Counting in the local elections in Kildare resumes this morning after a flurry of late night results brought the total of councillors elected to 15. Two of the eight electoral areas, Clane and Maynooth, have now filled their five seats each while Celbridge has just one of its four left to decide. Seven-seater Naas had two of its councillors elected when counting was suspended for the night at 1am.

Sunday 11am – Government parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have dropped from 12 seats to nine after a marathon local election count in the Landmark Hotel Carrick-On-Shannon that did not finish until 5.50 am. The turnout was 65%. But the balance of power could be delicate if the Independents and Sinn Fein were to combine as both groups would have nine each in the new council chamber.