The first of the votes for Ireland's presidential election has been cast as the Donegal South-West constituency headed to the polls on Monday.
Islanders voted before the rest of the Republic to avoid bad weather hindering the return of the ballot boxes in time for counting.
In the latest poll, released before the candidates gathered for a flurry of last-minute media debates, businessman Séan Gallagher was named election frontrunner.
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Gallagher, who also stared in the Irish version of business TV-show Dragons' Den, told the BBC he was ready for the job.
“We're a great country in Ireland and we hold our heads up high with that sense of renewed confidence and vigour,” he said.
“That would be the face and that would be the voice that I will be carrying as a message from Ireland around the world.”
Among the presidential candidates are former IRA commander Martin McGuinness and former Eurovision winner Dana Rosemary.
The rest of Ireland will head to the polls on Thursday.
