Presiding officer Hugh ODonnell (left) and Garda officer P.J. McHugh carry the ballot box off the island of Innishfree, Co Donegal. A local home was turned into a temporary polling station where islanders Phil and Hans Schleweck from Stuttgart, Germany, cast their vote. The rest of Ireland will cast their votes on 23 May. Photograph: Paul McErlane\/EPA <\/p>\n
Sgt Val Murray assists Carmel McBride, presiding officer for Inishbofin, off Co Donegal, with the ballot box as Islanders go to the polls a day earlier in the local and European elections. Photograph: Brian Lawless\/PA Wire <\/p>\n
Presiding officer Hugh ODonnell (left) and Garda officer P.J. McHugh carry the ballot box to the island of Innishfree, Co Donegal. Photograph: Paul McErlane\/EPA <\/p>\n
Voters on 12 offshore islands have already cast their ballots for the European and local elections today, just one day ahead of the rest of the State. <\/p>\n
Residents of five islands in Donegal South-West, three in Mayo and four in Galway West were able to vote up to 9pm this evening, while those living on seven islands in the Cork South-West constituency will vote tomorrow. <\/p>\n
A total of 2,131 people are registered to vote on the 12 islands. In Donegal, where there are five islands, 753 people are entitled to vote. <\/p>\n
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Voters on Irelands 12 offshore islands cast early ballots<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Presiding officer Hugh ODonnell (left) and Garda officer P.J. McHugh carry the ballot box off the island of Innishfree, Co Donegal Continue reading