State of play in Limerick City constituency as count adjourned for the night
Willie O'Dea elected, three seats remain to be filled
THREE of the four seats remain to be filled in the Limerick City constituency as counting is adjourned for the night.
Shortly after Fianna Fail TD Willie O'Dea took the first berth in the four-seater constituency, deputy returning officer Vincent Murray declared that due to the late hour of the night, counting would resume at 9.30 on Sunday morning.
So far there have been seven eliminations, one election, and eight candidates remain in the race for the three remaining seats in Limerick.
Just 45 votes separate Maurice Quinlivan, Sinn Fein and Kieran O'Donnell, Fine Gael in second and third place respectively.
As it stands, Social Democrats councillor Elisa O'Donovan leads the way in the race for the fourth and final seat in Limerick City.
She is 370 votes ahead of Dee Ryan, Fianna Fail, with Cllr Conor Sheehan and Senator Maria Byrne following.
The first act of Sunday in the Limerick City constituency will be the redistribution of Senator Paul Gavan's vote of 1,564, a move which is expected to give his Sinn Fein running mate Maurice Quinlivan a boost. Mr O'Dea's surplus of 88 will be held for possible use later in the count.
Earlier on Saturday, Independent candidates Dean Lillis and Michelle Hayes were eliminated at the first count.
The second count saw hospital campaigner Melanie Cleary's exclusion.
Esther Aherne, Independent Ireland was the next to go at the third count.
Solidarity-People Before Profit candidate Ruairi Fahy went in count number four.
Dean Quinn's exit at count number five paved the way for Mr O'Dea's re-election.
And following this, the count was adjourned for the night.
State of play:
Willie O'Dea (FF) - Elected
Maurice Quinlivan (SF) - 6,305
Kieran O'Donnell (FG) - 6,260
Cllr Elisa O'Donovan (SD) - 3,319
Dee Ryan (FF) - 2,949
Cllr Conor Sheehan (LAB) - 2,937
Senator Maria Byrne (FG) - 2,914
Cllr Sarah Beasley (AONTU) - 2,674
Cllr Frankie Daly (IND) - 2,573
Brian Leddin (GP) - 1,893
Stay with Limerick Live from early on Sunday morning when we will resume our blog covering the count in Limerick City.