Election live: First seats being filled as Micheál Martin elected on first count | BreakingNews.ie
Counting is underway across the country in the general election, and you can follow live updates here throughout the day.
- Sinn Fein’s David Cullinane is their first TD elected in Waterford.
- Fine Gael TD Jennifer Caroll McNeill is first TD to be elected, followed by Patrick O’Donovan.
- Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch in contention for a seat, Jack Chambers and Paul Donnelly elected in Dublin West.
- Micheál Martin elected on first count in Cork South Central.
- You can get the rundown on every constituency in our Election Results Hub by clicking here.
8:00pm
In the four seater of Galway East, Fianna Fáil’s Albert Dolan tops the poll with 10,140, just ahead of independent Seán Canney with 10.030. The quota is 10,843.
Others in the running are Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Hara on 7,459, Fine Gael’s Peter Roche on 5,521, Independent Ireland’s Declan Geraghty on 5,150, FF’s Anne Rabbitte on 4,056 and Fine Gael’s Clodagh Higgins on 3,458.
7:50pm
In Louth, Sinn Féin have two in the running with Joanna Byrne of Drogheda on 8,728 and Ruairí Ó Murchú on 8,169 on a quota of 10,623 for the 5 seat constituency.
Of the rest, Labour’s Ged Nash got 7,594 first preferences, while Fine Gael’s Paula Butterly has 5,646. Fianna Fáil’s two candidates stand at 5,772 for North Louth’s Erin McGreehan and 4,913 for Drogheda’s Alison Comyn. Fine Gael’s John McGahon, who was caught up in controversy, got 4.021.
7:40pm
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris thanked the electorate for the “mandate” they gave him and his party and said he is “cautiously optimistic”.
He told reporters at the count centre in Wicklow: “I’m really grateful to the other people for the mandate they have given me and my party in terms of the future.”
He added: “I think anybody who makes any suggestion about who is going to be the largest party or the construct of the next government, they’re a braver person than I am. Our electoral system dictates that there’ll be many, many transfers that will go on for hours, if not days, before we know the final computations at all.
“But what I am very confident about is that my party will have a very significant role to play in the years ahead, and I’m cautiously optimistic and excited.”
7:05pm
Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin is the latest TD to be elected in Cork South Central after he was elected on the first count.
He tops the first preferences with 14,526 on a quota of 10,451. He is followed by Fianna Fáil’s Séamus McGrath on 7,794, Sinn Féin’s Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire with 6,947 and Padraig Rice from the Social Democrats on 5,368.
6:55pm
Sinn Fein’s Eoin O’Broin, in Dublin Mid-West, is the latest TD to be elected to the next Dáil.
Fianna Fáil’s Jack Chambers, in Dublin West, has been elected with Sinn Féin’s Paul Donnelly in the constituency.
6:50pm
Independent Verona Murphy, in the Wexford constituency, is the fourth TD elected to the next Dáil.
6:40pm
Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane, in the Waterford constituency, is the third TD elected to the next Dáil.
He is followed by Fine Gael’s John Cummins with 10,376, Fianna Fáil’s Mary Butler with 9,962 and Conor D. McGuiness of Sinn Féin on 5,791.
6:35pm
In the much watched Dublin Central, Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch has secured 3,098 first preferences. With a quote of 6,551 SF’s Mary Lou McDonald on 6,389 tops the poll, followed by FG’s Paschal Donohoe with 5,493. He is followed by SD’s Gary Gannon with 4,353; Labour’s Marie Sherlock with 2,465; FF’s Mary Fitzpatrick on 2,344. Of the rest, Green Party’s Neasa Hourigan has 1,952, PBPS Eoghan O Ceannabhain on 1,471 and Independent 4 Change’s Clare Daly on 1,317
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 econd 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.
6:10pm
In the first count for the 3-seat Laois constituency, Fine Gael’s Willie Aird tops the first preferences with 9.269 on a quota of 9,570. He is followed by Sean Fleming from Sinn Féin with 8,123, Independent Brian Stanley with 6,782 and Sinn Féin’s Maria McCormack on with 4,914.
In Wicklow-Wexford, the 3-seater has a quota of 9,560, with Brian Brennan on 8,820, followed by Malcolm Byrne of Fianna Fáil on 8,311 and Fionntan Ó Súillebháin of Sinn Féin on 7,719.
5:55pm
In the first count for the 3-seat Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fáil’s Darragh O’Brien tops the first preferences with 8,906 on a quota of 9,475. he is followed by Ann Graves of Sinn Féin with 5,450, Labour’s Duncan Smith with 5,396, and Fine Gael’s Alan Farrell with 5,379.
5:40pm
Fine Gael has taken the second seat in this election, with Patrick O’Donovan elected on the first count in Limerick County. The quota in the three-seat constituency is 11,385 and O’Donovan got 11,563 first preferences.
