Local elections 2024 Limerick: Labour bag two seats in quick succession but FG and FF still dominate

12.56pm: Finally, not one but two candidates elected in Limerick City North, Independent Cllr Frankie Daly and Labour’s Cllr Conor Sheehan elected after count five. Five more seats to fill there.

12.02pm: Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Joe Pond has won the third of seven seats in Limerick City East. He gets over the line after count two.

11.39am: Cllr Eddie Ryan (Independent) becomes the first person elected today (at least in the hours of daylight!) He takes the third seat in seven-seat Cappamore/Kilmallock. Denny Hourigan (Fianna Fáil) is eliminated.

11.07am: Brief panic in the media area as water begins leaking out a nearby press – rush to get electronic equipment moved, now thankfully done! Leak is apparently being addressed, with the problem coming from elsewhere in the centre!

10.40am: A big development from the count centre, and a very different start to Sunday for Fine Gael. Cllr Michael Sheahan, Mayor in 2019/20, has been eliminated. In Limerick City North, the party loses Mark Spain.

10.31am: A flutter of excitement on this so-far quiet morning as the microphone sounds up, but it’s nothing related to an imminent count result – a car is blocking a fire exit and needs to be removed immediately. Important in its own right!

10.10am: We’re back underway with counting for the remaining seats in Limerick City and County Council. It’s relatively quiet here right now, but with 29 of the local authority’s 40 seats still to be filled, that'll surely change.

1.43am: First count comes in from Limerick City North, nobody elected on this count, and that’s it for tonight from Limerick Racecourse – counting resumes tomorrow. Full result of the first count is as follows:

Electorate: 27,239 Total poll: 12,922 Spoiled/invalid votes: 178 Total valid poll: 12,744 Quota: 1,594 Seats: 7 Eliminated: Tanya Dunworth (Sinn Féin) Candidate

Sarah Beasley (Aontú) - 854Sharon Benson (Sinn Féin)* - 727Ruth Clarke (Independent Ireland) - 294Tom Collopy (Sinn Féin)* - 538Frankie Daly (Non-party)* - 1,553Richard Delaney (Fine Gael) - 545Tanya Dunworth (Sinn Féin) - 168Ruairí Fahy (Solidarity-People Before Profit) - 392Shane Hickey-O'Meara (Social Democrats) - 552Adam Kearney (Non-party) - 576Dr Laura Keyes (Rabhartha) - 269Saša Novak Uí Chonchúir (Green Party)* - 380Suzzie O'Deniyi (Fianna Fáil) - 405Kieran O'Hanlon (Fianna Fáil)* - 1316Pat O'Neill (Non-party) - 675Olivia O'Sullivan (Fine Gael)* - 1,160Dean Quinn (Non-party) - 646Conor Sheehan (Labour)* - 1,516

*Sitting Councillor

12.59am: Catherine Slattery (Fianna Fáil) and Peter Doyle (Fine Gael) have been elected on count one of the Limerick City East results. The full results are as follows:

Electorate: 27,360 Total poll: 13,065 Spoiled/invalid votes: 209 Total valid poll: 12,856 Quota: 1,608 Seats: 7 ELECTED: Catherine Slattery (Fianna Fáil), Peter Doyle (Fine Gael) Candidate

Peter Doyle (Fine Gael) - 1727 (ELECTED)Ursula Gavan (Sinn Féin) - 483Seán Hartigan (Green Party)* - 755Sarah Kiely (Fine Gael)* - 1,403Mike Killeen (Sinn Féin) - 365Dean Lillis (Non-party) - 429Patrick McCarthy (Non-party) - 403Michael Murphy (Fine Gael)* - 738Eric Nelligan (Aontú) - 731Michael O'Brien (Rabhartha) - 128Danielle O'Shea (Sinn Féin) - 411Joe Pond (Fianna Fáil)* - 1,589Elena Secas (Labour)* - 1,577Tally Slater (Non-party) - 54Catherine Slattery (Fianna Fáil)* - 1,894 (ELECTED)Donnah Vuma (Social Democrats) - 469

*Sitting Councillor 12.44am: Daniel Butler (Fine Gael) and Dan McSweeney (Fine Gael) have both been returned to Limerick City and County Council as the results for Limerick City West count one were announced. Counting has now been suspended for this LEA until 10am. Electorate: 25,596 Total poll: 12,365 Spoiled/invalid votes: 207 Total valid poll: 12,158 Quota: 1,520 Seats: 7 ELECTED: Daniel Butler (Fine Gael), Dan McSweeney (Fine Gael)

