Decision time as Offaly goes to the polls

Offaly goes to the polls today (Friday) as the general election 2024 campaign comes to a climax.

Voters will attend one of the 111 polling stations across the county from 7am to 10pm to cast their ballot.

There are eleven candidates before the electorate, with three TDs to be elected in the new constituency. It's the first time the county is a standalone constituency, with the link with Laois severed.

Carol Nolan is the sole outgoing Offaly TD to contest the election, with the election of Barry Cowen as an MEP for Midlands/North West.

Voters are reminded to bring a valid form of ID to the polling station. It is not necessary to bring your polling information card in order to vote, but it can be helpful to have it with you.

Acceptable forms of identity include, but are not limited to, a passport, driving licence, an employee identity card containing a photograph, a student identity card issued by an educational institution and containing a photograph and a Public Services Card.

The election count will take place at St Brendan's Community School in Birr on Saturday, beginning at 9am.

It is speculated that a first count may be forthcoming by late evening on Saturday. And whether the count continues on Sunday or not, it's expected the likely destination of the three seats will become clearer on Saturday evening.

Tallies are likely to be completed in the early afternoon, giving an indication of the voting patterns.

The eleven candidates in the order they appear on the ballot paper are:

Mike Boylan, Independent; John Clendennen, Fine Gael; Eddie Fitzpatrick, Independent; Pippa Hackett, Green Party/Comhaontas Glas; Aoife Masterson, Sinn Féin; Tony McCormack, Fianna Fáil; Fergus McDonnell, Independent Ireland; Claire Murray, Fianna Fáil; Carol Nolan, Independent; Keishia Taylor, People Before Profit – Solidarity; Maureen Ward, Aontú.

We will have live updates from the count centre throughout the weekend on offalyindependent.ie