THE MID WEST: Two Michael Noonans were voting in the booths in Co Limerick yesterday.
One, the leader of Fine Gael, who cast his vote at St Paul's National School in Dooradoyle, Limerick, is hoping for a second seat for the party in Limerick East.
The other, the former Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick West, who voted at Meanus, near Bruff, will be hoping that his party will regain a second seat in that constituency. The joint director of elections for Fianna Fáil there, he was confident the poll would exceed 75 per cent.
Ms Anne Marsh, a presiding officer, said the poll as at about 25 per cent in most booths by mid-afternoon. Newcastle West, the centre of the western part of the constituency had a 12 per cent turnout by midday.
All of the booths were quiet, she added, with party supporters expected to turn up during the evening.
In Limerick East, voting was at about 15 per cent by 1 p.m. and was hovering at the 23 per cent mark by mid-afternoon.
The returning officer, Mr Patrick Meghen, said there had been a large turnout in the city's suburban areas early in the morning. Many early morning workers took advantage of the 7.30 a.m. opening of booths.
"The early voting has been a hit," he said.
At the Boherbuoy Band Centre in the city centre, the presiding officer, Mr Nessan O'Donoghue, said there was a 27 per cent turnout by 3 p.m.
Nearby, at St Michael's School, the voting was somewhat slower with the first vote registered at 7.50 a.m. Mr Pat Moynihan, the presiding officer, said the proportion of the electorate who had voted by 3.30pm was 18 per cent.
"It will be better than at the referendum. There are more young people coming in," he said.
One of the voters there, Father Frank O'Neill SJ, expressed the wish that the "right people get in and listen to our needs and care for us".
In Tipperary North, presiding officers were confident that a turnout similar to the 1997 election would be achieved.
In Nenagh there was a 28 per cent turnout by 4 p.m. and nearby, in Ballina village, it was over 30 per cent.
Thurles had a 25 per cent turnout by 4 p.m.
In Clare, voting was running at around 40 per cent by 6.30 p.m. Electoral officers were also confident that a 70 per cent turnout would be achieved by 10.30 p.m.