DAY 1
17:22: Turnout numbers at Bansha and St. Michael's remain low at 37% and 35% respectively.
17:04: In Waterford, election fever may have gotten to the head of one particular individual...
Someone is driving around Waterford blaring ‘Come out you Black and Tans’...
— Michelle Byrne (@Michelle_Byrne_) February 8, 2020
16:57: Our Jess is reporting a 39.7% turnout at Olygate polling station in Wexford as of 16:35.
16:43: Meanwhile, our very own Rob O'Connor is having some election-themed CoderDojo craic in Dunmore East!
Election update! Kermit the Frog topped the poll and Animal was elected on the third count. That concludes the #DunmoreEast #CoderDojo #GE20 #GE2020. Bunsen did surprisingly well for Mé Féin but he couldn’t stop the #GreenWave pic.twitter.com/olEJh1613F
— Rob O'Connor (@curlybert) February 8, 2020
16:35: Here's our Tipperary round-up from Aoife...
16:30: A reminder that polling stations are open until 10pm tonight!
16:25: Latest turnout figure at presentation NS Carrick On Suir after 4pm 42%.
16:03: Meanwhile in Tipp, voters have their say on the change of day.
15:40: St.Mary’s NS Clonmel: Average at 3pm, 38%.
15:30: As of 2:30 pm, St. Canice's National School in Kilkenny had a reported turnout of 42% - the highest reported in the region so far.
15:20: Reports suggest that a polling station at Kildavin, Co. Carlow has been relocated to a local pub due to a power outage.
OFF TO THE PUB: The polling station at Kildavin National School in Carlow is without electricity since this morning due to a power outage. It's understood the polling station, which has 1 booth, is being relocated to Conway's pub, also the village @rtenews #GeneralElection2020 pic.twitter.com/XQ4zcv3KnD
— Ciaran Mullooly (@ciaranmullooly) February 8, 2020
15:10: Farronshoneen in Waterford city is reporting a 40%+ turnout.
15:00: Latest reports from our Beat Reporters in Co. Carlow show a 28% turnout in Bagenalstown, and 36% in Ballinkillen, while there has been a 29% turnout in Paulstown in Kilkenny.
14:19: MEP Luke Ming Flanagan is asking the hard-hitting questions in Roscommon!
Has anyone got a more interesting polling station name? #GE2020
Saint Paul's Ass Hall. pic.twitter.com/WyLihJHeha— Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (@lukeming) February 8, 2020
14:15: Meanwhile, in Kerry...
Two people were removed from a polling station in Kerry this morning after they attempted to take photograps of votes being cast. Gardai were called to the Kilgarvan Polling station at around 7.30am this morning. Taking photographs or selfies or vocally supporting individuals inside polling stations is strictly forbidden.
13:50: We're hearing reports of a 40% turnout at St. John of Gods in Waterford City.
13:30: RTÉ reports a strong turnout of 23% in Clonmel, Co. Tipp as of lunchtime.
13:26: Turnout now stands at 33% in Portlaw; the highest figure we have to hand in the South East so far.
13:25: In Waterford, an estimated 25.5% of voters have turned up to vote at Farronshoneen, similar numbers of 26% are coming in from Ballybeg.
13:20: Polling in Carlow is somewhat lower, with just 16% of the electorate casting their votes at St Laurence O'Toole's so far.
13:15: Ian Power of Spunout.ie offers some voting top tips.
12:58: Wexford turnout is an estimated 25% as of lunchtime. Gorey turnout is particularly solid at 26%. For reference, the overall turnout for GE2016 in Wexford stood at 65.9%.
12:55: Some solid voting advice from Virgin Media's Gavin Reilly.
Someone just asked me the ‘whether you should go the whole way down the ballot’ question or whether to stop halfway. This was my response - might be useful for anyone else facing the same quandary today #ge2020 pic.twitter.com/wRyhh6SfKp
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) February 8, 2020
12:40: Turnout at Holy Cross National School Tramore is coming in at 19%. The supervisor residing officer commented on the number that came out early, putting some early votes down to travelling to the Rugby match.
12:35: We asked voters in Wexford why it's so important to make your voice heard in this general election...
12:18: Turnout at Paulstown Kilkenny now stands at 18%.
12:09: Carlow turnout at Ballinkillen and Bagenalstown stands at 12% and 15% respectively
11:00: Michael D and Sabina have cast their votes!
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina Coyne vote in the Irish General Election at St Mary's Hospital in Phoenix Park, Dublin.#GE2020 pic.twitter.com/vBW2Bdzd1i
— Aisling Ennis (@aislingrosennis) February 8, 2020
10:30: Strong early polling figures: Are voters casting their votes before the weather takes a turn for the worse?
Kilkenny: There was a queue of people waiting outside the polling station at St Canice's Hall in Kilkenny city when it opened this morning. Officials say up to 8% of the electorate had voted at that central Kilkenny polling station by 9 am, with a similar situation reported at St. John of God's school in the city.
Waterford: Turnout was also higher than expected for Waterford city so far this morning. Early morning figures stood at 6% at St Mary's NS in Ballygunner and 6.1% in Farronshoneen Community Centre.
Tipp: Rathcabbin National School is at 4% and Kilruane NS is at 5% as of 9 am. There's a strong turnout on the shores of Lough Derg this morning. Terryglass at 10.4%. Nenagh CBS Primary turnout at 7%.
Carlow: Turnout was reported at 6% at urban polling stations in Gorey and New Ross in Co Wexford. In Carlow town, turnout was reported at 7% at St Laurence O'Toole's.
Wexford: Turnout is an estimated 6% at polling stations in Gorey and New Ross.
