Neck and Neck and Neck
What a battle it’s turning out to be. And a slow one. By this time four years ago, the first constituency in the State, Galway East, had already declared its first count – done at about 3.30pm.
We are an hour later than that and still no sign of a first count.
We are also getting indications from the tallies that the order of the first three parties may be reversed from last night’s exist polls with indications that Fianna Fáil will finish first, Fine Gael second and Sinn Féin third. That said, they were close last night and they are still very close.
I was talking to Pat Leahy last night just after our exit poll was published and he said his sense was the Fianna Fáil vote was perhaps a little understated – and he was right.
It’s an intriguing battle. All of the parties will lose a few seats but all will make gains with Fianna Fáil poised to be the biggest party in terms of seats, but not too far ahead of Sinn Féin and Fine Gael.
The other big stories. Despite getting close to 4 per cent the Greens could end up losing all their 12 seats, almost a worse calamity than 2011.
The Social Democrats has done really well and Labour also look like they will make some gains.
And then there is the story that will become a headline not just here but abroad ... the possible election of Gerard Hutch to Dáil Éireann.
Social Democrats ‘want to go into Government’ subject to policy guarantees
Carl O’Brien writes: The Social Democrats want to go into Government if the party can secure commitments on key policy areas, the party’s childcare spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore TD said.
The party, which hopes to secure at least 10 seats – up from six in the last election – may have a crucial role to play in Government formation talks.
“We have been really clear from the get-go: we want to go into Government, but we’re not going to go in just to make up the numbers,” Ms Whitmore said.
“If we go in, it is to make real change and achieve real change.”
The party has “five non-negotiables” which it would bring into any Government formation talks.
They include 50,000 affordable homes; a public childcare system; the roll-out of Sláintecare; a minister for disabilities; delivering on climate change commitments.
“We want to make sure we can deliver,” she said.
Ms Whitmore looks set to be reelected with a larger personal vote in Wicklow and is set to take third seat in the four-seat Wicklow constituency, according to tallies.
Meath West: First count
Sinn Féin’s Johnny Guirke has topped the poll in Meath West with 8,604 votes, less than 1,000 short of the quota of 9,427. The second placed candidate is Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín who has 7,563. Fianna Fáil Aisling Dempsey is at 6,535 votes ahead of Linda Murray from Fine Gael who is at 6,164 votes. There will be a battle for the third seat between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael with the transfers of Independent Noel French, who got nearly 4,000 votes, and Ronan Moore of the Social Democrats who received 2,542 votes.
Fianna Fáil could make three, or four, seat gain in Dublin, says Darragh O’Brien
Martin Wall writes: Arriving at the Fingal East count he indicated he would like to continue in the housing portfolio.
“This is the start of really significant chapter of Fianna Fáil in Dublin
In Dublin in particular we are doing well. We will retain what we have and possible gain another three or four additional seat.”
“We worked very hard over the last four and a half years to make our country better.”
“If fortunate to be part of next Government, I will serve in whatever capacity I am asked to serve in.”
“We are making progress in housing. We have a lot more work to do in housing and I would love to be part of that. But that is above my station.”
Dún Laoghaire first count
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has been elected on the first count in Dún Laoghaire with 11,685 votes.
She narrowly exceeded the quota of 11.134.
Cormac Devlin of Fianna Fáil is in second place (8,831 votes) with Fine Gael’s second candidate Barry Ward lying third with 8,337. People Before Profit’s leader Richard Boyd-Barrett has 6,795 votes and looks poised to take one of the four seats.
As of now the Green Party’s Ossian Smyth with 4,297 votes looks like he will lose his seat unless he gathers transfers strongly from other candidates and stays ahead of other candidates of the centre-left. That looks unlikely.
A gain for Fine Gael looks likeliest here.
Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill have arrived at the RDS
Details of first count in Meath West
Conor Gallagher writes: The first count in Meath West has been completed with no candidates reaching the quota and six being eliminated.
Sinn Féin TD Johnny Guirke remains in poll position with 8,604 first preference votes followed closely by Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín on 7,563.
Both men look all but certain to retain their seats in the three-seat constituency.
Fianna Fáil councillor Aisling Dempsey (6,535) and Fine Gael councillor Linda Nelson Murray (6,164) are in a battle for the final seat.
Former Fine Gael turned independent councillor Noel French in fifth on 3,969, followed by Ronan Moore of the Social Democrats on 2,542.
Half the field were eliminated on the first count and their second preferences will now be distributed. They include Seamus McMenamin (Green Party), Ben Gilroy (Liberty Republic) and Sandy Gallagher (Labour).
Just under 58 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot. There were 230 spoiled votes.
Latest news from Sligo-Leitrim
Incumbent Sligo-Leitrim Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan believes his party will form the next Government with Fianna Fáil but left the door open for them to coalesce with any of Labour, the Social Democrats or Independents.
After scraping into the Dáil on the 15th Sligo-Leitrim count in 2020, Mr Feighan expects swifter election this time out. The final tally put him leading the pack at 15.8 per cent, although the formal result of the first count is still some hours away.
“It’s a great honour to be elected TD for Sligo-Leitrim-south Donegal,” Mr Feighan said at the count centre.
“It’s too early to comment but it looks like it may be a good election for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and the numbers will dictate what Government,” he said.
“I think the two main parties are there. After that I don’t know will it be Labour or Soc Dems or Independents. That will be a matter for people higher up in my party.”
Incumbent Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny is well-placed to return to the Dáil, as is former Fianna Fáil TD Eamon Scanlon.
“I’ll be hopeful that if things fall right for me that I will be able to hang in,” Mr Scanlon said. “I think we’re holding up,” he said of Fianna Fáil’s performance.
Independent Ireland candidate Michael Clarke is in contention for the fourth and final seat. But Sinn Féin believes a strong showing in Sligo for Chris MacManus gives it a chance of winning a second seat.
Controversial Senator John McGahon unlikely to win a seat in Louth
Jade Wilson writes: Louth is now 100 per cent tallied.
Topping the poll is incumbent Ruairí Ó Murchú (SF) at 13.52 per cent, followed by local councillor Joanna Byrne (SF): 13.03 per cent. Then Labour’s Ged Nash, who is at 12.02 per cent followed by Erin McGreehan (FF): 8.97 per cent, Paula Butterly (FG) at 8.83 per cent, and ‘local celebrity’ candidate, Alison Comyn (FF) at 7.78 per cent.
