Election live: Donnelly struggling, Gerry Hutch performing well in ...
James Cox
Counting is underway across the country in the general election, and you can follow live updates here throughout the day.
1.26pm
Chairperson of the Green Party Senator Pauline O' Reilly concedes it's not the Green's day today.
She said: "The feeling on the ground was very positive towards us and overall we were squeezed out by a lot of choice. Whether that's within Government or the centre left."
1.20pm
With 10% of the boxes open in the Carlow/Kilkenny constituency, three Carlow candidates are performing well with Fianna Fáil's Jennifer Murnane O’Connor on 25.5%, Fine Gael’s Catherine Callaghan on 19.9% and Sinn Féin's Áine Knox Gladney on 17.4%.
1.18pm
Early signs of the turnout in Waterford point to the election quota being around 10,750. Turnout is believed to be 54,012, with the number of spoilt ballots yet to be revealed. A four-seat constituency, this means the quota is likely to be around 10,750 but may drop slightly when spoiled ballots are counted. The final tally numbers for the first count mean that David Cullinane, Sinn Féin TD, is expected to be elected on the first count with 10,839 votes.
1pm
Limerick county: Tallies show Fine Gael's Richard O'Donovan, Independent Ireland's Richard O'Donoghue and Fianna Fáil's Niall Collins leading the way, followed by Sinn Féin's first-time candidiate Joanne Collins who is the best of the remaining 11 candidates on 12%.
12.52pm
Sinn Fein's director of elections Matt Carthy says it would be a phenomenal performance if they emerge as the largest party when the votes are counted.
He told Newstalk: "I think in virtually every consistency where I've been looking at the tallies, the last one if not two seats are in play between several contenders so all I can say is if you consider where we were just a few short weeks ago, the prospect that Sinn Féin could emerge as the largest party out of this election will be an absolutely phenomenal result."
12.20pm
Meath West too nearing a full tally - there will be one Sinn Féin and one Aontú TD, and then the final seat looks to be a fight between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
A member of the count staff as counting takes place at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork, after voters went to the polls to elect 174 TDs across 43 constituencies during the general election. Photo: Jacob King/PA Images
12.10pm
Final tallies are starting to come in starting in Dublin Central where Mary Lou McDonald will top the poll but the big story is Gerry the Monk Hutch could finish 4th and take a Dail seat
The other story there is the underperformance of Clare Daly who looks well off the pace.
11.42am
Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch is performing well in early ballots in the Dublin Central constituency, and is currently in fifth place.
Mary Lou McDonald 19% Paschal Donohoe 17% Gary Gannon 13% Gerry Hutch 9% Mary Fitzpatrick 7% Marie Sherlock 7% Neasa Hourigan 6% Malachy Steenson 5% Clare Daly 4%
12pm
In Dublin West, figures don't look good for Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman.
Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers is currently at 21 per cent, followed by Sinn Féin's Paul Donnelly at 19 per cent.
Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie is at 13 per cent, Peope Before Protfit's Ruth Coppinger is at eight per cent with Mr O’Gorman and Labour’s John Walsh both holding six per cent.
There are five seats in the constituency.
11.36am
Incoming EU Commissioner Michael McGrath has said that there is a danger in reading too much in to the exit poll last night and insists that “everything is still to play for.”
11:30am
Taoiseach Simon Harris is on course to top the poll in Wicklow. However, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is struggling.
Early counting shows Mr Harris in first place (28 per cent), followed by Sinn Féin’s John Brady (15 per cent) and Social Democrats’ Jennifer Whitmore in third (14 per cent).
There are four seats in the constituency and Stephen Donnelly is currently in fith (6.6 per cent), trailling Fine Gael's Edward Timmins (6.8 per cent).