Esther Aherne (Independent Ireland) - 577Daniel Butler (Fine Gael)* - 2,233 (ELECTED)Maria Donoghue (Non-party) - 783Fergus Kilcoyne (Fianna Fáil)* - 838Joe Leddin (Labour)* - 1,226Frances Lonergan (Sinn Féin) - 324Seán Lynch (Non-party) - 493Michael Mac Curtain (Fine Gael) - 626Khalid Mahmood (Non-party) - 44Cathal McCarthy (Non-party) - 273Malachy McCreesh (Sinn Féin) - 518Dan McSweeney (Fine Gael)* - 1,725 (ELECTED)Alec Morrissey (Non-party) - 146Elisa O'Donovan (Social Democrats)* - 773Michael Rafferty (Non-party) - 16Shahin Reza (Non-party) - 64Peter Spencer (Green Party) - 442Abul Kalam Azad Talukder (Fianna Fáil)* - 1,057

*Sitting Councillor

12.32am: Joanne Collins (Sinn Féin) and Robert Daly (Non-party) are eliminated following count two in Adare/Rathkeale. Counting in the county LEAs has concluded until tomorrow morning.

12.29am: Brigid Teefy (Non-party) and Martin Ryan (Fianna Fáil) have been elected in the Cappamore/Kilmallock LEA first count. Cllr Teefy’s surplus will be distributed when continues resumes tomorrow morning.

Electorate: 28,184 Total poll: 16,584 Spoiled/invalid votes: 167 Total valid poll: 16,417 Quota: 2,053 Seats: 7 ELECTED: Brigid Teefy (Non-party), Martin Ryan (Fianna Fáil) Candidates

PJ Carey (Sinn Féin)* – 1,234Greg Conway (Fine Gael) – 1,358Michael Donegan (Fianna Fáil)* – 926Al Fitzgerald (Fianna Fáil) – 751Michelle Hayes (Non-party) – 522Grainne Hanley (Independent Ireland) – 601Denny Hourigan (Fianna Fáil) – 404Rob O'Donnell (Green Party) – 543Tommy O'Sullivan (Fine Gael) – 1,221Eddie Ryan (Non-party)* – 2,011Martin Ryan (Fianna Fáil)* – 2,059 (ELECTED)Michael Ryan (Aontú) – 673Noreen Stokes (Fine Gael) – 1,442Brigid Teefy (Non-party)* – 2,672 (ELECTED)

*Sitting Councillor 11.39pm: Independent Jerome Scanlan, Fine Gael’s Liam Galvin, and Fianna Fáil’s Michael Collins have all been elected on the first count from the Newcastle West Local Electoral Area. The full count-one result is as follows:

Electorate: 23,720

Total poll: 13,595

Spoiled/invalid votes: 126

Total valid poll: 13,469

Quota: 1,925

Seats: 6

Candidate Votes

James Barrett (Independent Ireland) 66Kathleen Barrett (Fianna Fáil) 321Michael Collins (Fianna Fáil)* 2,012 (ELECTED)Pádraig Collins (Sinn Féin) 1,010Francis Foley (Fianna Fáil)* 1,108Liam Galvin (Fine Gael)* 2,257 (ELECTED)Pat King (Independent Ireland) 558Gerard Madigan (Fianna Fáil) 626Tom Ruddle (Fine Gael)* 1,201Jerome Scanlan (Non-party)* 2,301 (ELECTED)John Sheahan (Fine Gael)* 1,294Gerben Uunk (Party for Animal Welfare) 112Jerome Scanlan's surplus (446) will now be distributed.

11.01pm: Stephen Keary and Adam Teskey (both Fine Gael) have been elected on count one from the Adare/Rathkeale LEA, taking the first two of the six available seats. The full result of count one is as follows:

Electorate: 25,573

Total poll: 13,302

Spoiled/invalid votes: 150

Total valid poll: 13,152

Quota: 1,879

Seats: 6

Candidate Votes

Bridie Collins (Fianna Fáil)* 1,514Joanne Collins (Sinn Féin) 801Richard Crehan (Non-party) 1,249Robert Daly (Non-party) 37Tommy Hartigan (Independent Ireland) 1,217Stephen Keary (Fine Gael)* 2,329 (ELECTED)Trina O'Dea (Fianna Fáil) 957John O'Donoghue (Independent Ireland)* 1,282Michael Sheahan (Fine Gael)** 782Adam Teskey (Fine Gael)* 1,902 (ELECTED)Ger Ward (Fianna Fáil) 1,082Stephen Keary’s surplus (450 votes) will now be distributed.

