Joan Burton feeling ‘upbeat and optimistic’ over Labour Party prospects

Tánaiste Joan Burton has said she is feeling “upbeat and optimistic” about her party’s prospect in the general election.

Ms Burton cast her vote at St Joseph's School for Deaf Boys on the Navan Road, Dublin 7, on Friday morning.

She was met by a large group of students who greeted her as she entered the hall.

Ms Burton said: “It’s great to live in a democracy where you have the freedom of exercise your vote. It is the 100th anniversary of 1916, and it is appropriate in this anniversary year that as many people as possible should come out and vote.”

She continued: “The weather is turning very nice and springlike here in Dublin on the Navan Road, and hopefully it will be like that tomorrow at the count centre.”

Ms Burton said she had done a very good canvass earlier in the morning and felt “upbeat and optimistic”.

Among the students who met the Tánaiste were Johnny O'Toole from Lettermullen, Connemara, and Ronan McDonagh, from Lettermore, Connemara. Both are boarding at the school.

The two 15-year-old students said they were studying politics and were very interested in meeting Ms Burton.

Although a TD for Dublin West, Ms Burton lives just inside Dublin Central. Her party's candidate for that constituency, Joe Costello, met her at the school. Another leading politician from Dublin Central, Mary Lou McDonald, voted there earlier on Friday.