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Presidential election: Poll predicts Higgins victory

Presidential election: Poll predicts Higgins victory

A low turnout as Ireland decides the next president and the future of blasphemy law

Dean Ruxton, Dan Griffin, Niamh Towey Fri, Oct 26
 
LIVE: Presidential election: Poll predicts Higgins victory

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  • 06:29

    Welcome to The Irish Times’s presidential vote live blog as the country goes to the polls to decide who be the next President of Ireland. People will also vote today on the blasphemy referendum. Stay with us for updates and all the action through the day. As soon as polls close at 10pm,  The Irish Times will publish details of its presidential election exit poll.  

  • 06:32
    Some of you may still be unsure as to how you intend to vote. If so, here are profiles of all six candidates. <p style='margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;'><a href='https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/in-profile-the-six-candidates-running-for-the-presidency-1.3652941' target='_blank' ><span style='color: #0000ff; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;'>https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/in-profile-the-six-candidates-running-for-the-presidency-1.3652941</span></a></p>
    Some of you may still be unsure as to how you intend to vote. If so, here are profiles of all six candidates.

    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/in-profile-the-six-candidates-running-for-the-presidency-1.3652941

  • 06:34

    There has been relatively little attention on the blasphemy referendum. If you are trying to get your head around this issues here is a concise (and funny) Q&A from our Religious Affairs Correspondent Patsy McGarry.

    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/blasphemy-and-ireland-everything-you-need-to-know-1.3666962

  • 07:10
    Voting has now officially begun and polls will stay open until 10pm this evening. After that, there will be an exit poll published on irishtimes.com giving the projected results of the presidential election and the referendum on blasphemy. More on that here
  • 07:19

    Jack Power has gathered a few things you need to know before heading out to vote.

    When you arrive at your polling station,  you will be asked to state your name and address. You may be required to produce evidence of identity, and may not be permitted to vote if you fail to do so.  


    There are two ballot papers:  

    On the ballot paper for the presidential election, the six candidates will be listed in alphabetical order according to their surname;  Peter Casey, Gavin Duffy, Joan Freeman, Seán Gallagher, Michael D Higgins, and Liadh Ní Riada.

    The voting system used in Ireland is called proportional representation - single transferable vote (PR-STV). Under this system the voter marks the candidates in order of preference, placing a number 1 in the box beside the candidate they wish to vote for, and then a number 2 beside their second preference, and so on.

    Voters do not have to fill in the entire ballot, and if they wish can mark the box beside their preferred candidate, and leave the rest blank.

    The other ballot that people will be asked to vote on is a referendum on whether to remove the offence of blasphemy from the Constitution.

    Voters will receive a ballot paper that says “Do you approve of the proposal to amend the Constitution contained in the undermentioned Bill?.”

    Below this will be the name of the Bill: “Thirty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Repeal of offence of publication or utterance of blasphemous matter) Bill 2018.” The ballot paper will have two options, Yes or No.

    If you wish to vote to remove the offence of blasphemy, vote Yes. If you wish to vote against the proposal and keep the offence in the Constitution, vote No.

  • 07:26
  • 07:41
    Would you be able to identify each presidential candidate? Conor Pope took to the streets to ask members of the public that question. The answer, for most, was "no". Watch the video here
  • 07:42
  • 07:49
    The Irish Times View: "It is important that as many people as possible exercise their right to vote today, giving a strong mandate to the president who will serve the country for the next seven years. All of the candidates have had their share of criticism during the long and bruising campaign, but they each deserve credit for having the courage to put themselves forward for the State’s highest office."

    Read more here
  • 07:54
  • 08:02

    2,601 people were registered to vote this month on 19 offshore islands – 12 of those off Mayo, Galway and Donegal cast their votes a day ahead of the rest of the State, with seven west Cork islands voting today.  


    Ballot boxes from 12 offshore islands are being delivered to count centres today. The turnout was mixed; percentages ranged from 4 per cent to 50 per cent, with Mayo islanders appearing to be among the most engaged and Donegal voters least so.


