Turnout for the same sex-marriage referendum and the referendum to reduce the age eligibility for presidential candidates was higher in urban areas on Friday night, but was generally up on voting in recent referendums across the country.

In Dublin and some parts of Cork, many TDs privately said the final turnout figure could reach over 70 per cent.

Kevin Humphreys, Labour TD for Dublin South East and Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection, said turnout was high across working class and middle class areas in his constituency.

Mr Humphreys also said turnout was exceeding levels seen at the last general election in 2011.

Returning officers in Dublin said they expected turnout to inch towards 70 per cent or more in some areas.

In Dublin county, turnout in Skerries stood at 52 per cent at 6pm and was expected to reach as high as 70 per cent. In Brittas, also in Dublin, turnout was at 45 per cent in the early evening.

There was also a high turnout of those on the supplementary register, with 80 per cent of those who added themselves on the register turning out in Killester, Dublin, as of 8pm on Friday.

At 6pm, 65 per cent of those who went on the supplementary register had cast their votes by 6.30pm, with a 50 per cent turnout in the constituency at that time.

At 7pm the turnout across Cork city was above 40 per cent, and rising to 50 per cent in Cork South Central.

Turnout across Galway city was also up on its usual referendum standards and stood at about 35 per cent in the early evening.

Rural areas in east Galway were not as busy, standing at 20 per cent at the same time.

In Mayo, the turnout at 8pm in Castlebar was 46 per cent, 47 per cent in Claremorris, 50 per cent in Westport and 40 per cent in Ballina.

In Limerick city, turnout at 5pm was around 35 per cent and almost 40 per cent in Limerick count at the same time.

In Donegal town the turnout at tea time was 30 per cent, with 28 per cent turning out in Letterkenny at the same time.

Cavan Monaghan also reported an early evening turnout at about 30 per cent, which rose to 35 per cent in towns such as Ballyjamesduff, where there is a Dublin commuter population.

Officials in Tipperary reported turnout at 40 per cent between 5pm and 6pm, a figure they expected to rise substantially before polls closed.

In Laois, the early evening turnout in both rural areas and in towns hovered around 30 per cent.

In Kilkenny city - where voting is also taking place for a byelection - the turnout in some areas was 54 per cent at 7pm.

In Kerry, turnout was also described as brisk and stood at around 30 per cent at 5pm, which was higher than previous referendums.

Turnout across Wexford was at the same levels around teatime, but activity at polling stations was up on other referendums.