On these figures it looks unlikely that John McGahon, on 6.21 per cent, will become a TD.
Sinn Féin will first reach out to the left, says McDonald
Jennifer Bray writes: Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said her “first port of call” when the votes are counted will be to reach out to parties on the left.
Speaking in the RDS, McDonald said she felt her party had performed “very well” in the 2024 general election.
“The first thing I want to say is to acknowledge every single person right across this state who came out to vote for Sinn Féin. You have given us, again, a powerful and strong mandate and we understand the trust you have placed in us to make life better for you and we are determined to do just that. This has been an incredible performance by all of our candidates.
“Over a short number of weeks we have achieved a result that many people a few weeks ago would have thought was impossible, so thank you, thank you to everyone who voted for us. I said in the course of the campaign that I believed another five years of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is bad news for our society, our communities, for families who are struggling, for our housing crisis and nobody should forget the record homeless number we saw on election day itself.
“We are now at a really important decision point for Irish society and politics, and we need change. We intend, when the votes are counted, and when we know the lie of the land, that we will be talking to people about Government.”
McDonald said she felt her party had done “very very well.”
“We have now confirmed that we have broken the political mould in this state. Two party politics is gone, it has been consigned to the dust bin of history. The question now arises for us, what do we do with that?”
“The counts are still under way. We know we are in play in a number of constituencies: five, six, maybe seven. Other parties of the left similarly have secured a mandate. My first port of call will be with those parties.”
Patrick O’Donovan elected on the first count in Limerick County
From David Raleigh: The Fine Gael Minister for Higher Education has been elected on the first count in Limerick county. He won 11,563 votes, some 200 votes above the quota of 11,385.
It is likely that the two other seats in the three-seater will be filled by the incumbents, Niall Collins of Fianna Fáil (9,284) and Richard O’Donoghue of Independent Alliance (10,540).
The next nearest candidate is Joanne Collins from Sinn Féin on 6,006.
Catherine Martin gives reaction to the Green Party performance
Our colleague Jack White recorded Catherine Martin as she arrived at the count centre. She says that she is “very disappointed” with the party’s performance and says her sense it is the old story of the smaller party in Government suffering. She said the party has really delivered this time. She maintained that Roderic O’Gorman and Ossian Smyth remained in contention for the last seats in “very tight” contests. She also said she was still in a battle in Dublin Rathdown.
Jack Chambers arrives at count centre for Dublin West
Sorcha Pollak writes: Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers, who is on track to top the poll in the Dublin West constituency, says he expects his party to “exceed 40 seats” in the general election. Speaking ahead of the first official count, the outgoing Minister for Finance and Fianna Fáil director of elections said it was “clear” his party would exceed the exit poll.
“We’re in strong position for gains in many parts of the country, and obviously we have to wait the final counts and the general counting over the next 24 hours,” he said.
Fianna Fáil is “in a strong position” and there is “real optimism in the party about possible gains”. Asked whether he would like to be reappointed as Minister for Finance in the next Dáil, Mr Chambers said the conversation was “not about positions” but “about the substance of policies”.
“I’m happy to play whatever role I’m asked to say if we form a Government,” he said.
Dublin Fingal East: First count
Darragh O’Brien of Fianna Fáil has topped the poll in Dublin Fingal East with 8,906 votes in the first count, some 500 votes short of the quota.
There is a gap of over 3,000 votes between him and the next three candidates: Anne Graves of Sinn Féin, Duncan Smith of Labour and Alan Farrell of Fine Gael. All three are grouped between 5,379 and 5,450. The last two seats will therefrom be determined on transfers, and sitting TD Alan Farrell will find himself in a real battle to hold on to to his seat ahead of Sinn Féin.
Laois: First count shows that former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley will retain his seat.
The new three-seat constituency will have a new TD. Veteran Fine Gael councillor Willie Aird is to be elected at this first attempt at the Dáil with 9,269 votes. He was first elected as a councillor in 1979.
Sitting Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming will be comfortably elected and is sitting at 8,123 votes.
Brian Stanley, who left Sinn Féin in controversial circumstances, amassed 6,782 votes with a buffer of almost 2,000 votes over the Sinn Féin candidate, Maria McCormack, who garnered 4,914 votes.
Dublin Bay South first count: Fine Gael set to regain as Hazel Chu in uphill struggle to retain the Green Party seat
Fine Gael’s James Geoghegan has topped the poll in Dublin Bay South with 6,060 votes in the first count, almost 2,000 short of the quota of 7,957.
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik is second on 5,684 with Jim O’Callaghan of Fianna Fáil in third with 5,536. Chris Andres of Sinn Féin lies fourth with 4,875 with Fine Gael’s second candidate Emma Blain amassing 4,102 votes.
The Green Party seat looks at risk as Hazel Chu has 3,250 votes, which will make it difficult for her to retain the seat. The new Social Democrats candidate Eoin Hayes is ahead of her at 3,615 votes.
Kate O’Connell, who stood as an independent, received 1,772 votes.
Wicklow-Wexford first count: Three large parties each poised to take a seat in new constituency
Ellen O’Riordan writes: With 8,820 first preference votes, first time candidate Brian Brennan, a hotelier, has topped the poll as Fine Gael’s sole candidate in this new, three-seat constituency.
Senator Malcolm Byrne – one of two Fianna Fáil candidates here – is a close second with 8,311 votes. In third is Sinn Féin councillor and Gaelscoil teacher Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin on 7,719.
Fianna Fáil’s second candidate, Pat Kennedy, comes in a bit behind in fourth, with 5,478 votes.
The 648 votes of Independent Ireland candidate Frances Lawlor and 168 votes of independent Lise-Marie Nolan will now be distributed, as they have been eliminated.
Offaly first count: Carol Nolan tops poll in new three-seat constituency
Vivienne Clarke is in our count centre in Offaly.
Independent TD Carol Nolan has topped the poll in Offaly with 8,282 votes, a little over 1,000 short of the quota of 9,347.