    A full report from Lorna Siggins is here

  • 08:24
    Profile: Michael D Higgins
    Age: 77
    Position: President of Ireland since 2011
    Party: Independent
    Public life: Formerly a Labour Party TD and Senator. Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht 1992 to 1997
    Slogan: A president for us all

    Platform: When asked why he is standing again, President Higgins has argued that the challenges for the next seven years are different. In particular, he has mentioned climate change, Brexit and housing in interviews.

    He has four broad themes set out in his manifesto. The first is equality and inclusion, which includes diversity and marginal people. The second is sustainable communities, which takes in climate change, the environment, creativity, and localism. The third is one of his strong cards, his handling of the centenary celebrations, especially 1916. He emphasises his status, and argues he is the best person to be president for the commemoration of the first Dáil in 1919 and placing it in the context of a changed society. His last theme is his role as a representative of Ireland abroad, saying he will make Ireland a champion for human rights, peace and sustainable development. This will include, presumably, Brexit, and his contentious (and as yet untested) critique of the gap between the EU institutions and the “European street”.

    Controversies: The major one so far has been an unaudited €317,000 annual allowance. It is spent on State dinners, garden parties and other events at the Áras. Under persistent questioning more details have emerged, such as the use of the Government jet by Higgins for a 165km trip from Dublin to Belfast during a radio debate. PSNI have contradicted Higgins's claim that he needed the Learjet for security reasons. The President says every cent of allowance is accounted for.

    He has also been criticised for reneging on his commitment to serve only one term, and his very full schedule of high-profile “presidential” events, which his opponents say give him an unfair advantage.


    Funding: The President will get support from Labour, Fine Gael and, perhaps, Fianna Fáil. His supporters have started a funding campaign seeking €50,000 initially. He will also use his own resources.


    Read more candidate profiles here

  • 08:33
    A reminder that polls are open until 10pm this evening. At your polling station, you may be required to produce evidence of identity, and may not be permitted to vote if you fail to do so - everything else you need to know about today can be found here
  • 08:48

    Profile: Peter Casey
    Age: 60
    Position: Businessman, former Dragons’ Den panellist
    Party: Independent
    Public life: None. Failed attempt for the Seanad in 2016
    Slogan: Small country, big nation
    Platform: He has built his platform on three pillars. His first is to unite the 40 million Irish diaspora in a meaningful way, making it an economic powerhouse. He claims the Irish abroad punch below their weight. His second is an Irish birthright programme to bring teenagers with Irish heritage to the country for a month where they could experience Dublin, Belfast and the Gaeltacht. His third is to reduce the costs of the presidency. He says he will forego his salary and give it to county councils to spend on local charities.

    Controversies: Has been more direct in his criticism of the President than other candidates. Casey said he did not accept that Travellers were a distinct ethnic group in Ireland, which caused controversy with Traveller groups. When asked to clarify his comments, he said "there is far too much political correctness . . . I say what I think and think what I say". He has said that Ireland is becoming a "welfare-dependent state".

    Was criticised for a tweet in which he drove a golf ball into the Atlantic, and then claimed to have retrieved it. He made a claim, subsequently withdrawn, that an incident involving an intruder in the Áras was a stunt. He has said one of the consequences of Brexit might be an independent Northern Ireland. He also questions Irish neutrality and wants closer alignment to Nato.

    Funding: Casey says he will fund his own campaign, which he estimates will cost €100,000.

    Read more candidate profiles here

  • 08:54

    Baffled about blasphemy?  


    In a nutshell:  “Impious or profane speaking of God or sacred things’’ as banned by the second of the Ten Commandments and the Irish Constitution under Article 40.6.1.i. The Article bans “the publication or utterance of blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter”, offences “which shall be punishable in accordance with law”.


    The Article was enacted by the people on July 1st, 1937. It has been in operation since December 29th, 1937. (Q&A here)

  • 09:11
  • 09:27

    Profile: Liadh Ní Riada
    Age: 51
    Position: MEP for Ireland South since 2014. Formerly TV producer.
    Party: Sinn Féin
    Public life: MEP. Previously Irish language officer for Sinn Féin.
    Slogan: A new president for a new Ireland
    Platform: Ní Riada is the youngest of the candidates, and is a daughter of the late composer Seán Ó Riada. Both her parents died when she was a child, and her first husband died when she was 29. She has focused her messages on carers, recognition of fair wages, and a drive to bring home Irish people who were forced to emigrate during the recession.

