloft in celebration, shouting: "We're back!" and "Athlone has a TD!"

A large gathering of his relatives, friends, and supporters had been waiting here into the early hours of the morning to see his Dáil return confirmed, and they let out a huge roar when it was made official.

1.45am: We've just had the fourteenth count in Longford Westmeath, with the distribution of the 563 surplus votes from Sorca Clarke, and that fourteenth count has officially elected Kevin 'Boxer' Moran!

Here's the result:

Quota: 10,315

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 8,917 (+79)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 6,374 (+73)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 4,484 (+179)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 10,450 (+195)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 9,527 (+37)

Non-transferable: 0

Independent Ireland's Paul Hogan has now been eliminated and his 4, 484 votes will be distributed.

1.30am: The fourteenth count is expected in the next 5 minutes.

1.25am: The redistribution of Sorca Clarke's surplus of 563 is taking longer than we expected, but 'Boxer' Moran's team is confident he will have enough votes from it to be elected on the next count.

1am: To reiterate, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran will need at least 60 votes from Sorca Clarke's surplus of 563 if he's to become the third TD elected here on the next (fourteenth) count.

12.55am: "Is this day three of the count now?" A valid question from Westmeath Examiner Deputy Editor Rodney Farry as the clock continues to tick well into Monday morning.

12.50am: Sorca Clarke said she was delighted to see her party colleague Rose Conway Walsh top the poll in Mayo, adding that the electoral success of female Sinn Féin representatives such as Conway-Walsh, Claire Kerrane, Mairead Farrell, and herself, would inspire more women to get involved in politics.

"We need more women in Leinster House. We need more women in politics. And seeing the difference of each of those, and myself, as individuals, it hopefully might say to other women out there, 'Do you know what? I might give this politics thing a go and see where it lands!"

12.45am: This result means that Clarke has come second in the constituency, after topping the polls last time around in 2020. It's a great result for Sinn Féin which really benefited from a two-candidate strategy.

12.38am: Celebratory scenes here in TUS as Sorca Clarke received a whopping 2,353 transfers from her running mate Campion. 'Boxer' has fallen short of being elected on this count by a mere 60 votes.

12.33am: At last! A candidate is elected! It's a lucky thirteenth count in Longford Westmeath for Clarke, with the distribution of the 2987 votes for her Sinn Féin running mate Campion:

Quota: 10,315

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 8,838 (+158)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 10,878 (+2353)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 6,301 (+89)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 4,305 (+89)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 10,255 (+91)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 9,490 (+52)

Non-transferable: 155

Sorca Clarke's surplus of 563 votes will now be distributed.

12.10am: We're now into Monday morning, but the count centre is still busy as we await the thirteenth count. Here is the scene. There's a distinct smell of chips, with salt and vinegar, in the air:

11.55pm: Midnight is approaching, but there is some light on the horizon for the weary politicos and media here, as the next count - the thirteenth - is guaranteed to elect at least one and possibly two TDs.

There's a growing expectation that Sorca Clarke will have enough transfers from her party colleague Barry Campion to get her over the line, while 'Boxer' Moran needs just 151 of Campion's transfers to also be elected on the next count.

11.50pm: A few minutes ago we caught up with a delighted Kevin 'Boxer' Moran as he awaits his re-election:

11.35pm: More here on Paul Hogan's comments to us earlier suggesting that Athlone could have potentially elected two TDs at this election.

11.15pm: So, after the twelfth count, Longford-Westmeath still has only one TD elected, but Kevin 'Boxer' Moran is now just 151 votes short of reaching the quota.

He is likely to be elected on the next count, which will involve the distribution of nearly 3,000 votes for Sinn Féin's Barry Campion.

It would mean that the Athlone man would be the second of the five TDs elected here - a remarkable political comeback after the huge disappointment of losing his seat last time out.

11.10pm: We've just had the twelfth count in Longford Westmeath, with the distribution of the 2,700 votes for Longford-based Independent Gerry Warnock.

Quota: 10,315

Barry Campion (Sinn Féin): 2,987 (+204)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 8,680 (+618)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 8,525 (+210)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 6,212 (+519)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 4,216 (+183)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 10,164 (+625)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 9,438 (+78)

Non-transferable: 263

Sinn Féin's Barry Campion has now been eliminated and his 2987 votes will be distributed.

