People across the country went to the polls on Friday to vote in the first nationwide elections in more than four years.
Counting is well under way in the local elections – with results from the European elections expected to begin being announced after 10pm, once all polling stations across the EU have closed.
Voters in Limerick also had the opportunity to decide who they wanted to see become Ireland’s first ever directly elected mayor. Counting in the mayoral election is expected to begin on Monday.
Here’s a look at everything we know so far:
- In the local elections, there are 949 seats up for grabs across 31 local authorities, which are divided into 166 local electoral areas.
- More than 2,100 candidates are contesting the local elections.
- By 7am this morning, 194 out of the 949 local election seats had been filled.
- Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are likely to fight it out in a bid to be the biggest party when all votes are counted after a strong start in the early goings.
- Fine Gael is edging it currently, with more than 60 seats secured so far, while Fianna Fáil has taken over 55.
- Fianna Fáil leader, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, said his party was doing “far better than predicted” and was delivering a very “robust performance”.
- Senator Regina Doherty, who is running in the Dublin constituency in the European elections, said Fine Gael’s performance showed that Simon Harris was having a “positive impact” on the party since becoming leader.
- Sinn Féin, however, will “dust themselves down” and look at “the lessons that can be learned,” according to their Spokesperson on Finance Pearse Doherty, after what he described as a tough local election for the party.
- Independents across the country have also experienced plenty of success, with more than 40 Independent councillors winning seats so far.
- The Green Party is set to see losses off the back of their historic 2019 performance – but the party has likely put in a steady performance, holding a number of seats, particularly in Dublin.
- However, early yesterday Green Party leader Eamon Ryan admitted that the party may lose its MEP seat, currently held by Ciarán Cuffe.
- A total of 14 MEPs will be elected across the three constituencies of Ireland South, Midlands-North-West and Dublin.
- Italy was the first heavyweight EU nation to cast their ballots, in a test for far-right leader Giorgia Meloni.
- Most of the EU’s 27 member countries, including powerhouses France and Germany, go to the polls today.
- There were at least 36 incidents of politically motivated violence, intimidation, harassment, or threats in the lead up to Friday’s local and European elections, according to an analysis.
- Counting in the Limerick mayoral election is set to begin on Monday with 15 candidates in the running.
- Independent candidate John Moran held a strong lead according to a tally yesterday evening at 23% – seven points ahead of nearest rival, Independent Helen O’Donnell (16%).
