First set of tallies reveal early lead in Limerick City for Willie O'Dea

THE FIRST set of tallies are in for Limerick City, and are showing a lead for veteran Fianna Fail TD Willie O'Dea.

An army of tallymen and tallywomen have been hard at work examining the first preference votes of candidates as they are sorted.

The tallies taken from 30 boxes across the north and west of Limerick City reveal that Mr O'Dea is currently ahead with 20% of the vote.

LIVE BLOG: General Election results from Limerick

In second place is Fine Gael's Kieran O'Donnell on 14%, then Sinn Fein's Maurice Quinlivan at 12%.

Senator Maria Byrne, Fine Gael, is on 8%, while Fianna Fail's Dee Ryan, Social Democrats Cllr Elisa O'Donovan are locked on 7% apiece.

Both former Chamber boss Ms Ryan and Mr O'Donnell will be happy enough with the early showing, given boxes in their power base on the East of the city have yet to be opened.

Tally data should always be taken with a pinch of salt, with small changes to the actual first preference vote likely.

First preference vote/tallies with 40 boxes open in Limerick City:

1) Willie O'Dea (FF) - 2,565 (20%)

2) Kieran O'Donnell (FG) - 1,754 (14%)

3) Maurice Quinlivan (SF) - 1,473 (8%)

4) Senator Maria Byrne (FG) - 1,048 (8%)

5) Dee Ryan (FF) - 875 (7%)

6) Cllr Elisa O'Donovan (SD) - 869 (7%)

7) Cllr Conor Sheehan (Lab) - 794 (6%)

8) Cllr Frankie Daly (IND) - 655 (5%)

9) Brian Leddin (GP) - 639 (5%)

10) Cllr Sarah Beasley (AON) - 567 (4%)

11) Senator Paul Gavan (SF) - 327 (3%)

12) Dean Quinn (IP) - 291 (2%)

13) Esther Aherne (II) - 263 (2%)

14) - Ruairi Fahy (PBP) - 171 (1%)

15) Michelle Hayes (IND) - 157 (1%)

16) Melanie Cleary (IND) - 138 (1%)

17) Dean Lillis (IND) - 25 (0%)