Fine Gael privately accept 'it's all over' bar the counting - as ballot boxes opened in presidential election

"An expected upswing after tea-time was less pronounced than this time seven years ago, despite a day of "extremely sluggish" voting - meaning that far fewer than half the nation's eligible adults will have cast a ballot. Senior Fine Gael figures had spoken of an evening "twitch", whereby disenchanted Middle Ireland would have nonetheless felt the need to do their civic duty, as they have always done."

"The feeling was that these older, more rural and conservative voters would have pulled back ground for the "Government candidate", as Ms Humphreys was dubbed. But instead, there was evidence of young people turning out in their droves in the afternoon and evening, with all polls indicating that Independent candidate Ms Connolly completely dominated the 18 to 34 cohort. Moreover, early voting was not impressive, despite polls opening at 7am."

Turnout was lower than expected after tea-time and less pronounced than seven years earlier, following a day of "extremely sluggish" voting that means far fewer than half the nation's eligible adults will have cast a ballot. Senior Fine Gael figures anticipated an evening "twitch" from disenchanted Middle Ireland that would restore support for the "Government candidate", Ms Humphreys. That shift did not materialize. Instead, young people turned out strongly in the afternoon and evening, with polls showing Independent candidate Ms Connolly dominating the 18 to 34 cohort. Early voting was weak despite polls opening at 7am and was widely down on 2018.

Read at Irish Independent