7.38pm: Independents and others have blazed a trail in Limerick City North, with full tallies projecting this cohort to take up to 38 per cent of the vote.

Independent Cllr Frankie Daly is set to top the poll. His projected 12.2 per cent would fall narrowly short of reaching the quota on the first count, but it would appear to only be delaying the inevitable.

The same can be said for Labour’s Cllr Conor Sheehan, who is expected to follow Cllr Daly closely in the race to top the poll. Fianna Fáil Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon of Fianna Fáil has also performed strongly, taking in just over 10 per cent, with Olivia O’Sullivan just shy of that mark.

It’s set to be an incredibly tight race, however, to decide the other three seats, with the contenders lining out in this order according to the tallies: Sarah Beasley, Aontú, 6.7 per cent; Cllr Sharon Benson, SF, 5.7; Dean Quinn, Ind, 5.0; Adam Kearney, Ind, 4.6; Shane Hickey-O’Meara, 4.3; Tom Collopy, SF, 4.3; Richard Delaney, FG, 4.3; Suzzie O’Deniyi, FF, 3.2; Ruairí Fahy, PBP-S, 3.1; Cllr Sasa Novak Uí Chonchúir, 3.0; Ruth Clarke, II, 2.3; Laura Keyes, Rabhartha, 2.0; Mark Spain, FG, 1.4; Tanya Dunworth, SF, 1.3.

7.13pm: The army has taken Ireland South votes from Limerick Count Centre at Limerick Racecourse to Cork, for counting. “Up Limerick,” count staff say to a soldier. “Up the Banner,” comes the reply.

6.54pm: Fianna Fáil Cllr Catherine Slattery is expected to top the poll in Limerick City East with nearly 1,900 first-preference votes, but only 500 votes separate the project first five home: Peter Doyle (FG), Cllr Cllr Joe Pond (FF), Cllr Elena Secas (Lab), and Cllr Sarah Kiely (FG).

A three-way battle between Cllr Seán Hartigan (GP), Cllr Michael Murphy (FG), and Aontú’s Eric Nelligan is set to take place in the battle for two of the last three seats, with only about 25 votes between sixth-placed Cllr Hartigan and eighth-placed Eric Nelligan (Aontú).

6.39pm: With tallies now complete in the three County Limerick Local Electoral Areas, Independent Cllr Jerome Scanlon looks set to be elected on the first count, narrowly edging out Fine Gael’s Cllr Liam Galvin, who will also regain his seat at the first opportunity. Cllr Michael Collins (Fianna Fáil) is set to take approximately 14 per cent. In six-seat Adare/Rathkeale, Fine Gael’s Cllr Stephen Keary is projected to take about 17.5 per cent of the vote, ahead of Adam Teskey (Fine Gael, 14.3) and Bridie Collins (Fianna Fáil, 11.5). Independent Cllr Brigid Teefy is expected to take approximately 15.9 per cent of the Cappamore/Kilmallock first-preference votes, with Cllr Martin Ryan (Fianna Fáil) on 12.7 per cent and Independent Cllr Eddie Ryan a short way back in this seven-seat Municipal District.

It looks set to be a fruitful election in Limerick – particularly the county – for Irish politics’ big two. Please keep in mind, however, these are only projections. Official counting is set to begin within the hour. 6.26pm: It has just been announced that the counting in the Limerick City and County Council elections is expected to commence within the next 45 minutes. The reconciliation of papers is complete, and there is a clear idea of how the first counts will pan out across the six Local Electoral Areas. 6.07pm: It’s been a superb showing for Fine Gael in Limerick City West, with sitting Councillors Daniel Butler and Dan McSweeney set to regain their seats on the first count.

Both are projected to exceed the quota, with all votes now accounted for by tallypeople. Cllr Butler is set to win 18.6 per cent of first-preference votes, with Cllr McSweeney taking 14.1 per cent.

