National update: SF set to win more than 130 local seats
Sinn Féin and Independents the major winners so far as the results of the local elections come in.
Labour has suffered a drubbing - or a
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So far, fewer than than 50 local councillors are elected, with the early leaders being Sinn Féin, Independents and Anti-austerity candidates.
Sinn Féin is set to win more than 130 of the 949 available seats and Independents will have substantial numbers up and down the country.
Earlier, Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said the arrest of Gerry Adams in the course of the election campaign did not have the disruptive effect some people hoped it might.
Labour is the big casualty of the vote. The party is facing a wipeout in some local authorities and will struggle for final seats in others.
Fianna Fáil will make gains, while Fine Gael losses will be in the dozens.
However, Fine Gael looks set to hold the seat in the Longford-Westmeath by-election, while the battle to fill the Dáil seat in Dublin West looks set to play out a little longer.
Dublin West saw Sinn Féin's Paul Donnelly topped the poll, though he has since been overtaken on transfers by Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party.
Longford Westmeath has just declared a first count, with Gabrielle McFadden on course to hold the seat held her late sister Nicky.
Counting in the European votes will take place tomorrow. Fine Gael may hang on to their four seats (out of the 11 available) and Sinn Féin are on course to elect three candidates - one in each constituency.
