Early tallies in the Galway West bye-election are showing strong showings from Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne, the city’s mayor Mike Cubbard and Labour’s Helen Ogbu.
Tallies are unofficial figures compiled by observers at count centres.
A tally on a quarter of the ballot boxes in Galway West puts Mr Kyne in first place, with 18% of first preferences.
He is followed in second place by Ms Ogbu and Noel Thomas of Independent Ireland, both on 15%.
Mr Cubbard is now on 11%.
A co-ordinated, cross-party tally is being carried out, with participation from a number of independent candidates and several political parties.
Turnout is running at 39% on boxes tallied so far.
Boxes from rural areas across Conamara, as well as those from the west side of Galway city, Oranmore and Baile Chláir will be opened as the morning progresses.
The bye-election will decide who replaces Catherine Connolly, who vacated her seat automatically upon being elected the 10th President of Ireland last November.
Follow live updates on the Galway West and Dublin Central bye-elections
The full list of Galway West candidates is:
Néill Bairéad (Independent)
AJ Cahill (The Irish People)
Mike Cubbard (Independent)
Patrick Feeney (Independent)
Sheila Garrity (Independent)
Cillian Keane (Fianna Fáil)
Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
Mark Lohan (Sinn Féin)
Niall Murphy (Green Party)
Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich (Social Democrats)
Orla Nugent (Aontú)
Helen Ogbu (The Labour Party)
John O’Leary (Independent)
Denman Rooke (People Before Profit)
Michael Ryan (Independent)
Noel Thomas (Independent Ireland)
Thomas Welby (Independent)