Michael D Higgins looks set to be re-elected as President of Ireland.
Exit polls following yesterday's election suggest the incumbent will be elected on the first count today.
Mr. Higgins might make a bit of history, by being elected President by the largest margin in Irish history.
Eamon De Valera won 56.3% of the vote in 1959, and two exit polls put Mr Higgins on between 56 and 58%, meaning he'll comfortably return to Áras an Uachtarain when the votes are counted today.
The polls have closed & we want to thank everyone for all your help. We don't know the outcome yet, but we do know we could not have run this campaign without you. Thank you. #MichaelDforPresident #Aras18 pic.twitter.com/9jFQvuRivF
— Michael D Higgins (@MichaelDHiggins) October 26, 2018
The big surprise in the exit poll figures is businessman Peter Casey coming second with 21% of the vote.
His comments that travellers shouldn't be given ethnic status angered many, but clearly appealed to a significant amount of the electorate.
Sinn Féin's Liadh Ni Riada put in a disappointing performance for the party - and is likely to get between 7 and 8%.
Seán Gallagher got half a million votes in 2011 but won't get near that this time around.
He's tracking to get between 5.5 and 7%.
The exit polls see Pieta House founder Joan Freeman getting around 6%, with Gavin Duffy finishing last on just 2%.
Counting gets underway in Citywest #aras18 #blasref pic.twitter.com/bhZTKqQ472
— Karin Carthy (@KarinCarthy) October 27, 2018
The polls also suggest the blasphemy referendum will be comfortably passed - with around 7 in 10 people voting yes.
Ballot boxes around the country will be opened at 9am when counting officially begins.
