Brisk turnout reported in elections and referendum

Polls in the local and European elections have closed with reports suggesting a combination of fine weather and the number of issues has drawn a higher-than-expected turnout.

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern voting this morning at the Church of Ireland National School in Drumcondra, Dublin.

After fourteen hours of voting it is expected that the percentage of people voting will exceed the 51.08 per cent who voted in the last local and European elections in 1999. Polls closed at 9 p.m.

Sorting and counting of the votes begins tomorrow. Counting of the local government and referendum votes will start at 9 a.m.

Preliminary indications of results in the local elections are expected tomorrow afternoon. A result in the referendum should be known by teatime.

The European Parliament count begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday with a result expected that evening.

In Dublin city polling stations such as Ringsend and Sandymount a turnout of close to 50 per cent has been reported. Contributing to the higher-than-expected turnout are reports of strong polling in areas such as Ballyfermot/Cherry Orchard which traditionally have low turnouts.

Strong polling was reported across the eastern region with polling stations in Navan reporting a turnout of 55 per cent. This trend was replicated in Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford.

Despite the polls opening earlier that usual this year, at 7 a.m., many polling stations reported the usual rush of voters during the last hour.

Votes were cast in three separate polls in the European and local elections, as well as the referendum on Irish citizenship.

In Cork city and council the turnout looks certain to exceed the 56 per cent who voted in the same elections five years ago. In Cork city a turnout of 60 per cent and higher has been reported while in Cork county between 70 and 80 per cent turnout has been recorded.

The turnout was somewhat lower in Limerick city and county with average turnout expected to be between 55 per cent and 60 per cent.

In parts of Galway an estimated 40 per cent of people in the Galway city and county area had voted by the early evening with the final turnout expected to be close to 60 per cent.

Returning officers attributed a "brisk day of polling to the early opening of the polling stations and the fine weather".

More than three million people were eligible to vote in the election of 13 members of the European Parliament in four constituencies and 1,627 councillors in 114 local authorities.

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern voting this morning at the Church of Ireland National School in Drumcondra, Dublin.

Voters were also deciding whether they approve of amending the Constitution on the granting of automatic Irish citizenship to all children born to non-national parents on the island of Ireland.