    She argues her party’s position of extending voting rights to citizens in the North and those living abroad, and wants to establish a “citizens’ conversation” on Irish unity. Mental health is also a big theme, as are community and equality.

    Controversies: The Sinn Féin candidate has been questioned about her criticism of the HPV vaccine several years ago. She now says she supports it but refuses to disclose if her daughters received it, citing family privacy. She also relies on the Sinn Féin line that Gerry Adams was never a member of the IRA and has also refused to describe the IRA’s worst atrocities as acts of terrorism. “It was a terrible time of conflict. But there is no conflict without a reason,” she told HotPress in an interview. Ní Riada admitted on a presidential debate on RTÉ that she does not live on the average industrial wage, as she had previously claimed.

    Funding: Her campaign is funded by Sinn Féin. She is one of only two candidates who will have posters placed around the country.

    Read more candidate profiles here

  • 09:44
  • 09:52

    Polls opened at 7am and it's early days, but there will be an exit poll on irishtimes.com this evening.  The exit poll is being conducted by Ipsos/MRBI among approximately 4,500 respondents at 160 polling stations in every constituency.

    Interviewing for the poll began outside polling stations at 7am and will continue throughout the day.

  • 10:02

    Profile: Gavin Duffy
    Age: 58
    Position: Businessman. Dragons’ Den panellist.
    Party: Non-party
    Public life: None
    Slogan: Ambitious for Ireland
    Platform: He wants youth corps that will go to developing countries. He will also launch a campaign against childhood obesity. He will encourage diversity and stamp out cyberbullying. Duffy has put huge emphasis on his experience in business, and has argued that he would be the best at representing Ireland abroad as new economic challenges posed by Brexit and other global disruptions hit. He has not ruled out a second term, saying he would make a public decision six years into his term, if elected.

    Controversies: His past work as a consultant for Denis O’Brien has been the subject of persistent questioning. He says he did a total of about 40 hours of work for the businessman during 20 years, but won’t state the nature of the advice he gave. He has also had to deny he is a proxy Fine Gael candidate – he chaired the party’s leadership debates between Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney. He has also been asked about the lack of a public service record and funding. He initially said he would take a loan of €700,000 but has now said he will fund the campaign from his own resources.

    Funding: €300,000 from his own resources. He is not going to do postering

    Read more candidate profiles here

  • 10:09
    During the final presidential debate on Wednesday, Sean Gallagher renewed his criticism of President Higgins's spending, Peter Casey denied he was conducting a dogwhistle campaign and Liadh Ní Riada said her monthly expenses of more than €4,000 were fully vouched for. Read Harry McGee's full report here
  • 10:21
    Presidential candidate Sean Gallagher casts his vote at Charlseland Sports and Recreation Centre, Farrenkelly Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow this morning. He is with his son, Bobby, and wife, Trish. Photograph: Donall Farmer/The Irish Times
    Presidential candidate Sean Gallagher casts his vote at Charlseland Sports and Recreation Centre, Farrenkelly Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow this morning. He is with his son, Bobby, and wife, Trish. Photograph: Donall Farmer/The Irish Times
  • 10:39
    Joan Burton says that the school and community centre in Tyrelstown were supposed to be used as polling stations but are closed because of the current controversy over structural concerns. She said polling has been transferred to a the nearby Le Chéile secondary school but this is poorly advertised around the area, Fiach Kelly reports
  • 10:56

    Profile: Sean Gallagher
    Age: 56
    Position: Businessman. Former Dragons’ Den panellist.
    Party: Non-party
    Public life: Presidential candidate in 2011
    Slogan: Shaping our future together
    Platform: It’s what he calls a values-based campaign, and very much an economic message based on communities and small business. He wants to encourage whole swathes of Ireland which he says have not seen the recovery to recover through finding their own community and business leaders. Like other candidates he says he will focus a lot on divisions and disabilities. He says he also wants to continue the work of Mary and Martin McAleese on the peace process by building up unity within communities North and South. He is convinced that Ireland will be united within his lifetime.

