Ned O’Keeffe topping Cork East poll

Early tallies for the Cork East constituency showed Ned O’Keeffe of Fianna Fáil topping the poll.

The bookies’ favourite was sitting on 37.5% of the vote shortly before 10am.

However, these boxes were from the northern end of the Cork East constituency, which is O’Keeffe’s stronghold.

In second place was Fine Gael’s Paul Bradford who was polling well at 25%, while Labour’s Seán Sherlock had 18% of votes.

Junior Minister Michael Ahern was on 10% — a figure which was to expected to be boosted when boxes from the eastern end of the constituency were opened.

David Stanton (FG), John Mulvihill (Labour), Sarah Iremonger (Greens) and Sandra McClellan (Sinn Féin) had barely begun to register but, again, their votes were expected to be boosted when counting started at the eastern side of the constituency.

Overall, early tallies for Cork East showed Fianna Fáil on 42.68%.

Turnout varied throughout Cork East, with the overall figure expected to be around 62%.

In places like Cobh, turnout was as low as the mid 50s according to early figures.

This morning, Opposition parties arrived at Mallow Youth Centre deflated by the results of an early morning exit poll.

The Morning Ireland/Lansdowne Poll, which surveyed 3,200 people, showed Fianna Fáil at 41%, Fine Gael at 26% and Labour at just 10%.

The poll put Fianna Fáil in a strong position to form the next government.

Cork East Fine Gael candidate David Stanton said: “We will be relying on transfers which are going to be hugely important in this election.”

However, Labour candidate John Mulvihill was more downbeat by the poll result: “It’s very disappointing for the Labour Party and it looks like we could lose our seat in Cork East.”

Fianna Fáil Junior Minister Michael Ahern was overjoyed by the poll, and said: “It’s a beautiful morning, the sun is shining and the poll is excellent news for Fianna Fáil.”

Official counters were barricaded into the centre of the transformed basketball court at Mallow Youth Centre, but on the outside, looking in, members from the various parties stood on chairs to gain a view of the count.

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo newspaper.