LAOIS FINAL TALLY - Aird set to top poll
Time for a quick chat at the Laois count centre
FINAL tally figures show Fine Gael farmer Willie Aird from Portlaoise set to top the poll in Laois, with over 9,000 first preferences.
Sitting TDS Seán Fleming (FF) and Brian Stanley (Ind) look set to take the remaining posts in the three-seat constituency, with Fleming tallying at 7,923 and Stanley at 6,514.
While down on his poll-topping performance for Sinn Féin in 2020, Stanley is well placed to retain the seat as an Independent following his controversial departure from the party in October.
Sinn Féin's new candidate Maria McCormack is doing well on 4,712, according to the final tallies but will require huge transfers to have any hope of outrunning her former party colleague.
2.30pm: Final tally percentages Fine Gael - 24.6% Fianna Fáil - 22.5% Sinn Féin - 12.6 % Independent Republican 17.6 % Non-party 16.1% Green Party 2 % PBP-S 2 % Aontú 2.8% The final tally is based on 112 out of the 114 boxes.
The tally is missing boxes from Rathdowney and St Vincent's in Mountmellick.
A first count announcement is expected after 4pm.