Fianna Fáil’s Tony McCormack (6,349) and Fine Gael’s John Clendennen (6,580) look favourites to take the remaining two seats, even though Aoife Masterson of Sinn Féin is also in contention with 6,211 votes. Full Offaly results here.
Jennifer Bray’s take on what has happened so far
Dublin Central: First count sees Mary Lou McDonald top poll and Gerard Hutch in contention
Sarah Burns reports: The first count completed in Dublin Central, and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has topped the poll with 6,389 votes.
However, McDonald has just fallen short of the quota and did not get elected on the first count.
The other dramatic development has been the showing of Gerard Hutch who is currently lying in fourth place, some 600 votes ahead of Marie Sherlock of Labour.
She was followed by Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe with 5,493 votes, the Social Democrat’s Gary Gannon (4,353 votes), Independent Gerard Hutch (3,098 votes), Labour’s Marie Sherlock (2,465 votes), Fianna Fáil’s Mary Fitzpatrick got 2,344 vote and the Green Party’s Neasa Hourigan (1,952 votes).
Independent Malachy Steenson received 1,602 first preferences, followed by People Before Profit’s Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin at 1,471, Independent Clare Daly with 1,317 and Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan with 1,257.
Follow the count as it unfolds our Results Hub
We have a comprehensive results hub on The Irish Times website including tables from each constituency.
Barry Ward picks up 60 per cent of Carroll MacNeill’s surplus in Dún Laoghaire
Emmet Malone writes: Barry Ward has picked up about 60 per cent of Jennifer Carroll MacNeill’s 551 surplus in dun Laoghaire and is just under 2,500 off joining his running mate in the next Dáil.
Carroll MacNeill said she was pleased to see her running mate, Barry Ward, in a strong position to take a second seat for the party in a constituency where it is generally regarded as having let one slip through its fingers last time around.
“Two weeks ago we had a poll that showed me in a very, very, very, very strong position in the constituency. So we worked within our Fine Gael community to try to balance out that vote,”
Ward finishing third on the first count, initially 2,797 off the quota, she said, had shown the strategy had worked. Elsewhere, she said the party was in contention for two seats in a number of constituencies and could be in for a better day than the exit poll might have suggested but, she said, “I think the best analysis I’ve seen is, ‘there’s a long way to go’.”
Regarding her own election, said she was “really thrilled” to be elected again for the constituency and “really proud to be one of the small number of women who will be elected on first counts across the country”.
Fianna Fáil’s Cormac Devlin picked up 116 second preference from Carroll MacNeill, the only other candidate to gain in any way significantly.
Ossian Smyth picked up 23 transfers and still looks to have a huge fight on his hands to avoid being the constituency’s big loser this time around.
Michael O’Doherty (Independent) and Cathy Lynch (The Irish People) are now being eliminated on 344 and 650 votes respectively.
Micheál Martin elected on first count in Cork South Central with 14,526 votes
From Barry Roche, in Cork:
Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has romped home on the first count in Cork South Central with over 4,000 votes to spare in what is his second ever vote since he first won a Dáil seat in 1989.
Martin polled 14,742 in 2002 when he polled 26.69 of the vote and he was just 226 votes short of that total when he came in on this occasion 14,526 confirming his status as the most popular Fianna Fáil leader in Cork since Jack Lynch.
Martin’s huge surplus of 4,075 looks like propelling running mate Seamus McGrath – brother of former Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, if not over then close to quota with McGrath polling a highly credible 7794 to take second spot.
Sinn Féin’s Donnachadh Ó Laoghaire looks poised to hold his seat with 6,947 while Fine Gael are set to hold Simon Coveney’s seat most likely through Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Jerry Buttimer who leads his running mate Shane O’Callaghan by 4407 to 3364.
Aside from Martin’s storming home on the first count, the story of Cork South Central is that of Social Democrat Padraig Rice, a native of Camp in West Kerry, who looks to win the Soc Dems’ first seat in Cork City after he polled an impressive 5368.
Former Lord Mayor of Cork, Independent Mick Finn is still in with a slim chance of the last seat after he polled 3,582 – ahead of Labour’s Laura Harmon and Sinn Féin’s Michelle Cowhey Shahid, Anna Daly of Aontú, Una McCarthy of Fine Gael and Dr Monica Oikek of the Greens.
Returning Officer, Martin Harvey and his staff have begun the second count where they re-examine all Martin’s 14,526 papers to enable them to allocate his 4075 surplus to the remaining 21 candidates on a proportionate basis.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik gives her reaction saying party will gain in the election
Jennifer Bray sent us this post on X
Quote of the Day! It’s hard being a green as Kermit the Frog used to say
Gordon Deegan reports: Róisin Garvey, the Green Party candidate in Clare has said: “It is hard being a Green as Kermit the Frog used to say.”
The Deputy Leader used it to explain the poor General Election poll performance by the Green Party today.
Speaking at the count centre at Treacy’s West County hotel in Ennis after posing for photos with the extended Garvey clan, the Inagh native said: “When you are the smallest party in Government you get a kicking and we got a kicking today.”
She said: “I am not surprised. I think we were brave to go in as Coalition partners and what happened today has happened historically.”
On her own performance, Senator Garvey said that 6 per cent of the first preference vote “is pretty good for a Green in Clare”.
She said: “I am very pleased with how I have done.”
However, Senator Garvey conceded that the gap between herself and Sinn Féin candidate, Donna McGettigan was too big to make up.
She said: “I will do well on transfers but I don’t think I will do well enough. I cannot see myself passing her out.”
Mary Lou McDonald says she will first talk to other parties who sought change
Jennifer Bray has spoken to the Sinn Féin leader who says that another five years of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is not what the country needs. She says she will begin talking to other parties tomorrow.
Jack Horgan-Jones Key Race Alerts
Our colleague Jack has been looking at key trends and really crucial constituencies all day. Follow his tracking here.
Some originality among the spoiled votes
Marie O’Halloran writes: Spoiled votes in Dublin Central included one with the message “rats out”, written beside Independent candidate Gerry Hutch’s name.
Another ballot paper included the message " none of these at all”.
In Dublin Bay South some voters wrote down their preferences for actors, singers and celebrities including Abba and American singer and actress Demi Lovati, who appeared on Barney & Friends.
Count officials in Dublin Central said there were 127 votes for consideration they believed should be allowed as they displayed them for candidates’ election agents to peruse.