Fine Gael has won 37 per cent of the vote in this LEA, and while Michael MacCurtain only contributed five per cent to that, he will be hopeful that his party colleagues’ transfers will push him into contention for one of the seven seats.

The quota is projected at 1,512 votes.

With all boxes now open, the first-count results are estimated as follows: Cllr Daniel Butler (FG), 2,251; Cllr Dan McSweeney (FG), 1,710; Cllr Joe Leddin (Lab), 1,203; Abul Kalam Azad Talukder (FF), 1,042; Cllr Fergus Kilcoyne (FF), 839; Maria Donoghue, (Ind), 789; Elisa O’Donovan (SD), 768; Michael MacCurtain (FG), 604; Esther Aherne (II), 586; Malachy McCreesh (SF), 510; Seán Lynch (Ind), 494; Peter Spencer (GP), 444; Frances Lonergan (SF), 317; Cathal McCarthy (FG), 275; Alec Morrissey (Ind), 143; Shahin Reza (Ind), 62; Khalid Mahmood (Ind), 42; Michael Rafferty (Independent), 16. 5.26pm: Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Catherine Slattery continues to set a blinding pace at the head of the Limerick City vote according to tallies based on 70.8 per cent of the boxes being open.

She currently sits just shy of 20 per cent and well on course to retain her seat on count one. Fine Gael’s Sarah Kiely (12.4 per cent) and Fianna Fáil’s Joe Pond (11.2 per cent) also performing very well on what has been an impressive showing from the two traditional powerhouses of Irish politics in this Local Electoral Area.

Approximately 57 per cent of all votes tallied so far have gone the way of Fianna Fáil (30.6) or Fine Gael (26.4) in Limerick City East.

5.14pm: Almost 71 per cent of votes have now been tallied in Limerick City North, and while Fine Gael’s Cllr Olivia O’Sullivan (12 per cent) and Independent Cllr Frankie Daly (11.4) are the clear leaders in the seven-seat constituency, it’s all to play for, with Labour’s Cllr Conor Sheehan the only other candidate sitting above nine per cent.

It's been a difficult day for Sinn Féin, whose three candidates have only pulled in 11 per cent of the vote combined. Cllr Tom Collopy (3.9 per cent) is in major danger of losing his seat. Cllr Sharon Benson (6.6 per cent) is also locked in a battle, currently sitting in fifth place, behind Independent Pat O’Neill (7.2 per cent) and in a tight contest with Independent Dean Quinn (6.5 per cent), Cllr Kieran O’Hanlon (Fianna Fáil, 6.2), Sarah Beasley (Aontú, 5.6 per cent), and Fine Gael’s Richard Delaney (5.6 per cent).

4.54pm: We’re well past the half-way point in tallying from the Limerick City Local Electoral Area, with the most robust tally so far coming for Limerick City West, where 76 per cent of boxes are now open and a Fine Gael first-count one-two looks likely.

Fine Gael Councillor Daniel Butler leads the way on 16.3 per cent, giving him a strong chance of retaining his seat on the first count. Party colleague Dan McSweeney may just miss out on that luxury, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be waiting around as long as others as he is currently on 13.6 per cent of what has been tallied.

Labour’s Cllr Joe Leddin is next best on 10.9 per cent, with Cllr Abul Kalam Azad Talukder also faring well, on just shy of 10 per cent.

3.34pm: The picture is becoming clearer in Limerick City North with exactly half of boxes now open, but it’s still too early and too tight to call.

Except in the case of Fine Gael’s Cllr Olivia O’Sullivan, who could very well get the job done on Count One. She sits on 15.8 per cent, well ahead of second-placed Independent Pat O’Neill, who’s just shy of 10 per cent.

With this being a seven-seater MD, the top seven is rounded out by Cllr Conor Sheehan (Labour, 8.8), Independent Cllr Frankie Daly (8.5), Richard Delaney (6.5), Kieran O’Hanlon (6.5), and Independent Dean Quinn (6.1), but Sinn Féin Cllr Sarah Benson (6.0) is right in contention.

Sarah Beasley of Aontú is next on 4.7, but Green Councillor Sasa Novak Uí Chonchúir is not currently sitting comfortably on four per cent, neck and neck with Fianna Fáil’s Suzzie O’Deniyi (4.0), Independent Ireland’s Ruth Clarke (3.4) and Independent Adam Kearney (3.2).

