Tipperary by-election takes place today

The electorate in south Tipperary will go to the polls later today to elect a replacement for Fine Gael deputy Teresa Ahern, who died last September.

Polling stations open at 9am and will remain open until 10pm.

Four candidates are vying for the vacant seat: Fine Gael's Tom Hayes, who has topped the opinion polls, Fianna Fail's Michael Maguire, Labour's Denis Landey and Unemployment Action Group member Phil Prendergast.

This by-election is the first to be held on a weekend in the history of the State.

This was arranged to enable as many people as possible to turn out and vote.

However, turnout is expected to be low, especially with Tipperary facing Limerick in the Munster hurling final tomorrow.

In the last by-election 12 months ago, just 54% of the 54,000-strong electorate cast their votes and this time, that figure could be lower.