They included papers with 1,2 and 3 preferences followed by two ticks. The first three preferences were allowed.
Some 11 papers were left blank.
In Dublin Bay South one voter showed a liking for sequences marking – 1,2,2 and then 1,2,2 all the way down the list of candidates.
And another voter put a tick beside every candidate’s name.
Ivana Bacik speaks on Labour’s performance and Government formation
Videographer Enda O’Dowd is in the RDS and has been talking to the Labour Party leader.
Dublin Mid West first count: Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin elected on first count
Kitty Holland reports: Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin is the second Sinn Féin TD home, exceeding the quota in Dublin Mid West, topping the poll with 9,892 first preferences and elected on the first count. The quota in this five-seater is 7,913 on a valid poll of 47,476.
He is followed by his running mate, Mark Ward TD, who garnered 5,323 first preferences and who will pick up a substantial number of Ó Broin’s almost 2,000 transfers. Emer Higgins (Fine Gael) is coming in third on 4,798 votes, followed closely by Fianna Fáil’s Shane Moynihan on 4,746.
Sitting TD Gino Kenny, People Before Profit, with 2,608 votes is trailing behind Fine Gael’s Vicky Casserly (3,723), Independent Paul Gogarty (3,646) and the Social Democrats’ Eoin Ó Broin (2,907).
Kenny’s vote appears to have been squeezed by both a crowded left – including Labour’s Francis Timmons on 2,270 votes, and by the right in his north Clondalkin neighbour, Glen Moore of the Irish Freedom Party, on 1,435 votes and Linda de Courcy of Independent Ireland on 1,823.
Dublin West: Minister for Finance Jack Chambers and Sinn Féin’s Paul Donnelly elected on first count
Sorcha Pollak writes: Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers and Sinn Féin’s Paul Donnelly have both been elected to the Dublin West constituency.
Mr Chambers secured 9,446 first preference votes, far exceeding the quota of 7,373.
Mr Donnelly also exceed the quota on the first count, securing 7,731 votes. The total poll for Dublin West was 44,593 out of an electorate of 78,034, while 357 spoiled votes were registered. The total valid poll was 44,236.
A surplus of 2,073 votes will now be distributed in the second count.
Fine Gael’s Emer Currie is still on track to secure the constituency’s third seat, with 6,791 first preference votes. Ms Currie is expected to benefit substantially from Mr Chambers’ transfers.
PBP-Solidarity’s Ruth Coppinger is sitting in fourth place, with 3,552 first preference votes, while Green Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman is holding on to fifth place with 2,909.
The Green Party leader will be in a huge battle to retain his seat.
Louth: First count sees Sinn Féin in lead but John McGahon unlikely to win seat.
Jade Wilson reports: The first count has been completed in Louth, and Sinn Féin’s Ruairi Ó Murchú topped the poll with 8,728 votes, followed by fellow Sinn Féin candidate Joanna Byrne, who received 8,169 votes.
Labour’s Ged Nash is polling third with 7,594 votes.
However, no candidate has reached the quota in Louth in the first count, which requires 10,623 votes to be elected.
Others following closely behind include Fianna Fáil’s Erin McGreehan at 5,772 votes, and Fine Gael candidate Paula Butterly with 5,646 votes.
But John McGahon, who has been involved in controversy over a 2018 assault, now looks unlikely to win a seat for Fine Gael with just 4,021 first preference votes.
One candidate, independent David Carroll, was eliminated, with his 40 votes to be redistributed.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has just said that it’s unlikely that McGahon will be elected and Paula Butterly is his party’s best chance of winning a seat in Louth, based on the first count returns.
James O’Connor likely to top the poll in Cork East according to tallies
Sinn Féin TD Johnny Guirke has been elected in Meath West
Johnny Guirke was elected on the third count in Meath West, having topped the poll.
Supporters in the hall Trim GAA Club hoisted him on their shoulders alongside a Tricolour and sang Oró, Sé Do Bheatha Abhaile in celebration.
“Absolutely delighted. After losing a big area of west Meath where I got 40 per cent of the poll, to come in here and top the poll,” Mr Guirke said.
“I’m delighted for the Sinn Féin team, I’m delighted for the party and I’m delighted for myself and my family.”
Mr Guirke said he intends to prioritise local issues in the 34th Dáil, including the building of the proposed Navan rail line.
“I work hard on the ground. I’m not one of these that looks for media attention. My strengths are on the ground and the people have honoured that today.”
On his party’s performance nationwide, he said: “If you said a couple of weeks ago we are where we are today, we’d have taken the hand off you. I think we’re flying across the country.”
The counting is continuing with Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín looking likely to be returned next on the back of the transfers independent councillor Noel French, who has been eliminated.
That leaves Fianna Fáil councillor Aisling Dempsey (17 per cent) and Fine Gael councillor Linda Nelson Murray (16 per cent) in a fierce battle for the final seat. Just 275 votes separate the women.
Taoiseach Simon Harris responds to the election outcome
Carl O’Brien reports: Taoiseach Simon Harris said he is “very confident” that Fine Gael will have a “very significant role” to play in Government formation talks.
Speaking at the count centre in his Wicklow constituency, he said that while it was difficult to say who will be the biggest party in the next Dáil, he was “cautiously optimistic and excited about the weeks ahead.”
He said the Fine Gael parliamentary party which he will lead will be “massively different” with new TDs who will bring “new ideas and new perspective to Leinster House”.
Mr Harris said it was clear the party “will gain seats” and “top the poll in at least 10 constituencies” and add second seats across a number of constituencies.
“I think the people of Ireland have now spoken. We now have to work out exactly what they have said. That is going to take a little bit of time ...
“We need to be patient in relation to that. Of course, my party will act responsibly in the days ahead,” he said.
“I am really grateful to the Irish people for the mandate they have given me and my party.”
In relation to Sinn Féin, he said there has been “so sign of a Sinn Féin surge” and claimed the party’s vote was likely to be down on the last election.
“The two larger parties are likely to receive significant support from the electorate. So, definitely politics in Ireland has gotten much more fragmented,” he said.
In relation to the performance of Gerard Hutch in the election, Mr Harris said the “people are sovereign” but said he believed he “wasn’t nailed on yet”.
