Voters on Ireland’s 12 offshore islands cast early ballots

More than 2,000 people are registered to vote on islands in local and European elections

Presiding officer Hugh O’Donnell (left) and Garda officer P.J. McHugh carry the ballot box off the island of Innishfree, Co Donegal. A local home was turned into a temporary polling station where islanders Phil and Hans Schleweck from Stuttgart, Germany, cast their vote. The rest of Ireland will cast their votes on 23 May. Photograph: Paul McErlane/EPA

Thu May 22 2014 - 21:19

Voters on 12 offshore islands have already cast their ballots for the European and local elections today, just one day ahead of the rest of the State.

Residents of five islands in Donegal South-West, three in Mayo and four in Galway West were able to vote up to 9pm this evening, while those living on seven islands in the Cork South-West constituency will vote tomorrow.

A total of 2,131 people are registered to vote on the 12 islands. In Donegal, where there are five islands, 753 people are entitled to vote.