'Looking good for Connolly' - Kilkenny MEP at Carlow Kilkenny election count

It's very early in the day here at the Carlow Kilkenny presidential election count, but already things are looking good for Catherine Connolly.

That's the prediction of  Kilkenny MEP Kathleen Funchion. The Sinn Féin MEP for Ireland South is here at the county centre as part of a cross-party tally team that is observing as all the ballot boxes are opened.

MEP Funchion said it is early in the day, there are a lot of boxes still to be opened and the tally team will not be able to produce a full tally, but signs are good.

Addressing the issue of spoiled votes, the MEP pointed out that there will always be a  number of spoiled votes in any election, but said what she has observed personally is that in the boxes that have a high vote for Connolly there are less soiled votes. She thinks this could be an indication of an anti-government, protest 'vote.'

With boxes still only being opened there is a long day to go before any result emerge in Carlow Kilkenny.