Polling healthy as dry weather continues

TURNOUT:DRY WEATHER in most parts of the country along with two byelections in Dublin helped to produce a healthy turnout for yesterday's voting. Patterns showed an earlier high turnout in rural areas, while in city and urban areas, many commuters waited to return from work before voting.

More than three million people were entitled to vote in the elections for the European Parliament and the country’s 34 county and city councils. People also voted in the Dublin South and Dublin Central byelections and in 75 borough and town council elections.

Polling stations opened at 7am yesterday and remained open until 10pm. Among the first to the ballot box was President Mary McAleese, who cast her vote with her husband Martin at St Mary’s Hospital in the Phoenix Park.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen voted in Mucklagh National School near his home in Offaly – where turnout was estimated at about 60 per cent when the polls closed – while Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny cast his ballot in Castlebar.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore voted in Shankill in the Dún Laoghaire constituency, while John Gormley of the Greens cast his ballot in Ringsend in Dublin South East.

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhín Ó Caoláin voted at St Patrick’s Hall in Monaghan Town.

In Dublin, 53.5 per cent had voted in Cabra by 9pm. Turnout in the north inner city was below average, at 19 per cent, however Scoil Caomhín in Marlborough Street had recorded a turnout of 30 per cent by 8pm last night.

In the Fingal County Council area, the polling centre at Balbriggan NS recorded a turnout of 40 per cent by 8pm.

At St Mary’s Girl’s National School in Lucan, south Dublin, 57-58 per cent of voters voted by close of poll.

At St Brigid’s School, Cornelscourt in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area, saw a turnout of over 43 per cent by late evening.

Voting in Cork city and county was steady, with some stations hitting 50 per cent by 7pm.

In Beaumont in the largely middle-class South East ward of Cork city, polling reached 51 per cent by 7pm. In Turners Cross in the more working class South Central Ward, turnout went to 33 per cent by 7pm.

In Blackpool in the North Central Ward, turnout was running at 45 per cent by 7pm. Clonakilty in west Cork reported a high turnout of about 50 per cent by 7pm, with large numbers of immigrants voting.

In Co Tipperary, a turnout of 67 per cent was recorded in the Christian Brothers school polling station in Thurles.

In Sligo, a turnout of 63 per cent was recorded at Cranmore Community Centre.

The Roundwood polling station in Co Wicklow saw 64 per cent of its potential voters casting their vote by 10pm, while in Wexford town the Christian Brothers school polling station recorded a turnout of 48 per cent.