Bookies still have three clear favourites to take seats in Offaly in General Election with voting underway

Bookmakers have three candidates as clear favourites to get elected in the Offaly constituency as voters go to the polls in the General Election today.

For the first time in the history of the state, Offaly will be a stand alone constituency with three TDs set to be returned by the electorate in the county. 

Eleven candidates are on the ballot paper today with 65,000 people in Offaly entitled to make their selections in order of their choice at polling stations all over Offaly.

With just one sitting TD on the ballot paper, at least two new TDs will be elected in Offaly when the count takes place over the weekend in Birr.

According to Paddy Power's latest odds, Fianna Fails Tony McCormack is the overwhelming favourite at 1/12 but he was priced as low as 1/14.

Sitting Independent TD Carol Nolan is second in the betting with the former Sinn Fein TD now listed at 1/6 to retain her seat in from 1/7 earlier this week.

Also odds on at 3/10 is Fine Gael's John Clendennen. 

Fianna Fail's Claire Murray is next in the betting at 5/2 followed by Sinn Fein's Aoife Masterson who's odds have shortened to 5/2 have been 11/4 earlier in the week. Former Fianna Fail and now Independent Eddie Fitzpatrick at 7/2.

Current Green Party Senator Pippa Hackett is now listed at 14/1 having been overtaken in the betting by Independent Ireland's Fergus McDonnell who's odds have been slashed from 20/1 to 10/1.

Aontu's Maureen Ward is priced at 80/1 with People Before Profit's Keishia Taylor the outsider at 100/1.

Independent Mike Boylan is still not listed on the odds on paddy Power despite being among the candidates on the ballot paper today.

Tony McCormack (Fianna Fáil) 1/12

Carol Nolan (Independent) 1/6

John Clendennen (Fina Gael) 3/10

Claire Murray (Fianna Fáil) 5/2

Aoife Masterson (Sinn Féin) 10/2

Eddie Fitzpatrick (Independent) 7/2

Fergus McDonnell (Independent Ireland) 10/1

Pippa Hackett (Green Party) 14/1

Maureen Ward (Aontú) 80/1

Keishia Taylor (People Before Profit) 100/1