With 50 per cent of boxes opened, Aindrias Moynihan (FF) was leading the poll with 1,704 votes this morning in Blarney Macroom.

Des O'Grady (SF) was in 2nd place with 991 votes, with Damien Boylan (FG) in third on 909 votes.

Tallies were reportedly not as well organised as in other areas of the county.

In Ballincollig/Carrigaline, Co Cork, with boxes opened on the western side of the constituency, Seamus McGrath (FF) was polling strongly on close to 19 per cent, with Donnchadh O'Laoghaire (SF) on 17.28 per cent. Deirdre Forde (FG) was coming in third on 9.85 per cent.

Sitting councillor Derry Canty (FG) was polling poorly on 1.91 per cent.

The breakdown so far was FG — 25.14%; FF — 27.61%; Labour — 2.84%; SF — 20.33%; Independent — 20.11%; GP — 2.69%.

In Cobh, with 61 per cent of boxes opened and 44 per cent of boxes tallied, the parties were at FG — 27%; FF — 26.8%; Labour — 8.5%; SF — 25.1%; Independent — 12.6%.

In Cork East, as of 10am, none of the sitting candidates in the constituency appeared to be on under pressure.

Boxes opened in the northern side of the constituency suggest Councillors Michael Hegarty, Noel Collins, Barbara Murray and Michelle Hennessy would retain their seats.

The fifth and six seats were likely to go to FF or FG candidates.