Barry Andrews tops the polls in the Dublin constituency

Incumbent MEP Barry Andrews has topped the poll in the Dublin constituency, with 62,147 votes.

The Fianna Fail representative was followed closely by Fine Gael Senator Regina Doherty with 61,344 first preference votes.

Sinn Fein Senator Lynn Boylan came in third with 35,431 votes, while the Green party’s Ciaran Cuffe received 32,204 votes.

Labour’s European candidate Aodhan O Riordain received 30,733 first preference votes, followed by Independent Ireland Niall Boylan who received 30,637 votes.

The total valid votes for the Dublin constituency was 376,720, with a quota of 75,345.

No one reached the quota so the candidate with the lowest votes, Conor Murphy who received 1,065 votes, was eliminated.

His votes will be redistributed when the second count takes place on Monday morning.

Speaking before the declaration, Mr Andrews said: “It’s a long time since the polls closed, it feels that way since Friday night.

“It’s very positive for Fianna Fail.

“We are clearly competitive in a four-seat constituency in Dublin.

“That means we should be competitive in four-seat constituencies across Dublin with the general election not too far away, so we should be able to really increase our complement of TDs in the Dail.”

Mr Andrews said it has been a “huge challenge” to get re-elected in Dublin.

Speaking at the RDS count centre in Dublin on Sunday night, he added: “I think if I do get re-elected, it will be the first time in 25 years that a Fianna Fail candidate will get re-elected in the Dublin European constituency.

“So I think that resonated with me.”

Earlier, Independent Ireland’s Niall Boylan said he was “hopeful” he will take the third or fourth seat in Dublin.

The former radio presenter appears to be in contention for a seat following strong polling in parts of Dublin.

Mr Boylan said he would prefer to take the third seat to avoid a long and “nervous” wait.

There are 23 candidates vying for four seats in the Dublin consistency.

Two candidates, including Mr Andrews and Ms Doherty, are expected to comfortably win a seat each.

There are around six candidates who will go head to head to claim the remaining two seats.

Mr Boylan, a former DJ who has taken a hard stance on migration issues, said that people see him as a protest candidate.

He said that while there are issues where he will not be able to effect change, including healthcare, we will want to “embarrass the Irish Government because I am a loudmouth”.

“When you say a protest candidate, I think there is part of that,” he said.

“I think people want something different.

“Maybe it is a protest against the Government or against the establishment in general.

“You say, ‘Can I do anything?’ Of course I can. There’s a lot we could do.

“When it comes to housing, people say I don’t have competence in Europe and the EU when it comes to housing.

“There is.

“This is Airbnb directives coming in.

“We can stop hedge funds coming in and buying lots of properties.

“There’s also a commission being set up for affordable housing as well.

“But (can I do anything) with healthcare? Probably not, that’s a national issue.

“But I would call the Irish Government out.

“Me being the type of person that I am, I’m very outspoken.

“I’ve been no stranger to getting in the news over the last 30 years and I’d be no stranger to doing it now.”

Meanwhile, Mr O Riordain said his party is feeling good.

“We’ve had a good day in the country,” he said.

Asked if he is confident he will take a seat, Mr O Riordain said: “I don’t know. I really don’t.

“The tallies we saw yesterday were very incomplete and they’re only partial tallies from certain boxes, but we are not surprised really because the reception we’re getting around the county was very positive.

“People were connecting with me on issues that they had told me about, from drugs, education, to football.

“There were various different reasons why people were wanting to chat to me about our campaign.

“We tried to be positive, it wasn’t a government campaign.

“Obviously there’s a strong centre left which is a progressive vote in Dublin and I think those of us in the centre need to start thinking about that and strategising around that.

“That block of votes can be utilised to potentially lead a government in the future.”