10.30pm:

10.10pm: The transfers from Aontú's Laura O'Neill did not do candidates from the Government parties of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael any favours. Most of her votes went to Independent candidates (668), and to Independent Ireland's Paul Hogan (496).

10.03pm: Almost there! After the eleventh count, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran is just 776 votes shy of the quota. With 2,700 votes to be distributed from fellow independent Gerry Warnock, it is not out of the realm of possibility that he be elected on the next count.

However, it is more likely that it may take another count or two to get him over the line.

After Warnock's votes are distributed it is likely to be Sinn Féin's Barry Campion who is eliminated, and the lion's share of his votes should go to his running mate Sorca Clarke. However, if Boxer does not get elected on the thirteenth count, then well, the fourteenth time's the charm!

9.50pm: Kevin 'Boxer' Moran's son, Jamie, told us that his father plans to put forward his director of elections, Garnafailagh's John Gibbons, as the person he wants to see co-opted onto his soon-to-be-vacant Westmeath County Council seat.

Mr Gibbons has been a long-time campaigner for 'Boxer' Moran and serves as his director of elections. According to Jamie, he's been an ally of 'Boxer "since before I was born!"

9.45pm: We've just had the eleventh count in Longford Westmeath, with the distribution of the 2,472 votes for Laura O'Neill of Aontú.

Quota: 10,315

Barry Campion (Sinn Féin): 2,783 (+116)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 8,062 (+117)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 8,315 (+322)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 5,693 (+88)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 4,033 (+496)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 9,539 (+470)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 9,360 (+293)

Gerry Warnock (Independent): 2,700 (+198)

Non-transferable: 372

Independent Gerry Warnock has now been eliminated and his 2,700 votes will be distributed.

9.20pm: Sitting Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy, who is expecting to be re-elected tonight despite seeing a decrease in his first preference vote since 2020, arrived at the count centre in TUS about an hour ago.

He has since been conducting some interviews with media outlets, including ourselves.

Here he is with his wife Aideen Ginnell. Photo by Thomas Gibbons:

9.00pm: As we enter into hour 27 in the count centre at TUS, let's crunch some numbers on timings.

We're estimating here that should either Boxer or Troy be elected tonight, it will happen at 11pm at the very earliest, and is more likely going to be nearer half past 11 or midnight.

A new count is announced every 45 minutes to an hour on average, and based on the number of distributed votes available, Boxer and/or Troy look set to hit the quota on count 13 or 14 (keep in mind, we have just had count 10).

As for Carrigy and Clarke, it is possible that they might be elected without reaching the quota. Although there will be celebrations, for Sinn Féin it would mark a disappointing return, as Clarke topped the polls in 2020 with 11,848 first preference votes.

8.50pm: The counting may be slow, but the integrity of the process was defended by one man whom we just overheard outside the count centre. "There's all this talk about elections abroad... but you can't get fairer than what's happening in there," he said.

8.38pm: That latest count leaves Kevin 'Boxer' Moran and Robert Troy within just 2 votes of each other as they seek to be the second candidate elected in Longford Westmeath. Fine margins here folks!

8.30pm: We've just had the tenth count in Longford Westmeath, with the distribution of the 2,300 votes for Fidelma Bennett of Labour. Sorca Clarke of Sinn Féin and Robert Troy of Fianna Fáil fared best from her transfers. Here is the result of the tenth count:

Quota: 10,315

Barry Campion (Sinn Féin): 2,667 (+140)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 7,945 (+266)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 7,993 (+421)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 5,605 (+98)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 3,537 (+109)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 9,069 (+257)

Laura O'Neill (Aontú): 2,472 (+110)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 9,067 (+414)

Gerry Warnock (Independent): 2,502 (+70)

Non-transferable: 415

Aontú's Laura O'Neill has now been eliminated and her 2,472 votes will be distributed.

8.15pm: It's just been announced that the tenth count, involving the distribution of 2,300 votes from Labour's Fidelma Bennett, is due in the new few minutes....

8pm: Supporters of Kevin 'Boxer' Moran are here in TUS and hoping they'll get to celebrate his return to the Dáil tonight, as the counting continues:

7.30pm: We have officially spent more than 24 hours over the past couple of days in the count centre here in TUS - and still only one candidate has been elected!

Here's the lay of the land:

Since Fine Gael's Peter Burke was elected just after 10pm last night, there have been nine further counts, eliminating Bennett, Bradley, Cannon, Cunniffe, Heavin, Jackson, Magiure, Okeke, and Smyth.

