Exit polls suggest Higgins comfortably re-elected as President

Counting under way in Ireland for new President.

Two exit polls have predicted that Michael D Higgins has been re-elected to the ceremonial post of President of Ireland with well over half of the vote.

The polls by the Irish Times and RTE were released after voting closed at 10pm, and matches predictions that the dimunitive academic and poet would easily win another seven years at Aras an Uachatarain.

The exit polls also suggest that former Dragons Den celebrity Peter Casey has come from bottom of the polls to second place with about 21% of the vote, largely as a result of publicity he received after making bigoted comments against Ireland's gypsy-like Travelling community.

In third place was Sinn Fein candidate Liadh Ni Riada, whose vote was roughly half the party achieved with Martin McGuinness seven years ago. 

The full results of the Irish Times exit poll are as follows:

Michael D Higgins - 56%

 Peter Casey - 21%

 Liadh Ni Riada - 8%

 Sean Gallagher - 7%

 Joan Freeman - 6%

 Gavin Duffy - 2%

 The full results of the RTE exit poll are as follows:

 Michael D Higgins - 58%

 Peter Casey - 21%

 Liadh Ni Riada - 7%

 Joan Freeman - 6%

 Sean Gallagher - 6%

 Gavin Duffy - 2%