Five remain in battle to become the first directly elected mayor of Limerick

WE ARE down to the final five in the race to become the first directly elected mayor of Limerick.

Counting in the historic first ever election has adjourned at Limerick Racecourse for the night and will get back under way at 9.30am this Tuesday.

At that time, five candidates - whittled down from 15 - will battle it out for the role.

Currently leading the way is the former secretary general at the Department of Finance John Moran, who is 5,431 votes clear of his nearest challenger, Helen O'Donnell with 19,719 votes.

PICTURES: First day of mayoral count as candidates and supporters wait nervously

Businesswoman Ms O'Donnell has 14,288 votes.

Third in the running is the former Limerick Chamber chief executive Dee Ryan, Fianna Fail who has 12,937 votes after eight counts.

Next is polltopping Raheen-based councillor Daniel Butler, who is standing at 11,337.

Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan remains in the race. He has 9,528 votes.

The first thing which will be done at the count centre here in Limerick Racecourse will be the distribution of almost 10,000 votes from the two candidates eliminated this Monday night.

Social Democrats councillor Elisa O'Donovan bowed out of the mayoral election race with 3,799 votes. She was joined by Independent councillor Frankie Daly, who has closed out with 5,689 votes.

Prior to their elimination, eight other mayoral candidates were also excluded.

Former Limerick footballer Colm O Morain was first to be eliminated on the first count.

He was followed by Solidarity-People Before Profit's Ruairi Fahy, then Gerben Uunk of the Party for Animal Welfare.

Next out the race was Caitriona Ni Chathain, Socialist Party, then Dr Laura Keyes.

Brian Leddin was them eliminated from the race before the double-exclusion at the end.

Stay with www.limericklive through this Tuesday for the election of the new executive mayor of Limerick.