Sinn Féin has emerged as the largest party in terms of first preference votes after the Irish general election, an exit poll suggests.
But the result is too close to call with just 1.5% separating the three main parties. Fine Gael are marginally behind on 21% and Fianna Fáil on 19.5%.
It leaves Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on course to return to power – but they will need the support of at least one other party.
If the exit poll proves accurate when all the votes are counted, Micheál Martin and Simon Harris will be well short of the combined 88 seats needed to have a majority in the next Dáil.
They are likely to turn to the Social Democrats and Irish Labour party in the first instance after their outgoing coalition partners in the Green Party slumped. They may also seek to do deals with individual Independents to get over the line.
The full picture will emerge when counting begins on Saturday morning to fill the 174 Dáil seats.
Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O’Neill reacted as polls closed at 10pm.
She posted on X: “A huge thank you to everyone who voted for Sinn Féin and our vision of a brighter, better future for everyone on this island.
“We are determined to deliver real change for workers, families, communities, and our future generations.”
The exit poll of around 5,018 people was based on first preference votes, with a margin of error of 1.4%.
It indicates Green Party first preference support stands at 4%; Labour at 5%; the Social Democrats at 5.8%; People Before Profit-Solidarity at 3.1%; and Independents at 12.7%, Independent Ireland 2.2% with others on 1.9%.
In the 2020 general election, Sinn Féin obtained 24.53% first preference votes. Fianna Fáil secured 22.18% while Fine Gael took 20.86%.
The first preference vote of both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is suggested by this poll to stand at 40.5% which is lower than the 43% they polled in the 2020 General Election.
The process is done in private on a mock ballet paper and gives a good indication of who is ahead in the polls.
Turnout around the country was said to be sluggish, it was 63% in 2020.
In 2020, Sinn Féin’s won 37 seats, just one behind Fianna Fáil and two ahead of Fine Gael.
The announcement of exit poll results, as polling stations close at 10pm, is one of the most eagerly awaited moments of any Irish election campaign.
The RTÉ, Irish Times, TG4, Trinity College Dublin Exit Poll was carried out by Ipsos B&A.
One of the key selling points of an exit poll, compared to a standard public opinion poll or an election study, is that it captures voters’ responses immediately after they leave the polling station, while their vote is still fresh in their minds.
Polling stations were expecting a final wave of voters before they close at 10pm.
Voting got under way this morning at 7am as more than 3.6 million people are eligible to vote across the 43 Dáil constituencies.
Turnout across the country was around 40% in several areas at 6pm this evening.
Voters will decide who will fill 173 of the 174 seats in the next Dáil, with the Ceann Comhairle returned automatically.
There are more than 680 candidates running in this election.