Roscommon-Galway: Counting resumes after blackout

Counting has resumed in the Roscommon-Galway election count after a power-cut in the early hours forced an end to proceedings despite the plan to continued until all three TDs were elected.

Sorters had to continue counting in the dark, using mobile phones and borrowing lights from the RTE camera crew from the tightly packed staged where media were camped out before the results of the fifth count were announced.

Just before 2am, outgoing Independent Denis Naughten took the second seat, after securing  3,817 transfers from Fine Gael’s Aisling Dolan.

His surplus of 3,279 votes are currently being distributed as snow falls on the Dr Hyde GAA Park in Roscommon town.

A result is expected by 2pm. The last seat is expected to be taken by Sinn Féin’s Claire Kerrane, who is ahead of outgoing Fianna Fáiler Eugene Murphy, who has already conceded defeat based on the voting patterns.

Photo: count staff during the blackout last night.