    Controversies: There is what many see the unfinished business of the bitter 2011 campaign, especially Tweetgate (when a fake tweet was read out during an RTÉ presidential election debate which Gallagher alleged contributed to his loss). Some see his participation as in someway settling a score. He denies this. Gallagher is still asked if he is a proxy Fianna Fáil candidate (which he denies). He is also asked about his low profile in the seven years since the last campaign. He is far more open these days about his Fianna Fáil connections and his role in fundraising for the party.

    Funding: Has not disclosed spending but it will come from his own resources. Has said it will be a “frugal” campaign, staffed by volunteers, without any posters.

    Read more candidate profiles here

  • 11:01
    A notice at Tyrrelstown Community Centre on Friday morning
    A notice at Tyrrelstown Community Centre on Friday morning
  • 11:15

    Profile: Joan Freeman
    Age: 60
    Position: Senator. Founder of charities Pieta House and Darkness into Light
    Party: Non-party
    Public life: Senator (Taoiseach’s nominee) since 2016.
    Slogan: Better Together
    Platform: Unsurprisingly mental and physical health form core parts of her message. She wants to hold a mental health summit within six months of becoming president. She also wants to hold a National Assembly of Well-Being and an annual day of wellness. She has plans to address the growing rate of obesity amongst the young, and also to “change the language” around elderly people. She has also said she would extend the Gaisce award to all age groups and stamp out cyber-bullying. She would also like to “give a voice to young people on the Council of State”.

    Controversies: The main controversy she has been embroiled in has surrounded funding. She does not have the resources of other candidates, and had to rely on loans. One of €120,000 came from a Los Angeles businessman Des Walsh. He is a former boyfriend from 40 years ago, but the large vitamin supplements company he headed was also investigated for pyramid selling. Her sister and niece were prominent in the No campaigns in the referendum on the Eighth Amendment and she also voted No. She said she would have no difficulty signing the new abortion regime into law, and that two of her daughters voted Yes.

    Funding: €140,000 so far. Two loans totalling €130,00 and €10,000 of her own resources.

    Read more candidate profiles here

  • 11:32

    A quick reminder:


    1. When you arrive  at your polling station you will be asked to state your name and address. You may be required to produce evidence of identity, and may not be permitted to vote if you fail to do so.


    2.  On the ballot paper for the presidential election, the six candidates will be listed in alphabetical order according to their surname; Peter Casey, Gavin Duffy, Joan Freeman, Seán Gallagher, Michael D Higgins, and Liadh Ní Riada.


    The voting system used in Ireland is called proportional representation - single transferable vote (PR-STV). Under this system the voter marks the candidates in order of preference, placing a number 1 in the box beside the candidate they wish to vote for, and then a number 2 beside their second preference, and so on.


    3.      Voters will receive a ballot paper for the blasphemy referendum, which will ask: “Do you approve of the proposal to amend the Constitution contained in the undermentioned Bill?”.

    Below this will be the name of the Bill: “Thirty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Repeal of offence of publication or utterance of blasphemous matter) Bill 2018.” The ballot paper will have two options, Yes or No.

    If you wish to vote to remove the offence of blasphemy, vote Yes. If you wish to vote against the proposal and keep the offence in the Constitution, vote No.


    More here



  • 11:35
    President Higgins and Sabina Higgins cast their votes at St Mary's Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
    President Higgins and Sabina Higgins cast their votes at St Mary's Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
  • 11:38
  • 11:56
  • 12:14

    Once again, polls are open until 10pm this evening. Presidential candidate Seán Gallagher attended a polling station in Greystones, Co Wicklow, with his wife Trish to vote this morning, while President Michael D Higgins casted his vote in St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin.  


    Here's everything you need to know about today's voting - but if you have any other news or questions, you can get in touch at druxton@irishtimes.com

  • 12:30

    Still not sure about how to vote in the blasphemy referendum?  


