Prendergast bows out of European battle.

The Clonmel based politician has been eliminated after the 9th count in The Ireland South constituency, however she had conceded defeat as the tallies emerged.

Just five people remain in the race for the last two seats.

Fine Gael's Sean Kelly 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.

Meanwhile former Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins has failed to retain his seat in Europe.

He was eliminated following the results of the fourth count in the Midlands Northwest constituency.

So far, Luke Ming Flanagan is the only MEP to be elected in Castlebar.

Sinn Fein's Matt Carthy and Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness are both expected to claim two of the remaining three seats.

But, there is a battle for the final spot between two former North West MEP's Independent Marian Harkin and Fianna Fail's Pat the Cope Gallagher.