Fine Gael are tonight celebrating their fourth European seat following the election of Mayo senator Mr Jim Higgins on the final count of the Northwest constituency.
Mr Higgins won the third seat of the constituency, polling behind the independent candidate Ms Marian Harkin, TD, and Fine Fail's sitting MEP, Mr Sean O Neachtain.
None of the candidates received the required quota of votes but their positions were secured on the final count, after the elimination of all the other candidates.
The final results saw Mr O Neachtain allocated 102,484 votes, Ms Harkin 100,522 while Mr Higgins received 92,657.
However this race will be remembered by many for the blows delivered to some of the state's most prominent politicians, sitting MEP candidate, Ms Dana Scallon and junior transport minister Dr Jim McDaid.
Their positions looked shaky after the tallies were taken from each camp last night.
Ms Scallon's exit from the political stage was also tinged with controversy after it emerged that most of her transfers were going to Sinn Fein's candidate, Mr Pearse Doherty.
Despite this boost, Mr Doherty failed to secure what would have been Sinn Fein's second European seat.