Fianna Fáil and Cowen lead the way in Laois European vote
Fianna Fáil tally shows FF and FG candidates are front runners with SF in third
Fianna Fáil has secured nearly a third of first preference votes in Laois according to the latest tally from the party at the European Election count in Portlaoise.
With less than half the boxes tallied, the party says 31% of voters in Laois have given their first preference votes to one of the three Fianna Fáil candidates in the Midlands North West constituency.
Leading by a distance over Lisa Chambers and Neil Blaney is Laois Offaly TD Barry Cowen. However, Ms Chambers is scoring sporadic number ones around the county.
The party tally shows that Fine Gael has 22% of first preference votes with former jockey Nina Carbery riding high in the polls.
In third is Sinn Féin which has Michelle Gildernew and Chris McManus as candidates. The tally shows SF on 11% of the vote.
The tally shows a relatively low percentage for other parties though Luke Ming Flanagan and Ciarán Mullooly independents lead the way.
The Laois votes are being sorted at the CBS / Scoil Chriost Ri Hall in Portlaoise before being brought to Westport for counting.
A total of 27 candidates are contesting for 5 seats to represent Laois and other voters.