Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch is 'performing well' according to early vote ...

The gangland criminal who announced his intention to run after being released on bail following his recent arrest in Lanzarote in relation to a money laundering operation has around 9.3pc of the vote with 3060 votes putting him in fourth place so far in the four-seater constituency.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald is leading the way with 19.4pc of the vote followed by Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe on 16.6pc and Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats on 13.2pc.

Labour’s Marie Sherlock has around 7.4pc followed by Fianna Fail’s Mary Fitpatrick (7.1pc) and Neasa Hourigan of the Greens on 6pc.

Anti-immigrant campaigned Malachy Steenson, who was elected to Dublin City Council in the local elections is currently around 4.8pc.

Former MEP Clare Daly looks unlikely to take a sea with around 4pc of first preference votes based on the tallies.

Mary Lou McDonald’s running mate Lynn Boylan is on 3.9pc.

Meanwhile, in Dublin North West: Sinn Féin's Dessie Ellis likely to be elected on first count

Ellis, well-known TD in the area since 2011, is currently at 18pc, after only 23 boxes out of 75 have been opened for Dublin North West.

The next is another Sinn Féin candidate Catherine Carney Bound with 16pc, followed closely by People Before Profit's Conor Reddy at 14pc.

There might be a battle between the sitting Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe and Social Democrats' Rory Hearne, who is hoping to take the seat of the outgoing TD Róisín Shortall, as both candidates are currently at 11pc.

Fine Gael's Noel Rock is at 8pc which might not be enough for securing a seat for Fine Gael.

On the other side of the city, it now seems unlikely former MMA fighter Paddy Holohan will take a seat

Tallaght is his stronghold, and he is currently at 6.4pc with most of Tallaght counted.

According to an exit poll last night, Sinn Féin is et to emerge as the largest party with 21.1% of the vote as just 1.5 percent separates the three largest parties..

Fine Gael are behind on 21% and Fianna Fáil on 19.5%.

It was an exit poll of around 5,018 people and based on first preference votes, with a margin of error of 1.4%.

It indicates Green Party first preference support stands at 4%; Labour at 5%; the Social Democrats at 5.8%; People Before Profit-Solidarity at 3.1%; and Independents at 12.7%, Independent Ireland 2.2% with others on 1.9%.

In the 2020 general election, Sinn Féin obtained 24.53% first preference votes. Fianna Fáil secured 22.18% while Fine Gael took 20.86%.

The first preference vote of both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is suggested by this poll to stand at 40.5% which is lower than the 43% they polled in the 2020 General Election.

The process is done in private on a mock ballet paper and gives a good indication of who is ahead in the polls.

Turnout around the country was said to be sluggish, it was 63% in 2020.

In 2020, Sinn Féin's won 37 seats, just one behind Fianna Fáil and two ahead of Fine Gael.

The announcement of exit poll results, mere seconds after polling stations close at 10pm, is one of the most eagerly awaited moments of any Irish election campaign.

The RTÉ, Irish Times, TG4, Trinity College Dublin Exit Poll was carried out by Ipsos B&A.