It's still early in the day but the tallies rolling in from 39 constituencies are showing some striking trends.
Sinn Féin is on course to pick up seats in parts of the country where it has never held them before.
It is likely to make unexpected gains in Tipperary, Galway West, Clare and Wexford.
In Mayo, where there has never been a TD from this Sinn Féin party, Rose Conway Walsh is on course to be elected after the final tally put her at 22.6%.
Her victory could be at the expense of Fianna Fáil's Lisa Chambers or the Fine Gael seat previously held by Enda Kenny now being contested by former footballer Alan Dillon.
Across the country there are some big political names fighting for their political lives.
Tallies in Meath East show outgoing Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty is in danger of losing her seat.
With 90% of boxes tallied in Dublin Rathdown, outgoing Minister for Transport Shane Ross is on 8% of the vote, meaning he is far from safe.
In Kerry, outgoing Fianna Fáil TD John Brassil has conceded, saying barring a miracle he has lost his Dáil seat.
The party's candidate strategy is also coming in to focus in Roscommon-Galway where it ran two candidates and could now lose a seat.
Attention is already turning to the intricate and difficult task of forming the next government..
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said his party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, has started to engage with other party leaders as there is an onus now to bring about change.
Fine Gael's Richard Bruton has said the formation of a government will be difficult and it will be very much like the last time with parties trying to hammer out an arrangement.
He said Fine Gael will look to form a government if they emerge as the largest party.
Fianna Fáil Secretary General Sean Dorgan said they’re fighting hard to be the largest party numerically.
He said Fianna Fáil is disappointed with its sluggish vote in Dublin where its hopes of seat gains are now looking difficult.
