'I'm certainly not going to let you down, you've been let down too often – you're not going to be let down by me.

'Mr.

Flanagan said he wanted to secure his place on the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee to get 'real justice' for farmers in his constituency.

He also said he would go to the petitions committee to get 'justice' for people affected by defective concrete blocks in their homes.

Mr.

Flanagan also called on other Irish MEPs not to support the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission President.

Asked how he would celebrate, Mr.

Flanagan said he would relax and have an Indian meal: 'I'm looking forward to some peshwari naan bread – I can't wait for it.

'Mr.

Flanagan's election also saw the elimination of Fianna Fail's Lisa Chambers, whose votes are being redistributed to five candidates vying for the remaining four seats at the TF Royal Theatre count centre in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

The top three are in a tight grouping going into the final count.

They are Fine Gael candidates Nina Carberry, a former jockey, and Maria Walsh, who is seeking re-election, followed by Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen.

Mr.

Cowen is likely to be helped significantly by transfers from his running mate Lisa Chambers despite the party's campaign in the constituency being marred by infighting.

It leaves Independent Ireland candidate and former RTE correspondent Ciaran Mullooly fighting it out with Sinn Fein representative Michelle Gildernew for the fifth and final seat.

'Me and my team worked as hard as we could over the last number of weeks during the actual campaign.

' Asked if he would consider running in a general election, Mr.

MacManus said: 'I don't think it's the last time you'll see my MacManus name on a ballot paper.

' Earlier in the counting, Ms.

Gildernew almost ruled herself out of the race after saying she was 'not overly optimistic' about catching Mr.

Mullooly.

But Sinn Fein later insisted it still had a 'fighting chance' for that final spot – and transfers from Mr.

McManus significantly closed the gap.

Unpredictable transfers, which political commentators said were not following traditional patterns, are adding to the drama of who would claim the final seats.

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Action from the SFC quarter-final on Saturday evening.

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Action from the SFC quarter-final on Saturday evening.

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