Mixed news for Fianna Fáil in local elections

Counting of votes in the local elections is continuing across the country this morning.

The ballot boxes opened at 9am and turnout could surpass the 59% seen in the last local and European elections five years ago.

Early tallies from a number of count centres around the country show a mixed result for Fianna Fáil.

The party vote has collapsed in Drogheda North where it's expected the two town council seats will be lost with Labour performing well in early tallies.

The Fianna Fáil vote is holding up well in Kells.

In Cork City the Labour vote is up and the party is expected to take a second seat in one of the city wards for the first time ever. The Fianna Fáil vote is suffering in Cork city - Fine Gael is up but not by as much as expected.

In one of six electoral areas in Castlebar with 40% of the boxes open the Fine Gael vote is on 36%, FF 26% Sinn Féin 7% and Independents 26%.

Over 1,600 councillors will be elected this weekend to over a hundred local councils.