GE16: What we know so far
By Elaine Loughlin, political reporter
Although we are still awaiting the announcement of the first elected candidate, tallies across the country have already thrown up some major surprses across the country.
Here is what we know so far:
1. The biggest factor in this election is the massive wipe-out the Labour party has experienced. High-profile and long-standing candidates including Kathleen Lynch in Cork, Emmett Stagg in Kildare North as well as Dublin candidates Eric Byrne and Alex White are now in major trouble and appear likely to lose their seats.
2. There has been a significant resurgence in support for Fianna Fáil. Across the country initial tallies predict them taking seats lost in 2011.
3. Tánaiste Joan Burton is now battling to retain her seat in Dublin West. The final tally put her on 15.4% while AAA-PBP's Ruth Coppinger is also on 15.4% and Sinn Féin's Paul Donnelly is on 14.4%. Leo Varadkar is expected to top the poll here while Fianna Fáil's Jack Chamber has the second highest first preference votes on 16.5%.
4. Michael Lowry in Tipperary as expected will top the poll and is set to to be one of the strongest national vote getters. He has received 18% of the vote - or 13,036 first preferences - according to tallies.
5. Out-going Children's Minister James Reilly is in major difficulty in Dublin Fingal with Clare Daly and Darragh O'Brien polling strongly.
6. In Dún Laoghaire former Fianna Fáil Minister Mary Hanafin is expected to lose out in the battle between the two other Mary's - Fine Gael's Mary Mitchell O'Connor and Maria Bailey.
7. In the newly formed constituency of Kerry the Healy-Rae brothers have much to celebrate. Micheal Healy-Rae almost reached the quota of 13,250 with only 60% of boxes opened and tallied. Supporters are hopeful his brother Danny will also make it across the line.
8. Fianna Fáil's Charlie McConalogue is set to top the poll in Donegal, followed by Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty and Pat the Cope Gallagher also of Fianna Fáil. However, it has been disappointing for Sinn Féin's Padraig McLochalinn who now could be in trouble.
9. It has been a bad day for new party Renua, with sources in the party saying they may not return a single seat.
10. If tallies are anything to go by, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will be far closer than expected and it could spell a coalition of the old civil war rivals.