    Read an argument for Yes: "Vote yes: Law must reflect fact Ireland does not prosecute for blasphemy"


    Read an argument for No: "Vote no in blasphemy poll: Fake progressive agenda is real threat to freedom"

  • 12:41
  • 12:49

    Early numbers from some Mayo polling stations indicate a low turnout by 11.30am:

    Swinford NS 9%
    St. Patricks NS, Castlebar 6%
    Scoil Raifteiri N.S, Castlebar 9%
    St. Anthonys School, Castlebar 9%
    Foxford New School 7%
    Sean Duffy Centre, Ballina 9%
    Ballina Boys NS 9%
    Scoil Phadraig N.S, Westport 8%
    Scoil Iosa, Ballyhaunis 6%
    C/Morris Boys New School 11%

  • 12:58

    Sinn Féin candidate Liadh Ní Riada has voted in her native Cork, while Gavin Duffy voted in Co Meath. Peter Casey earlier voted in Greencastle, Co Donegal.

    Still undecided? Read profiles of all candidates here


    More than 3.2 million people are entitled to vote in 40 constituencies.

  • 12:59
  • 13:04

    So far, reports suggest a low turnout, though it's still early; polling stations opened at 7am on Friday on the mainland and will remain open until 10pm to give people the opportunity to cast their ballot.


    In Mayo, voter turnout was below 10 per cent in all polling stations except Morris Boys New School where it was 11 per cent at 11.30am.


    Turnout in Gorey, Wexford was at 9 per cent at 12.30, compared with 21 per cent at that time for the abortion referendum, according to local councillor Malcolm Byrne.


    Voter turnout was 13 per cent at lunchtime at CBS Primary School in Kilkenny. Turnout at Ballsbridge, Dublin, was 12 per cent at 12.45.


    In the 2011 presidential election, the final voter turnout was 56.1 per cent.

  • 13:08
    Similarly low voter turnout (4 per cent) so far in Shannonside region
  • 13:13

    The presidential election turnout may fall well short of the 56.11 per cent turnout when Michael D Higgins was elected, reports Marie O'Halloran.

    Turnout in the election by lunchtime today is being deemed sluggish.

  • 13:16

    Turnout may be even less than the 46.7 per cent of the electorate who voted in 1997 when Mary McAleese was elected as one of five candidates.

    Before that in 1990 when Mary Robinson, one of three candidates, won the election on the basis of a 64.1 per cent turnout.

  • 13:25
    Meanwhile, my attention has been brought to #DogsAtPollingStations - which is trending on Twitter. It seems people bring their dogs to polling stations. More on this as I get it.  
  • 13:27
  • 13:32

    I understand the dogs thing now. Back to the vote.  


    In summary: Voter turnout is reported to be low in many parts of the country so far - full report and further breakdown here


    If you haven't voted yet, there's still plenty of time. Polls will remain open until 10pm - here's everything you need to know before heading to your polling station.  

  • 13:38

    Turnout in wealthier areas is higher than in working class neighbourhoods according to the lunchtime turnout estimates for Dublin Bay South, reports Marie O'Halloran

    Ailesbury Road was at 18 per cent, Ballsbridge at 12 per cent, Sandymount at 15 per cent. But Pearse Street was at 9 per cent turnout and Ringsend figures showed just 8.5 per cent of voters went to the polls.

    Labour Senator Kevin Humphreys said “it seems the more affluent the area the higher the turnout”.

  • 13:46

    It also appears that those who voted in the abortion referendum are not turning out for the blasphemy plebiscite or presidential election.

    Mr Humphreys said the turnout for those on the supplementary register was very low in the Dublin area.

    About 120,000 voters were added to the supplementary register for the abortion referendum but have not voted this time around, the early figures indicated.

    Returning officers believe that the holding of polls on the Friday of a bank holiday weekend may also have an impact, with no major increase in turnout expected at teatime because voters may be away.

    The last presidential election was held on a Thursday – 27th October.

  • 13:53

    Another reminder:  The Irish Times  will publish an exit poll on Friday evening, when polls close, which will give the projected results of both the presidential election and the referendum on blasphemy.  