Next up is Independent Ireland’s Richard O’Donoghue with 10,540, followed by Fianna Fáil’s Niall Collins with 9,284 and Sinn Féin’s Joanne Collins with 6,005.
5:35pm
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has paid tribute to his coalition colleagues from the Green Party.
His comments come amid the possibility that the Green Party may suffer an electoral wipeout.
“I think the Green Party made a very positive contribution to government,” he said.
“I think some good, constructive, positive policies emerge from the last government.”
He added: “The Greens, to their credit, didn’t buckle over the four and a half years.
“Being in government can be difficult for any political party.
“It is to the credit of the Greens that they went into government. We had challenges, we had different priorities of three political parties, but this government went full term, and I think Ireland was for the better for that.”
5.20pm
Time to look at the national scene as the counts start to come in.
You can get the rundown on every constituency in our Election Results Hub by clicking here.
Social Democrats Gary Gannon arriving for the count at RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin after voters went to the polls to elect 174 TDs across 43 constituencies during the general election.
5:15pm
First candidate elected and it’s in Dun Laoghaire with Fine Gael’s Jennifer Caroll MacNeill securing 11,685 first prefences in the four-seater cosntistuency where the quota is 11,134.
Of the rest, Cormac Devlin of Fianna Fáil has 8,831, Barry Ward of Fine Gael has 8,337, Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit-Solidarity has 6,795 and Shane O’Brien of Sinn Féin with 4,995.
5:00pm
Sinn Féin’s Johnny Guirke has topped the first count in the three-seat Meath West constituency with 8,604 first preferences. With a quota of 9,427, he is followed by Aontu leader Peadar Tóibín with 7,563 first preferences.
After that it is Fianna Fáil’s Aisling Dempsey with 6,535, Fine Gael’s Linda Nelson Murray on 6,164, and Social Democrats Ronan Moore on 2,542.
4:45pm
First count is in and it’s Fingal West. With a quota of 7,530, Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly tops the count with 6,965 first preferences, ahead of Robert O’Donoghue of Labour with 5,044,
Grace Boland of Fine Gael with 4,583 and Lorraine Clifford-Lee of Fianna Fáil with 4,417. Outgoing Green Party TD Joe O’Brien secured just 1,844 first preference votes.
4:35pm
The complete tally for the four seat Clare constituency has Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) comfortably topping the poll in Clare.
The tally of the 180 boxes has the east Clare senator set to return to the Dail after missing out in 2020 on 11,041 tallied first preferences – or 18.29 per cent of the vote – which will leave him around 900 votes shy of the expected quota of around 12,000 votes.
Outgoing deputy, Cathal Crowe (FF) is expected to return to the Dail with 13.69 per cent of the vote in a seat gain for Fianna Fail with 8,264 tallied votes in a strong showing for FF.
First time General Election candidate, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) will secure a seat for Fine Gael while Donna McGettigan (SF) is favourite to secure the fourth seat on 12.44 per cent of the vote.
A member of Clare Co Council, Cllr McGettigan lies 2,281 tallied votes ahead of nearest competitor, Leonora Carey (FG) who has 5,228 tallied first preferences.
Outgoing Independent TD, Violet Anne Wynne has polled only 286 tallied votes and looks likely to be eliminated after the first count.
The former Sinn Fein candidate was the story of the 2020 General Election in Clare when she topped the poll taking 15.11 per cent of the first preference vote.
The final tally shows FF with 38 per cent of first preferences with FG having 25 per cent followed by SF on 12 per cent.
4:25pm
The Social Democrats have had “a positive day” as they look set to grow their representation in the Dáil.
Party leader Holly Cairns, who gave birth to a baby girl on polling day, is well placed to retain her seat in the highly competitive constituency of Cork South-West.
The Social Democrats, founded in 2015, won six seats in the 2020 election with around three per cent of first preference votes.
The exit poll after Friday’s General Election put the party on 5.8 per cent, which would give them the most support of the smaller groups in the Dáil.
4:10pm
The full tally is now in for Waterford’s four-seat constituency, with all boxes opened, and shows Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane on 22.4 per cent; Fine Gael’s John Cummins 19.3 per cent; Mary Butler, Fianna Fáil 18 per cent; Sinn Féin’s Cllr Conor McGuinness 10.8 per cent; Independent Matt Shanahan 9.9 per cent and Mary Roche, Social Democrats, five per cent.
In Kildare South, Martin Heydon of Fine Gael is leading the tally, followed by Fianna Fail’s Fiona O’Loughlin. Independent TD Cathal Berry is set to lose his seat.
3:55pm
The final tally of the 3 seat Roscommon-Galway constituency is in, with the estimated quota of 10,561. The number of votes cast is estimated to be 40,681, indicating the turnout is well down on 2020, which saw 45,942 votes cast. According to tally,
Michael Fitzmaurice appears almost certain to top the poll. He is followed by SF TD Claire Kerrane and Dr Martin Daly (FF).
In Clare, Gordon Deegan reports that outgoing Independent TD, Violet Anne Wynne has polled only 286 tallied votes and looks likely to be eliminated after the first count.
