Almost 2,600 residents on the islands off the Irish coast will be entitled to vote in the general election, with some casting their ballots two days earlier than the rest of the country.
The Department of the Environment today published the polling dates for the outlying islands, including the Aran Islands off Galway and islands off Donegal and Cork.
Some 760 residents of the Donegal islands in the constituency of Donegal South-West are entitled to vote. They will go to the polls on Wednesday February 23rd, two days before the rest of the country on February 25th.
The islands included are Arranmore, Gola, Inishboffin, Inishfree and Tory Island. Inishfree has just nine residents entitled to vote, while Arranmore has the largest number at 523.
The Mayo constituency islands of Clare Island, Inishbiggle and Inishturk will also go to the polls on February 23rd. In total, 194 residents of the three islands are registered to vote.
Weather permitting, the Aran Islands, including Inishmore, Inishmaan, Inisheer and Inishboffin will vote a day later on February 24th. Some 1,155 residents are entitled to vote there.
In Cork South-West, residents will vote on Friday, February 25th – the same day as the rest of the State.
Just nine residents are on the electoral register on Dursey Island. The other islands in the constituency are Bear Island, Clare Island, Hare Island, Whiddy Island, Long Island, Schull and Sherkin. In total, 466 residents of the Cork islands are entitled to go to the polls.
Today’s figures do not include anyone who registered on the supplementary electoral register.