Despite all of their votes being distributed, no remaining candidates have reached the quota of 10,315 - and it's looking unlikely we'll have a final result tonight.

Closest to the quota is Kevin 'Boxer' Moran on 8,812 votes, followed closely behind by Fianna Fáil's Robert Troy on 8,653. Slightly behind them is Fine Gael's Micheál Carrigy on 7,679 and Sinn Féin's Sorca Clarke only 107 votes behind on 7,572.

These four candidates are by far the most likely to be elected - it's only a question of when. Clarke is likely to benefit the most from Bennett's transfers in the next count, but it will still be 3 or 4 counts more before we see any candidate elected.

Whether that will happen late tonight or tomorrow morning is anybody's guess... but as we enter hour 25 in the count centre, rest assured the journalists in the press room are well stocked up on fairy cakes, fizzy drinks, and coffee!

7.20pm: Transfers from Heavin tended to go to the other two remaining independent candidates: Boxer Moran and, to a lesser extent, Gerry Warnock. Unfortunately for Fidelma Bennett, a sizeable 307 votes from Heavin was not enough to keep her in the race.

7.10pm: We've just had the ninth count in Longford Westmeath, with the distribution of 1,250 votes from Independent Ireland candidate Louise Heavin.

Here are the results of the ninth count:

Quota: 10,315

Fidelma Bennett (Labour): 2,300 (+307)

Barry Campion (Sinn Féin): 2,527 (+38)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 7,679 (+49)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 7,572 (+175)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 5,507 (+17)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 3,428 (+92)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 8,812 (+298)

Laura O'Neill (Aontú): 2,362 (+63)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 8,653 (+70)

Gerry Warnock (Independent): 2,432 (+43)

Non-transferable: 98

Labour's Fidelma Bennett has now been eliminated, and her 2,300 votes will be distributed on the tenth count.

7pm: We recently spoke to local Independent Ireland candidate Paul Hogan, who is currently in seventh place, on 3,336 votes, but is too far adrift to be in contention for a seat. He congratulated Kevin 'Boxer' Moran on his impending return to the Dáil, and said that if things had been managed differently Athlone could have elected two TDs.

Watch our interview with Paul Hogan here:

6.40pm: Unsurprisingly, Sinn Féin benefitted most from transfers from PBP's Dave Smyth, alongside Labour and progressive independent Louise Heavin. However, 150 extra votes were not enough to save Heavin, who was eliminated.

6.20pm: Crunching the numbers: Sinn Féin's Sorca Clarke pictured at the count centre in TUS Athlone a short time ago. Photo by Thomas Gibbons.

6.10pm: Here is the result of the eighth count, which saw the distribution of 1,047 votes from Dave Smyth of People Before Profit - Solidarity.

Quota: 10,315

Fidelma Bennett (Labour): 1,993 (+180)

Barry Campion (Sinn Féin): 2,489 (+105)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 7,630 (+26)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 7,397 (+271)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 5,490 (+32)

Louise Heavin (Independent): 1,250 (+150)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 3,336 (+46)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 8,514 (+58)

Laura O'Neill (Aontú): 2,299 (+51)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 8,583 (+34)

Gerry Warnock (Independent): 2,389 (+42)

Non-transferable: 52

Mount Temple native Louise Heavin has been eliminated on the eighth count, and her 1,250 votes are now being distributed.

5.55pm: The eighth count is due to begin soon...

5.16pm: Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty, who is in danger of losing his seat, has just arrived at the count centre in Athlone.

5.15pm: We've just had the seventh count in Longford Westmeath, with the distribution of 884 votes from Ireland First candidate Margaret Alacoque Maguire. The biggest share of her votes went to Aontú's Luara O'Neill and Independent Ireland's Paul Hogan.

Here are the results of the seventh count:

Quota: 10,315

Fidelma Bennett (Labour): 1,813 (+13)

Barry Campion (Sinn Féin): 2,384 (+10)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 7,604 (+7)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 7,126 (+43)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 5,458 (+15)

Louise Heavin (Independent): 1,100 (+41)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 3,219 (+239)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 8,456 (+98)

Laura O'Neill (Aontú): 2,248 (+242)

Dave Smyth (People Before Profit - Solidarity): 1,047 (+31)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 8,549 (+25)

Gerry Warnock (Independent): 2,347 (+53)

Non-transferable: 67

Dave Smyth has been eliminated on the seventh count, and his 1,047 votes will now be distributed.

