Sitting President Michael D Higgins is set for a landslide in the Clare constituency where he has strong family links.
At the count centre in Clare more than half of the boxes have now been opened [1pm], with tallies showing the encumbent president leading the field.
Counting is expected to get underway around 2.30pm, with a first count result expected a few hours later.
Given his strong Clare links, it’s no surprise that sitting president Michael D Higgins is polling very strongly 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.
At the count centre in Clare at the Auburn Lodge Hotel in Ennis, tallies are sketchy, but some boxes seen by Clare FM show 50 to 70 per cent support for Michael D Higgins.
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 performance of Sinn Féin’s Líada Ní Ríada is another talking point at the count 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.
Meanwhile sorting of votes continues with the count proper set to get started in the next couple of hours.
