Mr Pat Rabbitte was tonight elected leader of the Labour Party by an overwhelming majority.
The Dublin South West TD gained over 45 per cent of the first preference vote with the party's current deputy leader Mr Brendan Howlin in second place on around 30 per cent.
Earlier, Mr Howlin conceded defeat, saying the party had spoken and he would offer his services to the new leadership.
Mr Rabbitte put his likely victory down to "a mood for change among the rank-and-file" across the country.
The other candidates Mr Eamon Gilmore and Ms Roisin Shorthall gained 18 per cent and 7 per cent of the votes respectively after the first round.
The race for deputy looks like a three-way battle between Mr Willie Penrose, Ms Liz McManus and Ms Joan Burton. Mr Penrose is understood to be marginally ahead but onlookers said it was too close to call.
Counting of votes in the election commenced this afternoon with the final result expected later this evening.
More than 3,000 of the 3,800 party members entitled to vote are known to have cast their ballots. The count will be observed by independent auditors at the party's headquarters in Dublin's Ely Place.
The one-member, one-vote election marks the first time the leadership of one of the three main parties has been chosen directly by the ordinary members, and not by TDs, senators and MEPs.
The election arises out of current leader Mr Ruairí Quinn's decision not to seek a second term in the position.