Islanders have their say a little earlier

Seven west coast islands cast their votes in the Nice Treaty referendum yesterday, following the first voting on five Donegal islands on Wednesday.

The Galway West returning officer, Mr Sean Ó Domhnaill, said it was too early to give turnout figures on the three Aran islands of Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Oírr, while Inishbofin also voted off Galway. However, there were unofficial estimates that the turnout was about 40 per cent, several percentage points higher than in the last referendum.

The total electorate on the Galway islands is 1,218, while the electorate on the Mayo islands is 209. There are 775 votes on the five Donegal islands of Arranmore, Gola, Inishbofin, Inishfree and Tory.

In Mayo, polling booths were set up on Clare island, Inishbiggle and Inishturk.

The seven Cork islands will cast their votes tomorrow. The total electorate on Bear, Clear, Dursey, Hare, Whiddy, Long and Sherkin islands is 451.