Smith and Lee will be neck-and-neck for pole position in Roscrea and Templemore

Sitting Roscrea based Councillors, Fianna Fáil's Michael Smith and Lowry Team member, Shane Lee, appear set for a neck-and-neck race to claim the title of poll topper in the Roscrea and Templemore Local Election Area.

As tallies come to a close Michael Smith has 1,898 (31.1%) votes against Shane Lee's 1,707 (27.9%), with both Roscrea men swopping pole position throughout the morning's count.

If the tallies are correct Templemore's Eddie Moran, also a member of the Lowry Team of Independents and Fine Gael's Willie Kennedy from Templetuohy look set to claim the remaining two seats.

So far 24 of the 33 boxes for the area have been tallied and it is too early yet to predict the necessary quota to cross the finish line.

In neighbouring Thurles LEA, Independent sitting Councillor Jim Ryan is in the lead in tallies and closely followed by Micheál Lowry, with a widening gulf opening for third place with Fianna Fáil's Sean Ryan.

Meanwhile in Nenagh Independent, Joe Hannigan is enjoying a comfortable lead in the tallies and is followed by Lowry Team member, Michael O'Meara.