Updated: 22.00

Polling has closed in the vote on the Eighth Amendment referendum.

Turnout has slowed after an initial rush earlier.

There was an initial strong vote this morning as people hit the ballot boxes in large numbers.

But that has slowed this evening.

Many areas have reported higher than usual turnout overall - with some eclipsing the figures seen during the same-sex marriage referendum in 2015.

There are also reports of a higher than usual turnout among young people and those on the supplementary register.

Some turnout predictions were as high as 70% in urban areas in Wicklow and parts of Kildare, and 68.2% in Kill.

Parts of Kildare South reported turnout as high as 78%.

A polling station in south Dublin | Image: Jack Quann

Earlier, Donegal town reported a 32% turnout

Counties like Laois, Westmeath and Offaly in the Midlands are consistently showing between 24% and 26% turnout.

In more rural counties Tipperary has seen a high of 20% turnout in Carrick on Suir and a low of 10% in Roscrea.

Roscommon and Leitrim also  reported high turnouts.

Athlone reported at around 60%, with Roscommon on 51%.

Edgesworthstown in Co Longford saw a groom and his groomsmen arrive to vote early this morning before the wedding.

Turnout there has been predicted at around 48%.

Two exit polls are being released once polling has closed.

They will give the first real indication of which side has won this referendum.

The President and the Taoiseach cast their votes earlier in the #8thref pic.twitter.com/x3z3afnT3V

— Sean Defoe (@SeanDefoe) May 25, 2018