Fianna Fáil has leading share of Meath vote, according to early tallies

Early tallies at the Meath count centre in Navan indicate a good day ahead for the Independents and for Sinn Féin who say they are expecting to pick up at least six seats across the county.

A total of 91 out of 238 boxes have been counted so far and tallies have attributed 26 per cent of the vote to Fianna Fáil with Fine Gael at 20.65 per cent and Sinn Fein polling at 18.47 per cent.

Independent candidates, according to the tallies, have 25.5 per cent of the vote with Labour taking just under 6 per cent of the share to date this morning.

Tallies indicate that Labour, which had four seats in the last council, may suffer two casualties this time around.

Everything will depend on transfers. Fine Gael is polling well in the rural areas of Kells and Trim but seem to have taken a hammering in Navan.

Sources indicate the party could lose three seats overall in the county.

Fianna Fáil also seems to be back in the fray. There are 84 candidates competing for 40 seats in six wards throughout the county.

Turnout is expected to be about 50 per cent.