(JJ Hurley)
The Polling Stations in and around Kinsale are reporting a stronger turnout in the rural areas, as the figures suggested a 60% plus of voters in those stations.
Riverstick at 7.30pm had an impressive number of voters having made their mark, claiming 62% from that area using their franchise.
The polling station had seen something of an early rush in the morning, and the afternoon had produced a lull before the traditional evening rush had pushed the figures to what was a respectable showing.
Belgooly NS, which possibly is a bell weather polling station for the constituency, with a large rural and urban community had figures that were somewhat behind the votes cast by its neighbours in Riverstick, with figures between the two boxes in Belgooly ranging from 50% to 58%.
Deirdre Wren, Kieran Wren and Colm Sheehan having cast their vote in Belgooly Polling Station tonight.
The officers at the station at Summercove NS were certainly kept on their toes, not alone with the 56.2% turnout but also a power cut in the area may have deterred late voters.
The polling station itself was not effected as it remained open for business, but some late voters may have decided not to venture out, as a result of the power outage.
The voters making their way to the Temperance Hall in Kinsale had only reached 46% at 8pm, an improvement on the local election figure of 30% but still not anywhere near the rural figures.
Indeed, the figure from Kinsale rural again matched that of other rural areas, but it also included some of the new estates on the outskirts of the town including Kinsale Manor and Abbey Fort, as voters exercising their vote reached 60% in those boxes.
Again, similar trends as in other polling stations, the tea time rush had seen brisk voting.
Dunderrow NS housing the polling station, with its predominantly rural voter, had a respectable 61% turnout as it approached 9pm.
With it expected to attract a few stragglers before 10pm, it was likely to finish north of that figure.
It is difficult to judge how this vote will effect the outcome of the election. It seems it will benefit the rural based candidates, at least that would be the interpretation, but that is only guess work.
Polling Officers Mary Maloney and Emma O' Brien on duty at Riverstick Polling Station tonight
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