State of Play: Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on course to exceed 80 seats
With 11 TDS already elected to the Dáil, our political editor Pat Leahy has projected that the two outgoing Coalition partners will have more than 80 seats and will be close to having the numbers to form a Government, albeit needing support.
Here is Pat’s take: Projections for the vote share of the three biggest parties suggest that Fianna Fáil will win the largest share of votes, with 21.9 per cent of first preferences, with Fine Gael in second on 20.5 per cent and Sinn Féin in third place on 19.1 per cent. Those figures are subject to revision when first counts are all in but party analysts do not expect them to change substantially.
Extrapolating seat numbers from those vote chare figures is notoriously tricky. But Fianna Fáil has some things working in its favour – including lots of incumbent candidates and strong transfers from Fine Gael. Most seat projections for the party put them somewhere in the mid-40s, with some suggesting nearer to 50, though party insiders play down the most optimistic scenarios.
Fine Gael believes that it will be in the low 40s, anticipating favourable results in s amll number of place that would bring it over the 40 mark.
If both these estimates are right, it will mean that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil between them will be in the mid-80s – not all that far away from the magic number of 88 which constitutes a majority in the next Dáil. But enough to need the support of either another party or a bunch of independents to form a Government with a workable majority.
McDonald elected
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has been elected in Dublin Central on the third count.
First count in Dublin Rathdown
Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond has been elected following first count in Dublin Rathdown
Galway East: Newcomer Albert Dolan of Fianna Fáil tops the poll but his colleague Anne Rabbitte in trouble
Cian O’Connell writes: the second count is finished in Galway East.
The big story from Galway East is that the 25 year-old chairman of Galway County Council has topped the poll, seemingly at the expense of outgoing Fianna Fáil TD Anne Rabbitte, who received just 4,056 first preference votes, over 6,000 short of the quota.
It will come as a blow to the party. Ms Rabbitte is the current Minister of State for Disabilities and has held a high profile since first being elected to the Dáil in 2016.
Treatment of workers in the care sector became a major issue during the election campaign after footage emerged of outgoing Taoiseach Simon Harris’ interaction with disability worker Charlotte Fallon in Cork.
Concerns raised by Ms Fallon led to widespread criticism of the government’s handling of the care sector. If Ms Rabbitte is to lose her seat in Galway East, it will raise further questions on the issue.
The minister will be hoping for a turnaround through transfers, but she faces a very difficult battle.
Read the detailed breakdown on the Galway East Counts here.
Paschal Donohoe reflects on the possible election of Gerard Hutch
Jack Horgan-Jones reports: Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has arrived to the RDS, delivering a stinging verdict on Sinn Féin while saying his party is “in the early days” of a very positive result.
“Until a few days ago I heard many predictions of a very difficult election for Fine Gael, and that’s not going to happen,” he said.
Asked about the performance of gangland figure Gerry Hutch, who has a definite pathway to a seat in Dublin Central as well, Mr Donohoe said that it was important to note the vast majority of people in Dublin Central had not voted for him. “We will have to reflect in due course regarding why he performed like he did, but the big picture today is one of the centre holding.”
“At a time when incumbent governments all over Europe are struggling to get re-elected, the two larger parties within this government and in particular Fine Gael, are going to deliver a very strong performance.”
Regarding Sinn Féin’s performance, he said it was “now very evident they are the weakest opposition party in Europe”
Despite a cost of living crisis and the lingering effects of Covid, he said any gains for Sinn Féin would be minimal, accusing the party of being unable to answer basic questions on the campaign trail.
“Their share of vote and any electoral gains they make will be amongs the weakest of any opposition party in Europe.”
Fine Gael set for two seats in Dublin Rathdown as Catherine Martin battles for last seat
Jack White writes: Fine Gael’s Neale Richmond has been elected while the Green Party minister Catherine Martin was placed sixth following the first count for Dublin Rathdown.
Mr Richmond received 10,044 votes against a quota of 9,752.
He was followed by Fine Gael councillor Maeve O’Connell (6,375), Fianna Fáil’s Shay Brennan (5,913), independent councillor Michael Fleming (4,380) and Social Democrats candidate Sinéad Gibney (4,277).
The Green Party’s Catherine Martin came sixth in the four-seat constituency following the first count, receiving 4,146 first preference votes.
She was narrowly behind Social Democrats’ candidate Sinéad Gibney.
It was a significant fall from her 8,958 first preference votes in 2020, the highest number received that year.
Mr Richmond’s surplus of 292 will be transferred tonight.
Dublin Rathdown saw a turnout of 60.60 per cent, a slight reduction from 63.65 per cent in 2020.
Following his election, Mr Richmond said he and councillor Maeve O’Connell were given a “very clear task” by Taoiseach Simon Harris to retain two seats for the party.
“It looks like we will, but personally, obviously I’m chuffed, and hopefully we’ll see a lot more Fine Gael seats elected over the coming hours and days,” he said, anticipating the party to return more TDs than in 2020.
“We ran as a really united ticket that delivered two seats for Fine Gael in Dublin Rathdown once again, even though many people said we couldn’t do it,” he said, adding that he expects Ms O’Connell to be elected on Sunday morning.
Update: Mary Lou McDonald elected on third count in Dublin Central
Sarah Burns reports: Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has been elected on the third count in Dublin Central. Following the transfer of Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan transfers, Gerard Hutch is at 3,295 votes, Labour’s Marie Sherlock at 2,521 votes, Fianna Fáil’s Mary Fitzpatrick at 2,446 votes.
Roscommon-Galway: Michael Fitzmaurice elected on first count
Independent Ireland candidate Michael Fitzmaurice has been elected on the first count, topping the poll. It looks like Claire Kerrane (Sinn Féin) and Martin Daly (Fianna Fáil) will fill the other two seats here.
Fitzmaurice disclosed in an interview a short while ago that Daly was his family GP.
It also means that two of the three TDS in the constituency will be from Co Galway, albeit both of them in parishes within a stone’s throw of Roscommon.
Dublin South Central: Aengus Ó Snodaigh tops poll after first count with chance of second Sinn Féin seat
Sarah Burns reports: The first count has come in for the ‘People’s Republic of Dublin South Central’.
Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh has topped the poll with 4,497 first preferences, followed by Fianna Fáil’s Catherine Ardagh with 3,988 votes, Sinn Féin’s Máire Devine with 3,854 votes, the Social Democrats Jen Cummins with 3,347 votes, People Before Profit’s Hazel de Nortúin with 3,331 votes, Sinn Féin’s Daithí Doolan with 3,290 votes and Fine Gael’s Mary Seery Kearney with 3,056 votes.
Update: Peader Tóibín elected in Meath West
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has been re-elected in Meath West after reaching the quota on the fourth count.
Johnny Guirke (Sinn Féin) already elected. Battle between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil for the last seat.
Update: Dublin Bay South where Kate O’Connell has been eliminated
Marie O’Halloran writes: Former Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell has been eliminated after the fourth count in Dublin Bay South.
Ms O’Connell ran as an independent and garnered a total of 1,956 votes.
Poll topper James Geoghegan is on course to be elected first. He has 6,171 but he is still 1,800 votes short of the quota of 7,957.
Interest in the next count will be on where Ms O’Connell’s transfers go.
Taoiseach Simon Harris elected on First Count in Wicklow
Carl O’Brien writes: Taoiseach Simon Harris has been elected on the first count in Wicklow while Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is facing a battle to retain his seat.
Mr Harris topped the poll with 16,869 votes, exceeding the 11,415 quota by more than 5,000 votes.
Bray-based Sinn Féin TD John Brady is in second place (8,450 votes), followed by Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore (7,699). Both deputies look set to retain their seats.
A tight race is unfolding for the final spot in the four-seat constituency between Stephen Donnelly (3,553), Independent candidate and former Fine Gael councillor Shay Cullen (3,232) and Fine Gael’s Edward Timmins (3,050).
Mr Harris’s transfers look set to play a key role in deciding where the final seat goes.
While a strong transfer rate to the Taoiseach’s Fine Gael running mate in west Wicklow is expected, tallies indicate significant numbers will also go to Donnelly who is based in the Taoiseach’s hometown of Greystones.
Newtownmountkennedy-based Shay Cullen decided to stand as an independent after missing out on a place on the Fine Gael ticket.
Independent Bray-based candidate Cllr Joe Behan is further behind in the contest (2,909) followed by sitting Green Party TD Steven Matthews (2,366) who looks set to lose his seat.
Tipperary South and Tipperary North Updates
Neil Michael writes: Mattie McGrath had topped the poll in South Tipperary with 10,014 votes after the first count.
But as it was just shy of the 10,270 quota, it now goes to a second count before his win can be confirmed.
Five candidates were eliminated and their votes distributed.
A last minute but unspecified issue has held up the first count of the Tipperary North constituency, where Michael Lowry has topped the poll.
In Tipperary South, Michael Murphy (Fine Gael) looks poised to take the second seat with a three-way battle for the third seat between outgoing Sinn Féin TD Martin Browne, Fianna Fáil’s Imelda Goldsboro, and Independent Séamus Healy.
Dún Laoghaire Update
Emmet Malone writes: Sinn Fein’s Shane O’Brien has been eliminated in Dún Laoghaire after receiving just 100 of Ossian Smyth’s transfers and being overtaken by Hugo Mills of the Social Democrats who got 2,003.
O’Brien’s departure from the race should be very good news for Richard Boyd-Barrett who got about 80 per cent of his transfers when he went out four years ago, enough to push the People Before Profit candidate well over the quota on that occasion.
Fifty per cent would be more than enough to get Boyd Barrett over the line this time but if he somehow doesn’t make it, it’s hugely unlikely Hugo Mills will overtake him. The gap is 1,023.
The count centre is filling up, meanwhile, with the other remaining candidates and their supporters as the process approaches its end.
Barry Ward of Fine Gael has been receiving a lot of congratulations from well wishers including MEP Regina Doherty. Barry Andrews has also around the place showing support for Cormac Devlin. Both men also look set to be elected within the next hour.
Kildare North counting suspended - First count tomorrow
Fiachra Gallagher reports that the Kildare North count has been suspended until 9am tomorrow. They are yet to get a first count.
Sligo-Leitrim yet to complete first count as Harkin acknowledges her seat in danger
Arthur Beesley writes from Sligo: With the Sligo-Leitrim first count still awaited 13 hours after boxes were opened, Independent TD Marian Harkin has acknowledged she faces a struggle to retain her seat.
Ms Harkin’s secured in region of 7.6 per cent of the first-preference vote, according to the tally, down from 11.5 per cent in the 2020 election. “We had hoped for better because we got such a positive response,” she said just before 10pm at the Sligo count centre.
“What I’m hoping is that that positive response will translate into twos and threes. As I said earlier, there’s a pathway. It’s narrow and it’s slippy.”
She faces a battle against Chris MacManus of Sinn Féin and Michael Clarke of Independent Ireland for the fourth and final seat. Tallies suggest the first three seats are likely to go to Fine Gael’s Frank Feighan, Martin Kenny of Sinn Féin and Eamon Scanlon of Fianna Fáil.
Waterford Labour candidate rues absence of debate on climate
Kevin O’Sullivan writes: On the election outcome, Sadhbh O’ Neill, who stood for Labour in Waterford, expressed dismay that climate change did not feature strongly in the debates and hustings.
“It feels like the election took place inside a bubble of denial and delay. No matter who ends up forming a government, it is vital that Ireland acts to develop plans to help us prepare for weather extremes.
“Candidates and parties should have been interrogated on how they plan to both adapt to and mitigate climate change in Ireland.
“Even non-controversial areas of decarbonisation like bringing our public transport up to European norms were not addressed in any meaningful way by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin.
“That makes me very fearful of how these parties will tackle more challenging topics like data centres, high electricity costs and sustainable land use, because if the next government doesn’t act we’re all in big, big trouble.”
Ms O’Neill is a noted environmental activist and was formerly a member of the Green Party.
Update: Offaly
Cork South Central Summary - Micheál Martin romped home
Barry Roche reports: From Barry Roche, Cork
Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has romped home on the first count in Cork South Central with over 4,000 votes to spare in his ninth election since he first won a Dáil seat in 1989.
