OFFALY ELECTION: No one elected after Count Four but Nolan almost there as Masterson continues to perform strongly

We are still waiting for the first candidate to be elected in the Offaly constituency but count four has put Carol Nolan on the brink of retaining her Dail seat. 

The Independent candidate is now just 200 votes short of the quota of 9,347 votes after the transfer of Fergus McDonnell's 2,194 votes. 

This count has also seen Sinn Fein's Aoife Masterson overtake Fine Gael's John Clendennen into second place as it stands. She now has a lead of 136 votes over the Fine Gael candidate and she has a lead of 616 votes over Tony McCormack who is currently in fourth. 

However the next count will see the distribution of Claire Murray's 3,422 votes and Tony McCormack would expect to do well from his running mate's transfers. 

Independent Eddie Fitzpatrick also remains in the race. He is a long way off the pace but the transfer of his votes will ultimately decide the election in Offaly.

RESULT OF FOURTH COUNT OFFALY GENERAL ELECTION

Carol Nolan (IND) - 8550 - +397 - 9147

Aoife Masterson (SF) - 6857 - +378 - 7235

John Clendennen (FG) - 6955 - +144 - 7099

Tony McCormack (FF) - 6567 - +52 - 6619

Eddie Fitzpatrick (IND) - 3150 - +400 - 3550

Claire Murray (FF) - 2758 - +664 - 3422

Fergus McDonnell (Ind Ire) - 2194

Pippa Hackett (Green Party) - 934 (eliminated)

Keisha Taylor (PBP) - 590 (eliminated)

Mike Boylan (IND) - 560 (eliminated)

Maureen Ward (Aontu) - 317 (eliminated)