Boxes are being opened across the country, as the counting of votes in the Presidential Election gets underway.
Listen to Newstalk's live coverage and commentary throughout the day.
Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys or potentially Jim Gavin will be Ireland's next president.
Those votes will be sorted into bundles before a first count gets underway.
Tallies should give an idea by mid-morning whether there is indeed a clear win for independent Catherine Connolly.
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However, a first count result won't come until around six or seven this evening.
From boxes already open this morning, there is a significant number of spoiled votes, which could delay first count results, as they have to be sorted and adjudicated on before a result can be confirmed.
The spoiled ballots have a series of different motivations and slogans - many have written Maria Steen's name, while 'Enoch Burke for President' has also been recurrent vote.
Spoiled ballot papers (Votes) which are starting to be counted at the RDS in Dublin. Photo: Leah Farrell/© RollingNews.ieSome say 'traitors', some are anti migration, and some commenting on the alleged sexual assault of a child last week.
In some early boxes, the number of spoiled votes is significantly higher than the vote for Heather Humphreys.
Other spoiled votes were less serious - including votes for Brad Pitt and Dustin the Turkey.
Main image: A ballot box is emptied as counting begins at the Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare, in Ireland's presidential election. Image: Alamy / Niall Carson. October 25, 2025.