Martin polled 14,742 in 2002 when he polled 26.69 of the vote and he was just 226 votes short of that total when he came in on this occasion 14,526 confirming his status as the most popular Fianna Fail leader in Cork since Jack Lynch
Martin’s huge surplus of 4075 looks like propelling running mate Seamus McGrath – brother of former Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath if not over then close to quota with McGrath polling a highly credible 7794 to take second spot.
After Martin’s surplus was distributed after the first count, McGrath was at 9,940, only 500 votes short of the quota.
Sinn Fein’s Donnachadh O Laoghaire looks poised to hold his seat with 6,947 while Fine Gael are set to hold Simon Coveney’s seat most likely through Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Jerry Buttimer who leads his running mate Shane O’Callaghan by 4407 to 3364.
Aside from Martin’s storming home on the first count, the story of Cork South Central is that of Social Democrat Padraig Rice, a native of Camp in West Kerry, who looks to win the Soc Dems’ first seat in Cork city after he polled an impressive 5368.
Former Lord Mayor of Cork, Independent Mick Finn is still in with a slim chance of the last seat after he polled 3,582 – ahead of Labour’s Laura Harmon and Sinn Fein’s Michelle Cowhey Shahid, Anna Daly of Aontu, Úna McCarthy of Fine Gael and Dr Monica Oikek of the Greens.
Meath West: Fianna Fáil’s Aisling Dempsey reclaims seat for the party
Conor Gallagher reports: Fianna Fáil councillor Aisling Dempsey has become the third and final TD elected in Meath West.
She will join returning along with Sinn Féin TD Johnny Guirke, who topped the poll, and Aontú leader and returning TD, Peadar Tóibín, into the 34th Dáil following the completion of counting late on Saturday night.
Ms Dempsey, the daughter of former Fianna Fáil minister Noel Dempsey, narrowly beat Fine Gael councillor Linda Nelson Murray in a fierce battle for transfers and surpluses.
She received 17 per cent of first preference votes compared to Ms Murray’s 16 per cent.
The contours of the race were obvious from the early afternoon when tallies showed Mr Tóibín and Mr Guirke all but certain to take a seat and either Ms Dempsey or Ms Murray in contention for the third.
Former Fine Gael turned independent councillor Noel French, who received 11 per cent of first perferences was quickly out of the running while the remaining seven candidates hardly featured at all. Six of them polled at 1.5 per cent or less.
Mr Guirke was the first candidate returned, repeating his poll-topping perforamce of 2020, albeit with a significantly reduced vote. His supporters hoisted him on their shoulders alongside a Tricolour and sang Oró, Sé Do Bheatha ‘Bhaile in celebration.
“Absolutely delighted. After losing a big area of west Meath where I got 40 per cent of the poll, to come in here and top the poll,” Mr Guirke said.
Michael Lowry elected in Tipperary North
Michael Lowry has been elected as Tipperary’s first TD in the newly-drawn two-seat constituency. Representing Tipperary North, he topped the poll - making his seventh consecutive General Election win.
Asked if he will be talking to whoever forms the next government, and he replied: “Absolutely.” Mr Lowry, who met with outgoing Taoiseach Simon Harris before the election, added: “I’ve always been positive in my approach to politics.”
He smiled as he dodged questions about what he talked about and what he hoped he could gain by supporting any government Mr Harris would be a part of or even lead.
“I’m not in the business of saying,” he said.
“Being successful in supporting a government is to know when to say nothing.
“All I can say is that I have worked with Bertie Ahern, Brian Cowen, Enda Kenny, Leo Varadkar and with Simon Harris.
“It’s a case of, how shall I put it, knowing when to ask and you have to know when to ask.”
On his Dail win, he added: “I am only as good as the supporters who made me.”
Eamon Ryan reflects on a “poor day” for his party
Cormac McQuinn spoke to former Green Party leader about his party’s performance in the general election. There is a risk it will all its 12 seats.
Update: Emer Currie elected in Dublin West
Our reporter Sorcha Pollak has posted this video:
Dublin Bay South Update
Marie O’Halloran reports: Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan benefited most from the transfers of former Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell who was eliminated on the fifth count in Dublin Bay South with 1,956 votes.
Mr O’Callaghan secured 399 transfers with Fine Gael’s Emma Blain receiving 351, the second highest number. Labour leader Ivana Bacik secured 310 transfers from Ms O’Connell while Fine Gael’s James Geoghegan received 291. Green Party candidate Hazel Chu was the next highest recipient with 171 transfers.
Mr O’Callaghan is now just 59 votes behind Ms Bacik who is in second place with Mr Geoghegan still on course to be first elected to the four-seat constituency.
Final Update in Dun Laoghaire where Boyd-Barrett, Devlin and Ward all elected
Emmet Malone writes: It is all over in Dún Laoghaire where Richard Boyd-Barrett and Cormac Devlin have both exceeded the quota after Shane O’Brien’s votes were distributed, and Barry Ward, who was 2,480 votes ahead of Hugo Mills of the Social Democrats, was deemed to be elected without reaching the quota.
They all join Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who had become the first candidate elected to the new Dáil, about six hours ago.
Update: Dublin Rathdown
Jack White reports: Fine Gael councillor Maeve O’Connell received the majority of Neale Richmond’s transfers following the second count for Dublin Rathdown, though no candidates have been elected.
Independent candidates Kevin Daly and Conor Murphy, and the National Party’s Garrett McCafferty have all been eliminated.
Their votes are now being distributed among the 11 remaining candidates.
Ms O’Connell remains in the lead with 6,573 votes, having received 198 of Mr Richmond’s 292 transfers.
She is followed by Fianna Fáil councillor Shay Brennan (5,943) who received 30 transfers, independent councillor Michael Fleming (4,394) who received 14 transfers and Social Democrats candidate Sinéad Gibney (4,281) who received four transfers.
Green Party minister Catherine Martin is in fifth place with 4,161 votes after receiving 15 transfers.
Dublin-Rathdown results here.
Dublin Central could go to the wire between Hutch and Sherlock
Sarah Burns reports: Count 6 in Dublin Central has been completed.
Malachy Steenson has be eliminated. Gary Gannon is at 6,363 votes, Paschal Donohoe at 5,730, Gerard Hutch is at 3,733, Marie Sherlock is at 2,917, Mary Fitzpatrick is at 2,553 and Nease Hourigan is at 2,315. Counting adjourned for the night for Dublin Central and will resume at 10am.