    The poll is being conducted by Ipsos/MRBI among approximately 4,500 respondents at 160 polling stations in every constituency. The poll is estimated to have a margin of error of +/- 1.5 per cent.

  • 14:07

    To recap, voter turnout is being reported as low so far. Some of the main numbers being reported:

    - In Co Mayo, voter turnout was below 10 per cent in all polling stations except Morris Boys New School where it was 11 per cent at 11.30am.

    - Gorey, Co Wexford was at 9 per cent at 12.30pm, according to local councillor Malcolm Byrne.

    - CBS Primary School in Co Kilkenny had 13 per cent by lunchtime.

    - Turnout in wealthier areas is higher than in working-class neighbourhoods, according to the lunchtime turnout estimates for Dublin Bay South.

    - Ailesbury Road was at 18 per cent; Ballsbridge at 12 per cent; Sandymount at 15 per cent.

    - Pearse Street was at 9 per cent and Ringsend at 8.5 per cent.

  • 14:12

    Jack Power reports: The Dublin city returning office, which covers five constituencies, said turnout at noon was slightly more than 10 per cent. Dublin Bay North had the highest turnout at 13.8 per cent, and Dublin Central the lowest with 7 per cent.

    The returning office said the figures were lower across the board, compared to the noon turnout in the referendum on the Eighth Amendment earlier this year. In one Dublin South Central polling station turnout was half what it was by midday during the last poll.

    In Cork County voter turnout was nine per cent by noon, compared to 17 per cent at the same time during the Eighth Referendum vote. Earlier at 8.30am turnout was recorded as 2 per cent, half the level during the referendum on the Eighth amendment by the same time.

    In Wexford turnout at 9am was 4.9 per cent, which the returning office said was a “good bit lower” than the previous referendum, where the early morning figures were around 7.5 per cent.

  • 14:15
    In the Dublin County returning office, which covers six constituencies to the north, west and south of the city, turnout was around 10 per cent by 12pm.
  • 14:20
    #IVoted is trending on Twitter in Ireland at the moment. If you haven't gone to the polling station yet, here's everything you need to know, some candidate profiles and a Q&A on the blasphemy referendum
  • 14:22
  • 14:23

    More turmout numbers from Jack Power (as of noon): Turnout in a polling station in Tallaght was 10 per cent; Blanchardstown (14 per cent), Tyrrelstown (4.7 per cent), Skerries (11.4 per cent), Clonsilla (eight per cent).

    In Roscommon turnout was similar across polling areas, from 11 per cent in Roscommon town, to 12.5 per cent in Castlerea, and 12 per cent in Boyle.

    In east Meath polling stations, turnout shortly after noon was over 12 per cent, compared to west Meath, where turnout ranged from 6.5 to 9.5 per cent.

  • 14:30
  • 14:33
  • 14:55

    Amid talk of #DogsAtPollingStations and #IVoted on Twitter, there's confusion here and there about the wording of the blasphemy question. Here's what you need to know (from Jack Power's explainer)

    Blasphemy is defined as “the action or offence of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things”. The referendum is proposing to remove the offence from the Constitution.

    Voters will receive a ballot paper that says “Do you approve of the proposal to amend the Constitution contained in the undermentioned Bill?”.

    Below this will be the name of the Bill: “Thirty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Repeal of offence of publication or utterance of blasphemous matter) Bill 2018.”

    The ballot paper will have two options, Yes or No.

    If you wish to vote to remove the offence of blasphemy, vote Yes. If you wish to vote against the proposal and keep the offence in the Constitution, vote No.

  • 14:57
  • 15:00

    Barking News: An entire story on the #DogsAtPollingStations business. (Yes, with pics)

     

  • 15:04
    Polls close in about seven hours. If you're still undecided about the presidential election, you can read brief  profiles of each of the six candidates here, including a breakdown of platform, controversies and funding for each
  • 15:08
    Latest Co Cork turnout numbers from Barry Roche:  

    Polling in both the presidential election and blasphemy referendum appeared to be slow in Cork today with polling stations in both the city and county constituencies reporting low turnouts.

