Live updates below - Early tallies show McEntee lead

With around 36 boxes opened in the Meath East by-election, Helen McEntee of Fine Gael is leading the tally counts, with around 37 per cent of the counted vote.

Thomas Byrne of Fianna Fail is estimated to be around 32 per cent, Sinn Fein's Darren O'Rourke on 13 per cent, with Labour in trouble at just under 5 per cent for Eoin Holmes.

Doing very well is Ben Gilroy of Direct Democracy Ireland, with some tallies showing him at around eight per cent.

Green Party is two per cent. The majority of the boxes are from the south Meath, with some north Meath.