Counting begins in local elections and by-elections
Counting of votes across the country is just getting underway.
First results from the two by-elections and the local elections will become clear this afternoon.
The counting of ballots in the three European constituencies will take place tomorrow.
The seals on the ballot boxes are now being broken across the country.
The votes will be sorted, face up, with the European ballots to be held over for counting tomorrow in three count centres in Dublin, Cork and Mayo.
This will slow up the counting process for the local elections but the first tallies will come in the next hour or so, with the first results available this afternoon.
Counting is also getting underway in the two by-elections in Longford-Westmeath and Dublin West and results there should be known by this evening.