    In Cork North West and Cork East, indications at lunch hour were that turnout was just 9 per cent. Cork South West was marginally better with 10 per cent of the electorate voting by 1pm.

    Both Cork North Central and Cork South Central were reporting slow voting, with some polling stations reporting as few as 10 or 12 people voting in some boxes by 11am.

    One polling booth in Cloghroe in the rural part of Cork North Central was proving something of an exception, with 30 people voting by 11am, but lower turnout figures were much more the norm.

  • 15:30

    Dublin North West has reflected the trend across the capital with some areas struggling to hit double digits in turnout, reports Marie O'Halloran.

    Voting at St Canice’s Girls’ school in Finglas was described as “brisk” but the level of voting was still less than half of what it was for the abortion referendum in May. Elsewhere in the constituency turnout was very poor with few stations hitting double digits by early afternoon.

    In Dublin Bay North, turnout was busy at Maryfield Secondary school with figures estimated at around 12 per cent but in Donnycarney and Marino the electorate was staying at home, at least until after lunch.
    Dublin Bay North regularly has the highest turnout in the State and is always in the top three, at both elections and referendums.

    Suggestions have been made that turnout will match the 56.11 per cent reached in 2011, but the turnout estimates in the Dublin area do not reflect that.

  • 15:33

    Meanwhile, Labour TD for Dublin West Joan Burton has called on the Dublin Sheriff's Office to take immediate action to resolve confusion at the polling place in Tyrrelstown.

    In a statement this afternoon, Ms Burton said: "There is completed confusion on changes of the voting station at Tyrrelston polling station which is the polling place for an area of 3000 homes. The polling station was due to be in the Tyerllstwon community centre. The centre is however closed, along with two schools, due to building risks announced earlier in the week.

    She said there were no notices leading up to the centre, or in local shops.

    "This total lack of notice or information has led to very low numbers now voting in the area. I am calling on the Sheriff's Office who are responsible for the election management to put up notices around the area and let voters know about the change of polling place in Tyrrelstown."

  • 15:38

    That's it from me - stick with us here for live updates throughout the evening from Dan Griffin and Niamh Towey.

  • 16:40
    Turnout was just about scraping 20 per cent in parts of Mayo by 4pm according to figures supplied by our Western Correspondent Lorna Siggins.
  • 16:54
  • 19:01

    Our reporter Olivia Kelleher is in Cork:
    As of 6pm voter turnout in Cork East was at 20 per cent, Cork North West was at 22 per cent and Cork Southwest was at 25 per cent.

    Cork County overall was at 22 per cent at that time. In the city voter turnout is at its highest in Bishopstown at 27 per cent. It is running as low as 20 per cent in some areas.

  • 19:28
  • 19:32
    That's an unofficial tally from Patrick, who's reporting live from La La Land.  
  • 19:35

    The REAL Irish Times exit poll will be published online tonight and will  give the projected results of the presidential election and the referendum on blasphemy.

    The exit poll is being conducted by Ipsos/MRBI among approximately 4,500 respondents at 160 polling stations in every constituency.

  • 20:01
  • 21:08

    From our journalist David Gorman in Co Monaghan:

    Voter turnout at the Monaghan town polling station in St Mary's national school was 33 per cent at 9pm

  • 21:46
    There's only 15 minutes left now until polls close, so this really is the last push for votes. Turnout has been low so far, so every ballot counts.
  • 21:58
  • 22:05
    Exclusive Irish Times exit poll:
    Michael D Higgins on 56 per cent
    Peter Casey on 21 per cent
    Liadh Ní Riada on 8 per cent
    Sean Gallagher on 7 per cent
    Joan Freeman on 6 per cent
    Gavin Duffy on 2 per cent

  • 22:06

    Blasphemy referendum:

    Poll predicts 69 per cent of voters have backed the proposal to remove the blasphemy provision, while 31 per cent have voted to retain it

  • 22:07
  • 22:40

    That's it for tonight folks, thanks for joining us on the live blog today. We will have all the live results on irishtimes.com tomorrow and Sunday.

    Niamh