Voters go to polls for 'Super Friday'

The nation goes to the polls today – dubbed “Super Friday” – to elect two TDs, 12 MEPs and 1,627 councillors.

The results could have far-reaching implications for local and central government as well as for Irish influence in the European Parliament.

However Taoiseach Brian Cowen insisted that an expected backlash against Fianna Fáil will not destabilise the Government, which he said will run its full five-year term.

There will be two ballot boxes in all polling stations except for Dublin Central and Dublin South, where there will be an extra one for the by-elections.

Fine Gael’s candidate in Dublin South, former RTÉ economics editor George Lee, is the front-runner to replace veteran TD Seamus Brennan in the Dáil ahead of Labour’s Senator Alex White.

Dublin Central is less clear-cut, with several candidates in with a shout including Councillor Maurice Ahern, of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael’s Senator Paschal Donohoe and Christy Burke of Sinn Féin.

A total of 44 candidates, including 11 outgoing MEPs, are competing for 12 European Parliament seats across the country.

Fianna Fáil is running eight candidates compared with Fine Gael’s seven; Labour four, Sinn Féin five, Libertas three, the Green Party two and the Socialist Party one. There are also 14 Independent candidates.

Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell is expected to top the poll in Dublin followed by Proinsias de Rossa but the final seat could be a battle between Fianna Fáil’s Eoin Ryan and Mary Lou McDonald, of Sinn Féin. Green Party Senator Deirdre de Burca and Patricia McKenna are also likely to poll well.

In Ireland East, Mairead McGuinness may comfortably hold her seat as well as outgoing Fianna Fáil MEP Liam Alyward. Fine Gael’s Senator John Paul Phelan and Nessa Childers, of Labour, will be vying for the final slot.

Veteran vote-getter Brian Crowley, of Fianna Fáil, is expected to top the poll in Ireland South followed by former GAA president Sean Kelly for Fine Gael.

Independent MEP Kathy Sinnott and Fine Gael MEP Colm Burke face uphill battles to retain their seats in the face of stiff competition from Labour Senator Alan Kelly.

The media spotlight will be on Libertas chairman Declan Ganley in Ireland North West. where Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins is expected to come first followed by former MEP Pat “The Cope” Gallagher. Independent MEP Marian Harkin will need significant transfers to hold on to her seat in the face of strong polling by other candidates from Sinn Féin and Labour.

In the local elections, a total of 1,627 councillors will be elected to 114 local authorities.

Hundreds of people such as soldiers or diplomats serving abroad will use postal votes as well as many people with disabilities or residents of nursing homes.

Voters may be asked for ID at polling stations such as a passport, a driving licence or work ID.

Posters and canvassing will be banned from within 50 metres of the entrance to the polling stations.

When the polls close, the ballot boxes will be secured and taken to designated local counting centres.

Returning officers will open boxes at 9am on Saturday and begin sorting the votes.

Counting of the local election and by-election votes will begin immediately, while the European Parliament counting starts at 9am on Sunday.