Laois local election counting finally underway in all three Laois districts
Portlaoise Municipal District counting last to begin
The start of counting of votes in the Portlaoise Municipal District in the Laois County Council elections confirms that counting is finally underway in all three of the Laois electoral areas.
The counting of votes by candidate in the big Portlaoise area started just before lunchtime on Sunday not long after the votes were sorted by candidate.
It followed the start of counting of votes by candidates on Sunday morning in the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District after sorting was completed.
Counting of votes by candidate in the Borris in Ossory municipal district commenced soon after 11 am on Sunday when the count resumed after being adjourned overnight. Votes in that district were sorted in the early hours of Sunday morning.
It will likely be the Borris Mountmellick area where the first county will be declared. Fine Gael candidate Conor Bergin leads the way in that district.
Parties are not expecting a result until about 4 pm.
A total of 47 candidates are in the Laois County Council election field with 19 seats up for grabs. There are seven seats on offer in Portlaoise and six in each of the other two districts.
Counting is taking place in Portlaoise at the Kea Lew Business Park.