Counting of votes in Presidential Election 2025 gets under way in Limerick and nationwide

COUNTING is under way in Limerick and around the country in the Presidential Election.

Boxes were opened at the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare this Saturday morning at 9am.

It comes after 282 ballot boxes were transported from polling stations across Limerick City and County overnight.

Security has been tight at the venue, with a garda presence overnight. The area of the hotel containing the ballot boxes was sealed.

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There are three names on the ballot paper: Independent TD Catherine Connolly, former Fine Gael minister Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin, who was Fianna Fail's candidate.

Mr Gavin suspended his campaign and withdrew from the race earlier this month - however, with the voting papers finalised, it was too late to remove him from the contest.

It means people will still would have been able to vote for the former Dublin football manager should they have wished.

No exit poll was published on Friday following the end of voting. However, opinion polling up to election day itself had Ms Connolly on a commanding lead over her rivals.

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

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.

Stay with www.limericklive.ie to find out how Limerick voted in the 2025 Presidential Election.