Voters living on the five islands off the coast of Donegal will go to the polls today to vote in the presidential election.

DANGLING half way down a mountain from a nylon rope like some agitated spider is probably not the best place to wonder if the sport of climbing is for you.

FERRIES and a helicopter carried ballot papers to the first of 2,600 island residents voting in the general election. Islanders in Donegal South-West and Mayo voted two days ahead of tomorrow’s mainland poll.

An elderly woman despondent about the state of the country has returned to the island she lived on for 56 years to cast her vote.

More than 950 voters on islands off Donegal and Mayo go to the polls this morning as the election campaign enters its last two days.

More than 750 residents on Donegal's off-shore islands will cast their votes today in the Donegal South West by-election.

Islanders off the north west coast of Ireland became the first people to vote on the Lisbon Treaty today, with the most remote said to be on the verge of rejecting it.

The key players in the Lisbon treaty referendum were preparing last-minute pleas to voters today, ahead of a 24-hour broadcasting black-out.

Some 12 offshore islands vote today in the local and European elections.

Islanders living off the Co Donegal coast will be the first to cast the votes in the general election this morning.