4.55pm: The seventh count, involving the distribution of the 884 votes from Ireland First candidate Margaret Alacoque Maguire, is due in less than ten minutes' time. Robert Troy still needs another 1,791 votes to reach the quota and take a seat, while 'Boxer' Moran is currently 1,957 short of the quota.

4.40pm: Counts in several other parts of the country have wrapped up, but here in Longford Westmeath four of the five seats are still to be finalised, with Peter Burke still the only candidate elected so far.

Elsewhere in the Midlands, the three-seat Offaly constituency finished its count in the early hours of this morning, with Carol Nolan (Independent), Tony McCormack (FF) and John Clendennen (FG) elected, while the Roscommon-Galway constituency concluded this afternoon, with its three seats going to Michael Fitzmaurice (Independent Ireland), Claire Kerrane (SF) and Martin Daly (FF).

4.28pm: Transfers from Fine Gael's Tanya Cannon tended to stay within her party, with 346 going to Senator Micheál Carrigy. Fianna Fáil candidates (155) and Labour (23) also benefited from her transfers.

4.15pm: Here is the result of the sixth count, the distribution of Tanya Cannon's 658 votes.

Quota: 10,315

Fidelma Bennett (Labour): 1,800 (+23)

Barry Campion (Sinn Féin): 2,374 (+4)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 7,597 (+346)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 7,083 (+11)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 5,443 (+14)

Louise Heavin (Independent): 1,059 (+28)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 3,051 (+21)

Margaret Alacoque Maguire (Ireland First): 884 (+1)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 8,358 (+121)

Laura O'Neill (Aontú): 2,006 (+7)

Dave Smyth (People Before Profit - Solidarity): 1,016 (+4)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 8,524 (+43)

Gerry Warnock (Independent): 2,294 (+6)

Non-transferable: 29

Ireland First's Margaret Alacoque Maguire was eliminated on the sixth count, and her 884 votes will now be distributed.

4.00pm: With five counts down, here's how it's looking in Longford Westmeath:

Fianna Fáil's Robert Troy appears to be in pole position to take the second seat in the constituency, with 8481 votes, 1,834 off the quota. Close behind is Independent Kevin 'Boxer' Moran on 8237 votes, looking to make a spectacular return to national politics.

Then we have Fine Gael's Micheál Carrigy on 7251, ahead of Sinn Féin's Sorca Clarke on 7072.

There is still some hope for Fianna Fáil's Joe Flaherty, on 5429 votes. He's the closest candidate to the front-runners by a considerable margin, and could benefit from transfers from Troy once he is elected. However, it seems unlikely at this stage.

Count six is coming in approximately 10 minutes...

3.35pm: Transfers from Cunniffe mainly went to Fianna Fáil candidates (283) followed by independents (119) and Fine Gael (45).

3.23pm: Here is the result of the fifth count, the distribution of Dympna Cunniffe's 546 votes.

Quota: 10,315

Fidelma Bennett (Labour): 1,777 (+11)

Barry Campion (Sinn Féin): 2,370 (+6)

Tanya Cannon (Fine Gael): 658 (+32)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 7,251 (+13)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 7,072 (+13)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 5,429 (+173)

Louise Heavin (Independent): 1,031 (+20)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 3,030 (+37)

Margaret Alacoque Maguire (Ireland First): 883 (+0)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 8,237 (+99)

Laura O'Neill (Aontú): 1,999 (+6)

Dave Smyth (People Before Profit - Solidarity): 1,012 (+3)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 8,481 (+110)

Gerry Warnock (Independent): 2,288 (+0)

Non-transferable: 23

Fine Gael's Athlone candidate Tanya Cannon was eliminated on the fifth count, and her 658 votes will now be distributed.

3.10pm: We've just got word that the fifth count will begin shortly, where Cunniffe's 546 votes will be distributed

3.10pm: For the majority of the twenty candidates in Longford Westmeath, the chances of getting elected are slim, even in a five-seat constituency. For some candidates who are unlikely to get elected, but are still in the running mathematically, there is another factor that will be weighing on their minds.

2,579 is the magical number of votes needed for Longford Westmeath candidates to save their deposit.

