The picture is becoming clearer in Ballymote-Tubbercurry following the first count at The Sligo Park Hotel.
Fianna Fáil’s Paul Taylor, who topped the poll in 2019 looks set to do the same again after recording 1,924 in the first count this time around.
He is within touching distance of the quota of 2,021.
Independent candidate Michael Clarke is not far behind on 1,773 after the first count.
Two Fine Gael candidates Gerard Mullaney (1,724) and Dara Mulvey (1,666) look set to regain their seats following the first count.
Another Independent and west Sligo candidate, Joseph Queenan is on 1,523 after the first count.
From there, it looks set to be a battle between three Fianna Fáil candidates, Liam Brennan (1,307), Barry Gallagher (1,246) and Keith Henry (1,060) along with two Fine Gael candidates Martin Connolly (1,110) and Patrick Cleary (1,004) for the two remaining seats.
People Before Profit’s Emma Hendrick recorded the lowest amount of votes and she has been eliminated with her votes now being distributed to the remaining candidates.
