Pick up in voter numbers across constituency

Polls remaining open until 10pm tonight. ** Follow our live election blog from the count centre in Ballyhaise tomorrow.

Voting across much of Cavan and Monaghan got off to a slow start on Friday morning, particularly in rural areas, though turnout rose steadily as the morning progressed.

In Virginia town, for instance, just a single vote had been cast in one booth shortly before 9 a.m., reflecting a broader pattern seen across both counties. By 11 a.m., however, numbers had increased noticeably, with turnout in Virginia rising to over 9%.

At Bruskey, the two booths reported turnouts of 7.3% and 5.1% respectively by 11:30 a.m.—still modest, but higher than earlier figures.

In Cavan town, 141 votes had been cast across ten booths at St. Clare’s National School by late morning, and in the Belturbet area No. 2, 32 votes had been cast by the same time.

At St. Clare’s in Ballyjamesduff, 42 votes had been recorded by 9 a.m.—around 2% of the electorate across five booths. That figure had more than trebled by 11 a.m.

In Monaghan, Clones Urban reported a 2% turnout across five booths by 9 a.m., rising to 8.5% by 11 a.m.

At Scoil Rois, turnout was also up significantly by 11am: Ballymackney (8.54%), Carrickmacross Rural (10.23%), Carrickmacross Urban (12%), and Lough Fea (12.7%).

At St Louis Girls NS in Carrickmacross, turnout across four boxes ranged between 8-10.8%.

Meanwhile, in Castleblayney, turnout stood at 3% across eight booths earlier in the day, increasing to 9% by midday.

Counting for the Cavan–Monaghan constituency will take place at Ballyhaise Agricultural College on Saturday, with Joseph Smith acting as Returning Officer.