Mairead McGuinness of Fine Gael has elected in the Midlands North-West constituency. She was returned to the European parliament on the fifth count.

It remains a nail-biting time for the remaining candidates in the European elections. There are now four seats to fill in Ireland-South and Midlands North-West.

The female vote has determined the direction of the "fourth seat battle" in Ireland-South.

The results from the 10th count in Cork show transfers from Phil Prendergast of Labour have pushed Fine Gael's Deirdre Clune out in front in the race for the final seat.

She joins Independent Luke Ming Flanagan in Europe.

MEP McGuinness says she believes she can build on her previous experience in the European Parliament.

Party colleague Simon Harris is trailing behind by 1,353 votes but still hopes his party will take the last two seats in Ireland South.

Phil Prendergast of the Labour Party earlier lost her seat in Europe. The Tipperary native was eliminated after the 9th count in the Ireland-South constituency.

Sean Kelly of Fine Gael is on course to be elected to the third, while the fourth seat will be a battle between Fine Gael's Simon Harris and Deirdre Clune followed by Fianna Fail's Kieran Hartley.

Independent Diarmuid O' Flynn is about 12,000 votes behind Harris, but has also emerged as the most transfer friendly.

He only started campaigning two weeks ago with a very low budget. He says he is thrilled to have made it this far.

Earlier, election analyst Odran Flynn told Newstalk Breakfast that it will all come down to transfers.