Prof Pete Shirlow, from the University of Liverpool, said council elections are different to other polls, with many factors at play and hundreds of seat up for grabs.

"Alliance has clearly done well because of the Ulster Unionist party member who commented about links to the IRA."

He pointed to young environmental campaigners in Britain, adding: "Claire Bailey has done very well in South Belfast.

"The complexion is going to be altered locally. But, overall DUP and Sinn Fein must be pretty happy."

DUP MP Gavin Robinson says it is a "good news story" for his party that Allison Bennington has been elected as a councillor.

She is the first openly gay candidate to stand for the party.

Mr Robinson said: "If you believe in our party's principles, if you stand for our values, if you are prepared to go forward and seek selection and you are selected and elected by the people - then get on and do the job."

He added: "We're not a theocracy, we're a political party."

DUP MLA Jim Wells is speaking on Evening Extra about his opposition to "changes within the DUP" after first-openly gay candidate to stand for the DUP, Alison Bennington, has been elected.

He says there are many many people who are "shocked by the decision" to let Ms Bennington run.

Ms Bennington was elected to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

"This marks a watershed change in DUP party policy and none of the members were consulted about it," he says.

However, Mr Wells says he won't be leaving the party in protest anytime soon.

"I'm staying to fight my corner in this crucial issue," he says.

"People said we need you to argue that this is the wrong decision."

Alliance leader Naomi Long tells BBC News NI: "It's not just about filling seats, it's about putting Alliance on the map."

The politician says she's happy at how her party has performed.

"There's an appetite for change in Northern Ireland," she says.

So dinner at the Donnelly household might be slightly difficult this evening...

Anne-Marie Donnelly out polled her husband in the first round, and is still holding on for a seat on the council.

However her husband Frankie, has been eliminated.

At this rate we might have to send some emergency supplies to the team....

Commentator Fionnuala O'Connor tells the BBC News NI that the Greens and the Liberal Democrats doing well in England is like Alliance and the Greens doing well in Northern Ireland.

"This was something that was coming for some time," she said.

"People said to me: How do you go about getting a vote to people you know aren't going to top the poll? Is there any point voting for the Greens?

"These were people who badly wanted to show the big parties what they thought of them. And they were mostly nationalists."

Ex-PUP councillor Julie-Ann Corr-Johnston expresses her disappointment at losing her seat.

If you're looking for more election reaction and analysis, get tuned in to BBC Two Northern Ireland where Mark Carruthers is joined by some of the runners and riders.

Alternatively, check out BBC Radio Ulster's extended political coverage with Seamas McKee, Conor Bradford and Karen Patterson.

Ita Dungan
BBC News NI

Meanwhile, at the Lisburn and Castlereagh count the Alliance Party has topped the poll in six electoral districts.

The count is halfway through, with 26 councillors elected.

The other big story is that Sinn Féin has gained its first seat in what is predominantly a unionist area.

Image source, Getty Images

The count in Omagh Leisure Centre is expected to finish up at 22:00 this evening, but with 11 seats still to be decided they'll have to get a move on!

Speaking after he secured a council seat, Kyle Black said he wanted to play a part in making Northern Ireland a "truly peaceful society".

UUP leader Robin Swann says he does not think an election leaflet that made claims about the Alliance party "was intentionally worded the way it was to cause any damage".

The leaflet was issued by two of his party's candidates - Peter Johnston and Jim Rodgers.

It claimed Alliance Party Councillors had a record of "voting with the Provisional IRA's political wing".

Mr Swann told BBC News NI: "As a party we will learn from it.

"It is a matter that has been referred to our party officers."

With a number of losses expected for the party, Mr Swann said they would "reassess that on Monday".

Peadar Tóibín, the leader of new all-island party Aontú, says that this was a "foundation election" for his party.

"We have managed to field 70 candidates north and south," he says speaking on BBC News NI's Evening Extra programme.

He says that his party has still managed to make an impact on the doorsteps.

"When I was canvassing in Mid Ulster, half the people didn't know who Aontú was," he says.

Could Mid Ulster be set to claim the crown as the fastest counting centre in Northern Ireland?

Counting is still in it's early stages down in Castlereagh.

Mary Lou McDonald says results so far portray "a clear message that the current political stalemate is unsustainable and unacceptable".

The President of Sinn Féin congratulated the first-openly gay candidate to stand for the DUP, Alison Bennington, on her election.

However she told BBC NI it was "tragic" that Ms Bennington's election would not mark a change in the party's stance over same-sex marriage.