Polls close in Meath and Kildare North byelections

Polling stations in the Kildare North and Meath by-elections have closed and ballot boxes are being collected ahead of counting starting at 9am tomorrow.

The turnout was boosted by a late rush to the polling stations as commuters returned home. In Meath turnout was reported to be over 40 per cent. Voting was slightly slower in Kildare North and the average turnout there was estimated at between 32 and 35 per cent.

Approximately 40 per cent of those registered to vote cast their ballots in Navan, 50 per cent in Kells. According to returning to returning officers some polling stations, like the Kilbeg school in Kells and Newtown in Slane saw a turnout of 70 per cent.

In Trim turnout was close to 40 per cent. However, returning officers in Meath feared the overall turnout may remain low due to the slow start to polling. In Ashbourne, Co Meath polling was said to be the slowest experienced in 30 years.

In Kildare North the highest turnout available reported in Clane, which saw a 35 per cent turnout. According to returning officers in both counties turnout increased sharply after 7pm following the return of a large number of commuters from Dublin.

Counting for the Meath vote will begin at 9am tomorrow at Simonstown Gaels GAA club in Navan. The Kildare vote will be counted from 9am at Sallins GAA Club. A result in both constituencies should be available by late afternoon, barring any recounts. Tallys should be available by lunchtime.

Voters will decide who will fill the seats vacated by former minister for finance Charlie McCreevy in Kildare and by former taoiseach John Bruton in Meath. Mr McCreevy was appointed EU commissioner for the internal market; Mr Bruton was appointed EU ambassador to Washington.

Seven candidates run in Meath and eight in Kildare North. In Meath, the candidates are Sirena Campbell (Progressive Democrats), Shane Cassells (Fianna Fáil), Dominic Hannigan (Labour), Shane McEntee (Fine Gael), Fergal O'Byrne (Green Party), Liam Ó Gogáin (non-party) and Joe Reilly (Sinn Féin).

The candidates running in Kildare North are Aine Brady (Fianna Fáil), Paddy MacNamara (Labour), Catherine Murphy (non-party), Seanán Ó Coistin (non-party), JJ Power (Green Party), Darren Scully (Fine Gael), Kate Walsh (Progressive Democrats) and Gerry Browne (non-party).

Major issues in the byelection include transport problems and commuting, childcare and the proposed route of the M3 motorway between Clonee and Kells in Meath.

The Government will be watching the results closely - no Government party has won a byelection in more than 20 years.