The other candidates are pulling in less than three per cent, including sitting Sinn Féin Councillor Tom Collopy, trailing at 1.5 per cent.

3.11pm: With almost half of boxes now open in Cappamore/Kilmallock, Independent Cllr Eddie Ryan is the clear front-runner on 17 per cent, well ahead even of second-placed Greg Conway (Fine Gael, 13.5), who’s well set to take a seat on Limerick City and County Council.

It's ultra-tight between Cllr PJ Carey (Sinn Féin, 10.2), Cllr Martin Ryan (10.1), Cllr Michael Donegan (Fianna Fáil, 10.1), and Independent Cllr Brigid Teefy (9.5), but with this being a seven-seat constituency, all will be confident of retaining their seats.

Fine Gael’s Tommy O’Sullivan (6.8) is currently holding the all-important seventh place, but there are a number of strong challengers, particularly Independent Ireland’s Gráinne Hanley (5.5) and Fianna Fáil’s Al Fitzgerald (5).

Noreen Stokes (Fine Gael, 3.8); Michael Ryan (Aontú, 2.7); Michelle Hayes (Independent, 2.1); Rob O’Donnell (Greens, 2), and Denny Hourigan (Fianna Fáil, 1) round out the list.

2.53pm: Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are dominating in Adare/Rathkeale with 63 per cent of boxes opened. Fine Gael are pulling in 37 per cent of the vote, with Fianna Fáil also motoring at 27 per cent.

Cllr Stephen Keary (Fine Gael, 16.4 per cent), Cllr Adam Teskey (Fine Gael, 14.1), Bridie Collins (Fianna Fáil, 13.2) all look well placed to take seats, and there are three clear front runners for the remaining three seats: Tommy Hartigan (Independent Ireland, 11.4), Ger Ward (Fianna Fáil, 10), and Cllr John O’Donoghue (Independent Ireland, 9.8).

The nearest challengers are Independent Richie Crehan (7.6) and Fine Gael Cllr Michael Sheahan will be somewhat concerned back on 7.2 per cent.

2.41pm: In Newcastle West, with 55 per cent of boxes open, Fine Gael’s Cllr Liam Galvin and Independent Cllr Jerome Scanlon are both well-positioned to take the first two of the LEA’s six seats on count one. Cllr Galvin is currently running at just shy of 20 per cent, with Cllr Scanlon putting up the strongest challenge on just under 17 per cent.

Cllr Michael Collins (FF) is travelling well at 11.9 per cent, as is Cllr Michael Sheahan (FG, 10) and Cllr Francis Foley (9.8).

In the battle for the final seat, Cllr Tom Ruddle looks set to have the least comfortable weekend of the LEA’s sitting Councillors; at 7.5 per cent, he is just ahead of Fianna Fáil’s Gerard Madigan (7.3) and Sinn Féin’s Padraig Collins (7.2).

It’s a long way back to the nearest challenger, Independent Ireland’s James Barrett (3.9)

2.22pm: There are still fewer than 42 per cent of boxes open in Limerick City East, but Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Catherine Slattery is well on course for a first-count election as she holds 35.7 per cent. Fine Gael’s Cllr Sarah Kiely is also performing very strongly, with 20 per cent.

A tight battle looks to be forming below that. Sinn Féin’s Danielle O’Shea will be confident of taking a seat as she sits on 7.1 per cent, and she’s currently just ahead of Sinn Féin colleague Mike Killeen. Aontú’s Eric Nelligan is well in contention at 6.2 per cent, and Labour’s Cllr Elena Seca is on just shy of five per cent.

The rest goes Ursula Gavan (SF, 3.8); sitting Councillor Seán Hartigan (Greens) is struggling at 2.7; Peter Doyle (FG, 2.3); Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Joe Pond (1.9) is in real danger of losing his seat; Patrick McCarthy (Ind, 1.8); Dean Lillis (Ind, 1.6); Michael O’Brien (Rabhartha, 1)

Fine Gael Cllr Michael Murphy’s vote seems to have collapsed, as he sits on less than one per cent, just ahead of Independent Tally Slater.

2.01pm: There’s still a long way to go in tallying for the Limerick City and Council elections, but a clearer picture is building up in the three city MDs, each of which offer seven seats.

In Limerick City West, Fine Gael Cllr Dan McSweeney leads on 13.8 per cent, followed closely by Labour’s Cllr Joe Leddin (13). Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Abul Kalam Azad Talukder is third, just shy of 12 per cent of what’s been tallied.