Hutch is currently almost 800 votes ahead of Sherlock and Steenson’s transfers will widen that gap.
The only pathway for Sherlock is for transfers from Neasa Hourigan and Mary Fitzpatrick to tilt heavily in her direction. A thousand votes plus is still a big gap to make up in Dublin Central, especially with Gannon and Donohoe still in the race, and attracting transfers.
Offaly Update: Carol Nolan elected on the fifth count
Vivienne Clark is at the count centre for The Irish Times.
Galway West First Count:
John Fallon reports: The first count has been finally announced in Galway West.
Sinn Féin’s Mairéad Farrell has done exceptionally well and has topped the pool with 8,164 votes, a little under 2,000 votes short of the quota of 10.047.
The big surprise has been the poor showing of celebrity candidate Gráinne Seoighe who has won 2,929 votes (about 6 per cent) and will not be in the running for a seat.
Her Fianna Fáil running mate, John Connolly, is in second position with 7,197 votes and looks like he will take a seat. Independents Catherine Connolly and Noel Grealish also look like they have polled strongly. Hildegarde Naughton looks the stronger of the two Fine Gael candidates.
Get the latest Galway-West results here.
Carlow-Kilkenny First Count: Fianna Fáil could win three seats out of five
Fianna Fáil candidates have finished in the top three positions in five-seat Carlow-Kilkenny, with a chance of getting all three elected. John McGuinness topped the poll, followed by Jennifer Murnane O’Connor and Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere.
Sinn Féin’s two candidates have done exceptionally well despite neither being an elected representative. Fine Gael’s Catherine Callaghan is the front-runner of her party’s three candidates.
Green Party Minister Malcolm Noonan with 4.18 per cent of the vote is not going to hold onto his seat on those figures. Latest results from Carlow-Kilkenny here.
Update from Limerick City: Willie O’Dea elected.
David Raleigh reports that veteran Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea has been elected on the sixth count.
Sinn Féin’s Maurice Quinlavin and Kieran O’Donnell look set to be elected in later counts with a battle between five candidates for the last seat. Elisa O’Donovan of the Social Democrats looks like she has the slight advantage here.
On the back of topping the poll in Limerick City, FF veteran Willie O’Dea says he is currently writing his memoirs to be published after he retires from political life - but first, tonight, after waiting on six counts to be reach the quota in this four-seater, he is going to the pub with his supporters to celebrate.
Enda O’Dowd talks to Jim O’Callaghan about Justice portfolio
Donegal First Count: Pearse Doherty elected with enormous tally of 18,898 votes.
Stephen Maguire reports: Pearse Doherty has amassed the highest number of first preferences in the State with almost 19,000 votes, over 6,000 above the quote in five-seat Donegal.
As the second count gets underway, his surplus of 6,127 now being distributed. His running mate Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has an outside chance of getting in on Doherty’s surplus but it could be a long night at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.
Sinn Féin will take two seats with Fianna Fáil looking poised to take two with the final seat looking like a battle between Independents Thomas Pringle and Charles Ward.
Update Galway East: Sean Canney is first elected
Cian O’Connell reports that Independent TD Seán Canney is the first to be elected in Galway East.
Sligo-Leitrim First Count: Fine Gael’s Frank Feighan tops poll
Arthur Beesley reports: Fine Gael’s Frank Feighan topped the poll in the first Sligo-Leitrim count with 8,890 first-preference votes, leaving the incumbent TD 2,401 votes short of the quota.
The result of the first count was declared by deputy returning officer Paraic O’Grady shortly after midnight, more than 15 hours after boxes were opened at 9am on Saturday.
Martin Kenny of Sinn Féin came second with 7,764 votes, followed by Michael Clarke of Independent Ireland on 5,979 votes and Eamon Scanlon of Fianna Fáil with 5,913 votes. Kenny’s running mate Chris MacManus is on 5,173 votes. Scanlon running mates Edel McSharry is on 4,466 votes and Paddy O’Rourke is on 4,066 votes. Independent TD Marian Harkin is on 4,347 votes.
Mr O’Grady adjourned the count until 9am on Sunday after eliminating Independent Diarmuid MacConville, Independent Ireland’s Caroline Corcoran and Party for Animal Welfare candidate Molly Candon.
Longford-Westmeath First Count: Peter Burke elected.
Stephen Farrell reports: Peter Burke of Fine Gael is elected after completion of long awaited first count. Counting adjourned until tomorrow morning.
You can see the full results here. Burke won 17.56 per cent, getting 10,884 votes.
Fianna Fáil’s Longford TD Joe Flaherty looks like he is in trouble, with Fine Gael set to gain a second seat through Michael Carrigy.
Is Gerry Hutch still in contention?
Michael Collins is elected in Cork South West
David Forsythe writes: The leader of Independent Alliance Michael Collins has been elected in the three-seat Cork South West.
The three outgoing TDs - the other two are Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns and Fianna Fáil Christopher O’Sullivan - are expected to be re-elected.
Mr Collins total of 12,295 votes exceeded the quota of 11,824. Mr Collins said: “I’d like to pay tribute to my canvas team and the people of Cork South West who put their faith in me again.”
He said he expected Independent Ireland to return to the Dáil with “two or three” extra TDs. He added: “Where Independent Ireland was on the paper we were strong and it looks at this present time that we could take between five and eight seats. If a party that had three TDs can return with six I’d be very pleased with that.”
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael take final two seats in Offaly
Vivienne Clarke reports: The Offaly count is concluded with Fianna Fail’s Tony McCormack and Fine Gael’s John Clendennen, both seasoned councillors, taking the final two seats, narrowly defeating Sinn Féin’s Aoife Masterson.
In the seventh count, Mr Clendennen, with 8,627, had only 116 votes to spare over Ms Masterson who had 8,501. Tony McCormack was a little ahead at 9,151.
Update: Donegal where Padraic Mac Lochlainn is elected
Stephen Maguire reports: Pearse Doherty’s huge surplus has swept his running mate Padraic Mac Lochhlainn to the second seat in the five-seat Donegal. The Inishowen TD did not need too many of the 6,000 spare votes as he was close to the quota himself after Count 1.
