Islanders to vote in election today

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

A total of 775 voters will go to the polls first on the largest island of Aranmore, and later on Tory, Gola, Inishboffin and Inishfree.

Most of the ballot boxes will be brought out to the islands this morning, but Tory Island will receive its boxes courtesy of an Aer Corps helicopter.

The Galway and Mayo islands will vote tomorrow, while those off the coast of Cork will vote with the rest of the country on Friday.