BREAKING: The first ballot boxes in Kilkenny are open - who's getting the votes?

The first handful of votes in the Kilkenny side of the constituency are starting to emerge (at noon).

Its very, very early but the first Kilkenny boxes to be opened are:

One of the three from Ballyragget hall

One of the three from Castlecomer primary school

One of two from Gowran NS

One at Ballyouskill Community Hall

One of two at Clough NS

One in Lisnafunchion NS

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What are the trends from this, admittedly, tiny sample?

In Ballyragget, John McGuinness FF is out-polling David Fitzgerald FG two to one. Natasha Newsome Drennan SF is hot on their heels, with about one-third of the McGuinness vote.

In Castlecomer, John McGuinness is again ahead with Newsome Drennan his closest rival (roughly 118 votes to 77 votes according to the tally)

In Gowran, it's JohnMcGuinness ahead again, but with about half his votes are both Newsome Drennan and Michael Doyle FG.

In Ballyouskill, John McGuinness has just under half of all the votes tallied.

In Clogh, David Fitzgerald is hot on the heels of John McGuinness.

In Lisnafunchion, Patricia Stephenson Soc Dem, Michael Doyle FG, David Fitzgerald FG and Peter 'Chap' Cleere FF are about even chasing John McGuinness.