Fine Gael are polling well with 31 per cent of the vote at this stage, and Cllr Daniel Butler is well-placed, just 2.5 points back from party colleague Cllr McSweeney.

Maria Donoghue (Independent) is still travelling well at 8.3 per cent, Cllr Elisa O’Donovan sits sixth on 7.7, and Michael Mac Curtain (Fine Gael) is in the crucial seventh place on six per cent, far from comfortable, but he will be hopeful of gaining transfers from his better-performing Fine Gael candidates.

Cllr Fergus Kilcoyne (Fianna Fáil) is now the nearest challenger on 4.8 per cent, but he will still be concerned even at this early stage, and he’s only marginally ahead of Sinn Féin’s Malachy McCreesh (4.7) and Independent Esther Aherne (4.2).

All other candidates are tallying at less than four per cent at this point.

1.27pm: It’s far too early and far too tight to make any definitive calls about seven-seater Limerick City North, where just 18.8 per cent of boxes are open, but most sitting Councillors have started well, with Fine Gael’s Cllr Olivia O’Sullivan on 16.5 per cent at this early point. Cllr Richard Delaney of Fine Gael is on 11.7 per cent, just ahead of Cllr Conor Sheahan (Labour 10.9) and Cllr Sasa Novak Uí Conchúir (Green Party, 7.3 per cent).

Pat O’Neill (Independent) is on 6.9, with Cllr Frankie Daly (Independent, 6.5) and Kieran O’Hanlon (Independent, 6.3) rounding out the top seven.

It’s incredibly tight after that, going Ruth Clarke (Independent Ireland, 5.8), Dr Laura Keyes (Rabhartha, 4.6), Shane Hickey O’Meara (Social Democrats, 4.5), Suzzie O’Deniyi (Fianna Fáil, 3.9), and Sarah Beasley (Aontú, 3.5) All the remaining candidates are at less than three per cent currently, including Sinn Féin Councillor Tom Collopy, who sits on 0.6 per cent, but again, tallies are at a very early stage.

1.04pm: They’re very early days in the Limerick City East tallies, but the current picture suggests sitting Councillors could have a nervy weekend ahead of them.

Only 22.9 per cent of boxes are open, but Cllr Catherine Slattery (Fianna Fáil) has made a powerful start with just under 45 per cent of what’s been tallied so far.

In the race for the remaining six seats, Cllr Sarah Kiely (Fine Gael) is on just under 11 per cent, with Sinn Féin’s Mike Killeen (9.3) currently performing best of those currently not sitting.

Eric Nelligan (Aontú) is on 6.4 per cent and Danielle O’Shea (Sinn Féin) is on 5.2 per cent, with Cllr Elena Seca (Labour) on 4.6 per cent. Ursula Gavan (Sinn Féin) currently lies in the crucial seventh place.

Donna Vuma (Social Democrats is on 2.8), marginally ahead of the Green Party’s Cllr Seán Hartigan. Fine Gael’s Peter Doyle is on two per cent, Fianna Fáil Cllr Joe Pond has struggled early on at 1.9 per cent, but not as much as fellow sitting Cllr Michael Murphy (Fine Gael), who is on just 0.7 per cent, albeit at a very early stage.

Dean Lillis (Labour, 1.7), Patrick McCarthy (Independent, 1.3), Michael O’Brien (Rabhartha, 1.2), are all ahead of him, with Tally Slater (Independent) back on 0.5 per cent.

12.41pm: Early tallies from Limerick City West indicate Labour Councillor Joe Leddin has taken a commanding lead in an otherwise competitive race in this seven-seater.

With 26.3 per cent of boxes opened, Cllr Leddin has over 20 per cent of what’s been tallied. Independent Maria O’Donoghue has started strongly at 11.8 per cent, with Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Abul Kalam Azad Talukder next on 10.9

Michael MacCurtain of Fine Gael is on just under 10 per cent, followed closely by party colleague Cllr Daniel Butler (9.2) and Social Democrat Cllr Elisa O’Donovan (8.4)

Malachy McCreesh (Sinn Féin) currently leads the race for the final seat on 6.5 per cent, ahead of Cllr Dan McSweeney (Fine Gael, 5.5 per cent).

