Carrigy believes it's looking like one seat for Longford and four for Westmeath

Fine Gael Senator Micheál Carrigy said he is "hopefully optimistic" and he believes it is looking like one seat for Longford and four for Westmeath.

Fine Gael Minister Peter Burke is leading the way on 8,394 after 147 boxes have been tallied in the Longford-Westmeath constituency.

Fine Gael Senator Micheál Carrigy is second with 6,435, followed by Robert Troy of Fianna Fáil on 6,202.

Independent Kevin 'Boxer' Moran is in fourth position on 5,532 with Sinn Féin's Sorca Clarke is on 5,631 and Fianna Fáil's Joe Flaherty on 4,744

The other next in line are Gerry Warnock (1,899), Campion (1,695) and Hogan (1,693) in ninth position.

Senator Carrigy stated he is pleased he has a healthy lead of about 1,700 votes on Fianna Fáil's Joe Flaherty according to the tallies.

"We are going fairly well, the majority of the 30 remaining boxes seem to be Westmeath boxes.

"The way it's looking is possibly one seat in Longford and four in Westmeath according to the current figures.

"Things seem to be coming right for me and I am building up a decent gap for when others are eliminated so I'm hopefully optimistic," he added.