The first councillor has been elected in the 2024 local elections.
Independent Councillor Thomas Welby has won a seat on Galway County Council.
Official counting is underway in some count centres across the country after the sorting of ballots this morning.
Tallies in the local and European elections have given us a broad overview of what to expect.
The big picture suggests it is a poor day for Sinn Féin, which appears to have seen its vote fall when compared with the General Election.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are likely to lose council seats but are happy the scale of the losses seems to be smaller than it could have been.
Staff empty ballot boxes for the local and European elections in the RDS in Dublin, 8-5-24. Image: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ieThe Green Party is also more competitive in Dublin than some anticipated.
When it comes to the European Parliament counts Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will likely take a seat in each constituency, while Sinn Féin should do the same but will be under pressure.
Independents are among the big winners at both council and European-level and will be expected to increase their seat share in both.
It is hoped first counts will start coming in around tea time.
Limerick Mayor
Almost half of the ballot boxes in the Limerick Mayoral election have yet to be opened.
Independent candidate John Moran has emerged as the frontrunner to become Ireland’s first directly-elected mayor.
Some 52% of the boxes have been opened at Limerick Racecourse - meaning the tallying is expected to continue until about 5pm.
Ballot sorting and counting underway at Limerick Racecourse, 8-6-24. Image: Aislinn KellyJohn Moran is currently out in front on 22% - fellow Independent Helen O'Donnell is on 17% with Fianna Fáil’s Dee Ryan on 15%.
The two sitting TDs who are contesting the Mayoral race will be disappointed.
Sinn Féin’s Maurice Quinlivan sits at 11% at the moment, with Brian Leddin of the Green Party back on just 3%.
The final turnout figure is not known but it is as high as 56% in Limerick City-North and Newcastlewest.
Reporting by: Seán Defoe, Ellen Butler and Stephanie Rohan
