Donnelly struggling, Gerry Hutch performing well in Dublin Central

Counting is underway across the country in the general election, and you can follow live updates here throughout the day.

• Sinn Fein held 21.1 per cent of first-preference votes, narrowly ahead of current coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail at 21 per cent and 19.5 per cent respectively, according to the Ipsos B&A Exit Poll commissioned by RTÉ, The Irish Times, TG4 and Trinity College Dublin.
• It puts the two largest parties in the current coalition, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, on a combined 40.5 per cent.
• Counting started at 9am and could last days due to Ireland’s complex system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV), where candidates are ranked by preference.

11.42am

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch is performing well in early ballots in the Dublin Central constituency, and is currently in fifth place.

Mary Lou McDonald 19%
Paschal Donohoe 17%
Gary Gannon 13%
Gerry Hutch 9%
Mary Fitzpatrick 7%
Marie Sherlock 7%
Neasa…