Gilmore: We performed well in Donegal by-election

The Labour leader is denying that his party has had a poor showing in Donegal.

The latest tallies are putting Labour candidate Frank McBrearty at just 10.1%. Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty looks certain to be elected, with 39.75% of first-preference votes, according to tallies.

Eamon Gilmore said labour's performance was three times better than the party's previous level of support in Donegal

"The Labour party support has trebled which is a good performance…It lays a sound foundation for the Labour party to build on, to win a seat in the General Election," he said.