Ahern takes one third of vote in own constituency

With a fifth of the boxes opened in Bertie Ahern’s four seat Dublin Central constituency, the Taoiseach was polling around 31.5% of the vote, with Labour TD Joe Costello sitting on 14.9%, veteran independent TD Tony Gregory on 14.1% and Fine Gael’s Pascal Donohoe was running on 9.5%.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald had attracted 8.2% with ballot boxes in some party strongholds still to be opened, while the Green Party’s Patricia McKenna on 6.7%.

In Opposition Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny’s Mayo constituency in the west of Ireland his personal vote was proving very strong as his party targeted three seats in the five seat constituency.

Early tallies from another Sinn Féin target constituency in Donegal South West suggested rising star Pearse Doherty may not make a breakthrough for the party.