Michael D Higgins has now exceeded the quota and will soon be declared the ninth President of Ireland.
The 70-year-old Galway man will be inaugurated on November 11th.
As the fourth count proceeded – the distribution of 400,000 votes from Gay Mitchell and Martin McGuinness, it soon became clear Michael D Higgins had no worries about reaching the quota.
And as 20 of the 43 constituencies declared he exceed the 885,000 vote quota.
But a formal declaration that he is the President elect will not be made until all 43 of the constituencies have reported.
Michael D Higgins will then make a victory speech and hold a short press conference – one of the last he’ll hold as Presidents don’t engage in media questioning.
Busloads of supporters have arrived from Galway for major celebrations in the capital this evening.
