Voting takes place in the Meath East by-election today.

Polls in the constituency which runs from Clonee on the Dublin border to Nobber and the Cavan border opened at 8am and will close at 9pm tonight.

11 candidates in all will appear on the ballot paper. The contest is to fill the seat following the tragic death of Shane McEntee.

Most pundits see it as a two-horse race between Helen McEntee of Fine Gael - Shane's daughter - and Fianna Fáil Senator Thomas Byrne. But transfers could be critical especially those of Eoin Holmes from Labour and Sinn Féin's Darren O'Rourke.

Others also on the ballot paper are the Greens Seán O'Buachalla as well as Ben Gilroy, Charlie Keddy, Mick Martin, Seamus McDonagh, Gerard O'Brien and Jim Tallon.

Counting of ballots takes place in Ashbourne tomorrow. A result is expected to be announced in the afternoon.