Welcome to the third day of our real-time updates on election results. To date, we have seen over 800 of the 949 local election seats decided. Government parties, notably Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, have exceeded expectations, both capturing approximately 23 per cent of the votes. This promising performance has incited suggestive calls for Taoiseach Simon Harris to set an early general election into motion, prior to the current Government term’s conclusion in March 2025.
However, these elections were less favourable for Sinn Féin, recording a vote percentage just below 12 – an improvement in contrast to the 2019 elections, but notably trailing their 2020 general election performance and recent opinion polls, which consistently hit mid-30 percentages.
The real success story lies with the miscellaneous Independent parties, which secured 28 per cent of the popular vote. While far-right factions saw no significant breakthroughs, a handful of intensely anti-immigration candidates managed to seize seats. The opening tally for the Dublin district, reported late yesterday, positioned Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews and Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty as likely frontrunners for the inaugural two seats.
Throughout the day, our correspondents Conor Pope and Harry McGee will provide consistent updates and insights on the Local and European results, and the imminent Limerick Mayoral vote count.
Here are some must-reads on Local and European results:
– News piece: Early general election probability amplifies
– Analyst’s take: Ireland’s continued moderate stance amidst Europe’s escalating extremity
– Miriam Report: Mary Lou McDonald takes centre stage at RDS
– Light-hearted anecdotes: Electorate mouse to missing jewellery
– Podcast: An optimistic Harris dispels early election rumours
– Europe – EU polls prompt Macron to declare snap election
Ireland update:
– Renowned Irish traditional musician Charlie Lennon passes away at 85. President Michael D Higgins leads the heartfelt tribute.
After a man was horrifically killed in Finglas, Dublin, on Sunday, the Gardaí have initiated a manhunt for the perpetrator. Journeying south of the border, Toirealach Brolly, a freshman at University College Dublin and a native of Belfast, had found himself wondering about the perceptions of Northern Ireland held by those in the South during his first few weeks in the capital.
In a recent survey, 97% of participants agreed that home ownership in Connemara, Co Galway is unaffordable, indicating a potential housing crisis in the area. For the upcoming week, Ireland can anticipate generally favourable weather with isolated showers in some areas, and temperatures peaking between 12 and 16 degrees. Nightfall will bring cooler weather, between 3 and 6 degrees, with northern regions expecting scattered showers.
A remarkable moment occurred for an Irish woman residing in Paris: athletes competing in the Olympics literally ran past her Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine home, which is a just a short distance from the Stade de France and the Olympic swimming pool.
In sports news, Ciara Mageean, representing Ireland, clinched the 1,500m gold at the European Athletics Championships. She displayed an impressive and commanding final burst of speed in the last stretch of the race at the Stadio Olimpico, securing her victory on Sunday night.
Limerick continues to reign in Munster, despite Clare coming up short. The victory marks a record sixth consecutive Munster hurling title for Limerick at the freezing Semple Stadium, a journey which proved slightly more manageable than the previous two.
Elsewhere, less than one eighth of new buildings within certain counties are undergoing inspection for regulation compliance, warns the leader of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI).
In terms of personal life, the landscape of divorce in Ireland has become increasingly complex. Whether peaceful or full of conflict, quick or drawn out, the financial implications of the housing crisis along with the changed expectations due to the aftermath of Covid-19, has made divorce in today’s Ireland never an easy affair.