It then goes Cathal McCarthy (Independent, 3.3 per cent); Peter Spencer (Green Party, 3 per cent); Esther Aherne (Independent Ireland, 2.7 per cent); and Frances Lonergan (Sinn Féin).

These are early days, but Cllr Fergus Kilcoyne (Fianna Fáil) will be concerned with his start, sitting on 2.2 per cent, just ahead of Independents Alec Morrissey (1.7) and Seán Lynch (1.5).

The remaining three candidates have each pulled in less than 0.5 per cent.

11.53am: Early tallies from the Newcastle West and Adare/Rathkeale Local Electoral Areas suggest that the ‘big two’ are holding strong in Limerick County, with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael dominating at this very early stage.

With about a quarter of boxes opened in both areas, Fine Gael have taken approximately 39 per cent of votes so far in Newcastle West and just under 35 per cent in Adare/Rathkeale. The figures for Fianna Fáil stand at 31 per cent in Newcastle West and 35.4 per cent in Adare/Rathkeale.

With about 24.4 per cent of boxes opened in Newcastle West, Fine Gael’s Councillor Liam Galvin has an early lead, coming in about 27 per cent of tallies to this point, well ahead of his nearest challengers, Fianna Fáil candidates Cllr Michael Collins (13.5 per cent) and Cllr Francis Foley (13.2 per cent).

This is a six-seater Municipal District, and Independent Cllr Jerome Scanlon has started well, with approximately 12 per cent so far. Pádraig Collins (Sinn Féin) is at 8.7 per cent; and Cllr Tom Ruddle is at 7.7 per cent.

It then goes Cllr John Sheahan (Fine Gael); Pat King (Independent Ireland) at 4.3 per cent; James Barrett (Independent Ireland) at four per cent; Gerard Madigan (Fianna Fáil), 2.6 per cent; Kathleen Barrett (Fianna Fáil), 1.2 per cent; and Gerben Uunk (Party for Animal Welfare) is at less than one per cent.

In Adare/Rathkeale, Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Bridie Collins is the clear front-runner at this point, albeit with less than 24 per cent of boxes open.

She has taken 24 per cent so far, well ahead of Cllr Stephen Keary (FG) in second at almost 15 per cent.

Tommy Hartigan of Independent Ireland has started well in his bid to claim win one of the six seats, with 11.1 per cent of what’s been tallied so far.

Cllr Adam Teskey (Fine Gael, 10 per cent) and Cllr Michael Sheahan (Fine Gael, 9.7 per cent) are neck and neck, with Cllr John O’Donoghue (Independent Ireland) on 7.6 per cent, marginally ahead of Fianna Fáil’s Ger Ward (7.5 per cent).

It then goes Joanne Collins (Sinn Féin), 5.6 per cent; Richie Crehan (Independent), 4.3 per cent; Trina O’Dea (Fianna Fáil), 3.9 per cent.

It’s still a very tentative picture in seven-seater Cappamore/Kilmallock, with less than 16.5 per cent of boxes open, but the very early tallies suggest Independent Cllr Eddie Ryan is off to a strong start, with about 28 per cent of what’s been tallied so far.

Sinn Féin’s PJ Carey is at about half of that; followed closely by Fine Gael’s Greg Conway. Fianna Fáil’s Michael Donegan is just shy of 10 per cent, followed by Gráinne Hanley (Independent Ireland, 7.6 per cent) and Tommy O’Sullivan (Fine Gael, 7.5 per cent).

It then goes Cllr Brigid Teefy (Independent), 4.4 per cent; Martin Ryan (Fianna Fáil) on 4.2 per cent; and Noreen Stokes (Fine Gael) on 3.1 per cent.

The other five candidates are between one and two per cent respectively but, again, we caution that only 16.5 per cent of boxes are open.

9.44am: The first boxes have been opened at Limerick Racecourse, where counting for Limerick City and County Council takes place throughout the weekend.

There are 40 Council seats up for grabs across the six Municipal Districts (MDs): seven in each of the three Metropolitan MDs (Limerick City East, North, and West); seven in Cappamore/Kilmallock; and six in both Adare/Rathkeale and Newcastle West.

The process of reconciling ballots has begun, and while some count results are expected today it is too early to say when these might be expected.

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Votes in the European Elections will be transferred to the Cork count centre.

Limerick City and County will also become the first Council to directly elect a Mayor. Counting in this race is not expected to begin until Monday.