FF braces for heavy losses as count begins

COUNTING in the elections gets under way today with Fianna Fáil bracing itself for heavy losses and Fine Gael set to overtake it as the largest party at local government level.

Voting in the local and European elections and two Dáil by-elections closed at 10pm last night, with turnout varying widely throughout the country.

Queues were reported in Bundoran, Co Donegal, at lunchtime as voters waited to cast their ballot, with estimates last night suggesting the turnout there could exceed 75%.