The number of votes needed to save the deposit is calculated as exceeding a quarter of the quota (10,315). No doubt some candidates will be eyeing this number carefully...

2.45pm: As expected, most of Okeke's transfers went to a left-leaning party, Labour (147), with a sizeable chunk going to PBP (41). 59 of her transfers went to former Green Party councillor Louise Heavin, who is running as an independent, having left the party in September.

2.30pm: The candidates are continuing to be excluded one-by-one. Here is the result of the fourth count, the distribution of Carol Okeke's 474 votes.

Quota: 10,315

Fidelma Bennett (Labour): 1,766 (+147)

Barry Campion (Sinn Féin): 2,364 (+7)

Tanya Cannon (Fine Gael): 626 (+14)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 7,238 (+36)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 7,059 (+33)

Dympna Cunniffe (Fianna Fáil): 546 (+11)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 5,246 (+12)

Louise Heavin (Independent): 1,011 (+59)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 2,993 (+5)

Margaret Alacoque Maguire (Ireland First): 883 (+5)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 8,138 (+26)

Laura O'Neill (Aontú): 1,993 (+22)

Dave Smyth (People Before Profit - Solidarity): 1,009 (+41)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 8,371 (+37)

Gerry Warnock (Independent): 2,288 (+7)

Non-transferable: 12

Fianna Fáil's Athlone candidate Dympna Cunniffe was eliminated on the fourth count, and her 546 votes will now be distributed.

2.20pm: We're expecting the fourth count, which will involve the distribution of 474 votes received by Kinnegad-based Green Party candidate Carol Okeke, in the next five minutes.

1.40pm: Fine Gael Senator Micheál Carrigy has arrived at the count centre. Robert Troy and 'Boxer' Moran are likely to take the second and third seats, and Carrigy reckons that he and Sorca Clarke are well-positioned to take the last two seats. Outgoing Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty is the only other live contender, but he has a lot of ground to make up on transfers as he currently almost 1,958 votes behind Carrigy and 1,782 behind Clarke.

1.32pm: The majority of transfers from the three independent candidates Jackson, Keenan, and Bradley went to other independent candidates (72 total), followed by Aontú (35).

1.20pm: Here is the result of the third count, which saw the distribution of the 231 votes received by the three lowest-placed candidates, Donal Jackson, Charlotte Keenan and Paul Bradley:

Quota: 10,315

Fidelma Bennett (Labour): 1,619 (+13)

Barry Campion (Sinn Féin): 2,357 (+10)

Tanya Cannon (Fine Gael): 612 (+4)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 7,202 (+5)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 7,026 (+10)

Dympna Cunniffe (Fianna Fáil): 535 (+2)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 5,244 (+5)

Louise Heavin (Independent): 952 (+32)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 2,988 (+18)

Margaret Alacoque Maguire (Ireland First): 878 (+12)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 8,112 (+23)

Carol Okeke (Green Party): 474 (+6)

Laura O'Neill (Aontú): 1,971 (+35)

Dave Smyth (People Before Profit - Solidarity): 968 (+5)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 8,334 (+18)

Gerry Warnock (Independent): 2,281 (+17)

Non-transferable: 16

The next lowest-placed candidate, Carol Okeke has been excluded on the third count and her 474 votes will now be distributed.

1pm: There's been an announcement here telling us that the third count is coming in ten minutes' time. Details to follow...

12.45pm: Former Athlone councillor Louise Heavin, who received 915 first preferences, has sounded an upbeat note after her election campaign. In a statement which she posted on social media last night, and shared with the Westmeath Independent, she wrote:

"I'm so proud of what we have achieved.The website, manifesto, social media, door knocking, phone canvassing, postering, cooking, childminding, driving, voting, the listening ear when times got tough and the encouragement to say what we are doing matters...

"The 'we' is important. This has been a collective achievement by some hard working people and a shared belief in a progressive seat for Longford Westmeath.

"I am humbled by the support. Thank you so much to the people that have helped me and to those that have given me a vote and believed in me," she stated.

12.10pm: There will be whooping and hollering when the four remaining seats are filled.... but it's clear that's still some time away.

Paul Hogan is the only candidate we've spotted in the count centre so far this morning. No sign just yet of Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, Robert Troy, Micheál Carrigy and Sorca Clarke, who, barring any late surprises, are the quartet of candidates who are on course to be elected.

We are settling in for a long day here, with every possibility that the count could run into tomorrow.

