Candidates in the Irish presidential election have started casting their votes at polling stations across the country.
Outgoing President Michael D Higgins attended the polling station in St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin, along with his wife Sabina.
Mr Higgins is running again for the highest office in the state, along with five other candidates.
The Londonderry-born businessman arrived at the polling station at Greencastle National School with his wife Helen at 9.20am.
Irish Presidential candidate Peter Casey has cast his vote at Greencastle National School in Co Donegal pic.twitter.com/kCWIDBid7J
— Rebecca Black (@RBlackPA) October 26, 2018
He chuckled when a local man asked him: “Peter, who are you going to vote for?”
Sean Gallagher attended a polling station in Greystones, Co Wicklow, with his wife Trish at 8.30am.
Gavin Duffy has also voted in Julianstown, Co Meath.
They also include Senator Joan Freeman and Sinn Fein MEP Liadh Ni Riada.
Polling stations opened at 7am and will remain open until 10pm to give people the opportunity to cast their ballot.
More than 3.2 million people are entitled to vote in 40 constituencies.
This is closely followed by Tipperary with some 110,000, and Wexford with more than 108,000.
In Dublin, more than 560,000 people are eligible to cast their ballot in the capital’s 11 constituencies.
The constituency with the smallest electorate is Dublin Central with 40,000 voters.
Most islanders have already had their say as voting got under way on 12 islands off the coast of counties Donegal, Mayo and Galway on Thursday, a day ahead of the rest of the country.
Some 2,601 islanders are eligible to vote in this year’s election.
Douglas Hyde became Ireland’s first president in 1938.
Four presidents have served for two terms, or 14 years in total. They were Sean T O’Kelly, Eamon de Valera, Patrick Hillery and Mary McAleese.
The Irish Government has appealed for people to use their vote but turnout is not expected to be as strong as it was for the abortion referendum earlier this year.
Count staff will begin sorting and collating the ballot papers at centres across the country from 9am on Saturday.
A result is expected by Saturday evening, or by early Sunday at the latest.
