Mountmellick man vying to return second town councillor to Laois County Council
Fine Gael General Election hopeful also polling well
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael could be shaping up for a square-off for a seat in the biggest electoral area geographically in the Laois.
Second-time candidate Paddy Buggy of Fine Gael looks set to be in a race with near 40-year councillor Seamus McDonald.
While the incumbent Fianna Fáil man is polling well in the Rosenallis area, Mr Buggy has also attracted a lot of votes in Mountmellick base while he is also scoring number twos in the town behind Cllr Paddy Bracken, the incumbent, Fianna Fail councillor in Mountmellick.
While Cllr Bracken looks likely to secure his seat, there is potential for his transfers to benefit Buggy more than McDonald. In the Fianna Fáil man's favour is that there are five candidates in the field with votes transferring back to him as the count proceeds.
Elsewhere in the constituency outgoing Fine Gael councillor is Conor Bergin. A good showing would go a long way to enhancing his chances of being named his party's candidate in the next General Election as Charlie Flanagan is standing down in Laois.
Independents are once again performing well in the constituency with Cllr Ollie Clooney and Cllr James Kelly looking odds on to be returned to County Hall for five more years.
Another man looking likely to be returned to the council is Cllr John King of Fine Gael who once again has secured big showing where it matters most for him in the Rathdowney Errill area.
Sinn Féin don't look likely to make gains in the district where they have run two candidates and it could be another disappointing showing for Fianna Fáil which has run five candidates in the district.
There are 15 candidates in the field. Votes will be counted in the Kea Lew Business Park after being sorted from the European CBS / Scoil Chriost Ri sports hall in Portlaoise.