The third count is up next but will involve the redistribution of just 231 votes from the three lowest-placed candidates, which won't be enough to get anyone over the line.

12.00pm: Interesting results from Peter Burke's surplus, as the majority of the votes from the Fine Gael TD went to Fianna Fáil candidates (213) over his own party (208).

The majority of Burke's surplus went to Fianna Fáil's Robert Troy, an outcome that Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary endorsed during his controversial appearance at Burke's campaign launch in Mullingar several weeks ago.

11.50am: Here are the results of the second count, which saw the distribution of Peter Burke's 549-vote surplus:

Quota: 10,315

Fidelma Bennett (Labour): 1,606 (+32)

Paul Bradley (Independent): 116 (+1)

Barry Campion (Sinn Féin): 2,347 (+3)

Tanya Cannon (Fine Gael): 608 (+101)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael): 7,197 (+107)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin): 7,016 (+18)

Dympna Cunniffe (Fianna Fáil): 533 (+5)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil): 5,239 (+8)

Louise Heavin (Independent): 920 (+5)

Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland): 2,970 (+14)

Donal Jackson (Independent): 48 (+0)

Charlotte Keenan (Independent): 67 (+1)

Margaret Alacoque Maguire (Ireland First): 866 (+2)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (Independent): 8,089 (+33)

Carol Okeke (Green Party): 468 (+4)

Laura O'Neill (Aontú): 1,936 (+10)

Dave Smyth (People Before Profit - Solidarity): 963 (+3)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil): 8,316 (+200)

Gerry Warnock (Independent): 2,264 (+2)

The three lowest-placed candidates, Paul Bradley on 116 votes, Carlotte Keenan on 67 votes, and Donal Jackson on 48 votes, have been eliminated on this second count, and their votes will now be distributed.

11.30am: The second count, which involves the distribution of Peter Burke's surplus of 549 votes, is expected in the next few minutes....

11.25am:

For the parties who ran candidates in both this election and the last one, here are the figures for their vote share this year, and how it compared to 2020:

Fine Gael: 29.8% (+4.4)

Fianna Fáil: 22.4% (-7.8)

Independents: 18.5% (+5.5)

Sinn Féin: 15.1% (-5.9)

Labour: 2.5% (-0.9)

Solidarity-People Before Profit: 1.6% (+0.5)

Green Party: 0.7% (-3.4)

So far it's shaping up to be a great weekend for Fine Gael, and although Fianna Fáil are out-performing their rivals nationally, that is not the case in Longford Westmeath, where they are experiencing the largest percentage drop in vote share of any party.

Independent candidates also saw an increase in their vote share, although that is primarily down to Kevin 'Boxer' Moran's strong performance.

The only other party to increase their vote share is Solidarity-People Before Profit, where Dave Smyth received 1.6% of first-preference votes.

Sinn Féin will be disappointed as their vote share here fell by 5.9%

10.45am: Eight of the Longford-Westmeath candidates in this election ran in 2020 also.

The first count announced last night showed that there had been decreases in the first preference votes for Sinn Féin's Sorca Clarke (who topped the poll last time), Fianna Fáil's Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil's Joe Flaherty, Independent (ex-Green Party) Louise Heavin and Independent Donal Jackson, while Fine Gael duo Peter Burke and Micheál Carrigy, along with Independent Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, saw their votes increase.

Here's the number of first preferences those eight candidates got this time, and how it compared to 2020:

Sorca Clarke: 6,998 (down 4,850)

Robert Troy: 8,116 (down 1,215)

Joe Flaherty: 5,231 (down 2,435)

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran: 8,056 (up 1,326)

Peter Burke: 10,864 (up 4,247)

Micheál Carrigy: 7,090 (up 756)

Louise Heavin: 915 (down 1,410)

Donal Jackson: 48 (down 23)

10.30am: Cllr Paul Hogan looks on as Peter Burke's surplus of 549 votes are being distributed

10am: Good morning! Adrian Cusack here. Myself and my colleague Eve Conway will be bringing you updates throughout the day as the counting continues in the Longford Westmeath constituency.

For the moment the count centre is quiet this Sunday morning. Counting has resumed and we're awaiting the second count, which involves the distribution of Peter Burke's surplus of 549 following the re-election of the Enterprise Minister last night.

So far, Burke is the only candidate elected, and his surplus won't be enough to elect any of the others on the second count either.