Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams seems assured of winning a Dáil seat and is likely to top the poll in Louth, with tally figures from two-thirds of the ballot-boxes in the constituency now available.
Out of a total 191 boxes, figures from the all-party tally are now available for 125 boxes from throughout the constituency.
Percentages for the parties, based on the tally figures, are as follows: Fine Gael 32.04; Sinn Féin 21.12; Labour 18.49; Fianna Fáil 16.66; Independents/Others 7.60; Green Party 4.09.
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour are all running two candidates each but Mr Adams is the sole Sinn Féin contender. The official first count result is not expected until about 8pm this evening.
Fine Gael’s Fergus O’Dowd is expected to top the poll with Mr Adams in second place. The third and fourth seats will be fought over by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.
