A first count is expected shortly at the Clare Constituency count centre in Ennis.
Initial tallies showed encumbent president Michael D Higgins taking between 40 and 70 percent of first preference votes across this county.
Given his strong Clare links, there’s no surprise at the performance of sitting president Michael D Higgins in the Banner county.
The encumbent president who attended both primary and secondary school in Clare looks set to be re-elected with the largest ever margin of victory for a President.
He’s on target for a history-making victory, according to Senator Martin Conway, who’s Fine Gael party backed Michael D.
Fianna Fáil who also supported Michael D Higgins, have welcomed his anticipated re-election.
Clare’s Dep Timmy Dooley has, however, played down the suggesting that the strong showing by businessman Peter Casey, represents the rise of a populist wave in Irish politics.
He feels that backing Peter Casey was a safe way for people to register a protest vote.
The peformance of Sinn Féin’s Liada Ni Riada is another talking point at the county centre in Clare, as it is nationally.
One of the party’s two General Election candidates in Clare Mike McKee put it down to a lack of profile for MEPs.
