Voting closes in Limerick and across the country in race for Áras an Uachtaráin

VOTING in the Presidential Election has concluded in Limerick and across the country, with polling stations closing at 10pm.

Three names were on the ballot paper: Independent Galway TD Catherine Connolly, former Fine Gael minister Heather Humphreys, and ex-Dublin football manager Jim Gavin, who was flying the flag for Fianna Fail.

Although Mr Gavin suspended his campaign and left the race earlier this month, it was too late to change the ballot paper, so people were still able to vote for him, should they have wished - and these votes will be valid.

There was no exit poll published following the closure of polls across Ireland. However, various opinion polls have consistently pointed to a healthy lead for Ms Connolly in the race to become Ireland's 10th President.

Turnout hit the 50% mark at some boxes in Limerick in the final hours of polling.

As of 9.30pm, two of the three booths at Ballybrown had turnouts of 50%, while one in John F Kennedy Memorial School at Ennis Road on the city's northside saw more than half the eligible voters have their say.

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In Patrickswell, turnout was up to 46% just before the closure of polls.

Our Lady of Lourdes at Childers Road saw a 37% turnout, while it was 33% in the Dooradoyle library.

Some 43% of those eligible have had their say in Caherdavin Girls National School.

In the city centre, there was a turnout of 31% at St Michael's National School in Barrington Street.

Other turnouts across Limerick, as reported by RTE at 8.30pm, were as follows:

Herbertstown 43%
Adare 40%
Ballylanders 39%
Bruff 38%
Patrickswell 37%
Templeglantine 36%
Abbeyfeale 33%
Murroe 31%
Gaelscoil, Raheen 30%
Corpus Christi, Moyross 22.2%

Counting in the contest to become the 10th President of Ireland will get under way at 9am tomorrow, Saturday morning.

In Limerick, this will be at the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare.

Boxes from polling places from all four corners of the county are now in the process of being transported to the venue.

The area of the hotel where the count takes place will be sealed off, with a garda presence overnight.

Counting of votes takes place in a manner reflective of the current Dail constituencies of Limerick City and Limerick County.

A total of 151,331 people were eligible to vote in Limerick - 75,979 in the city and 73,352 in the county, according to figures released this week by the Electoral Commission.

Unlike other counts, voting in the Presidential election is limited to Irish citizens.

Returning officers in Limerick and across the country will sort through the first preference votes.

This information is sent to Dublin Castle, where it will be checked by Presidential returning officer Barry Ryan.

After submission of all first count results, he will then calculate the quota for election. Then he’ll decide on the next steps regarding elimination of a candidate and the distribution of transfers.

When he declares the national result on the first count, he will then instruct local returning officers to move on to exclude candidates, or move to a second count.

It’s anticipated that the first preference results for Limerick and other constituencies across the country will be published 10 minutes after Mr Ryan makes his first declaration.

Given the fact there are just three candidates on the ballot, a winner will likely be declared after count number two. In the event of one candidate exceeding 50% of the vote, there will be no need for a second count. A result is expected Saturday evening.