The former Sinn Féin candidate was the story of the 2020 General Election in Clare when she topped the poll taking 15.11 per cent of the first preference vote.
The final tally shows FF with 38 per cent of first preferences with Fine Gael having 25 per cent followed by Sinn Féin on 12 per cent.
3:45pm
Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is set to top the poll and be elected on the first count in Cork South Central. The final tallies show Sinn Féin’s Donnchadha Ó Laoighaire and Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus McGrath are also set to take seats.
In Wexford the tallies are showing Independent Verona Murphy is topping the poll, followed by Fianna Fail’s James Browne is on 16%. After those two it is Johnny Mythen from Sinn Féin and Labour’s George Lawlor in the four-seater. Fine Gael’s Cathal Byrne and Aontú’s Jim Codd are chasing those initial four.
3:42pm
Michael Healy-Rae making clear his view of the Green Party’s election performancce.
— Michael Healy-Rae (@MHealyRae) November 30, 2024
3:38pm
With almost all of the Co Carlow ballot boxes opened, tallies indicated that Fianna Fáil’s Jennifer Murnane O’Connor is on 20 per cent, Fine Gael’s Catherine Callaghan on 15 per cent and Sinn Féin’s Áine Knox Gladney on 13 per cent.
3:20pm
In the Dublin Fingal West Constituency Minister of State and Green Party TD Joe O’Brien has conceded he will not be re-elected to the Dáil.
“Clearly I’ve lost my seat and that’s very disappointing from my point of view. We put a lot of work in, and I think the key for me was the redraw of the constituency. I knew last August I was going to be up against it when I lost over half of my base, and then tide went out [on the Green Party].”
3:15pm
Gordon Deegan reports from Ennis that Fianna Fail look on course to gain a seat in the four seat Clare constituency.
With 80 per cent of the 180 boxes tallied, Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) remains on course to top the poll with running mate, sitting TD, Cathal Crowe now lying second overall.
The latest tallies have Deputy Crowe edging Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) into third place.
Sinn Fein’s Cllr Donna McGettigan has increased her share of the tallied vote to 12.26 per cent and is in a strong position to take the fourth seat.
Cllr McGettigan on 6,872 tallied first preferences is 2,376 votes ahead of her nearest rival, Leonora Carey (FG) who sits on 4,567 tallied votes.
3pm
Tallies in Wicklow are showing Taoiseach Simon Harris will get enough votes for a quota and a half.
Counting takes place at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork, after voters went to the polls to elect 174 TDs across 43 constituencies during the general election.
2.50pm
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is in real danger of losing his seat in Wicklow. He’s currently holding the fourth seat but Simon Harris has a large surplus to transfer
Grainne Seoige is not going to win a seat for Fianna Fáil in Galway West
The Greens are facing a wipeout – and deputy leader Catherine Martin looks likely to lose to the Social Democrats. It would be one of at least two extra seats for the Social Democrats who will take one in Cork South Central through Padraig Rice.
Gerry Hutch is in the frame to take a seat in Dublin Central but it’s not guaranteed, he has a battle with Labour
Independent TD Cathal Berry also looks likely to lose his seat in Kildare
2.45pm
The final tallies for Mayo show Sinn Féin’s Rose Conway-Walsh in the lead, followed by Alan Dillon of Fine Gael, and Dara Calleary of Fianna Fáil. Then it is Ballina Fine Gael candidate Mark Duffy in fourth, followed by a trio who will be fighting for the final seat: Fine Gael’s Keira Keogh from Westport; Lisa Chambers of Fianna Fáil and then former Fine Gael member and now independent Patsy O’Brien.
Tallies in Wicklow are showing Taoiseach Simon Harris will get enough votes for a quota and a half. He will be followed by John Brady of Sinn Féin and Jennifer Whitmore of Social Democrats in the four-seater. Then it is a battle for the final seat.
In Roscommon-Galway, Independent Ireland’s Michael Fitzmaurice appears almost certain to top the poll. He’s followed by Sinn Féin’s Claire Kerrane Dr Martin Daly of Fianna Fáíl on 7,252.
Independent TD Michael Healy Rae looks set to top the poll in Kerry based on tallies.
Predicting the final seat count, he says: “You will have two Healy-Rae’s and you will have Sinn Féin and you will have Fianna Fáil, which I’m calling for Minister Norma Foley. And the last seat I’m calling that for Michael Cahill from Fianna Fáil becuase he is transfer-friendly.”
1.45pm
Similar bad news for the Green Party in Dublin Bay South, the stomping ground of former party leader Eamon Ryan. The four-seater looks set to see Fine Gael James Geoghegan and Labour leader Ivan Bacik safe, while Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan and Sinn Féin’s Chris Andrews are in the running with Fine Gael’s Emma Blain. Green Party candidate Hazel Chu is languishing in seventh place.
1.38pm
In Dublin South West, all tallies are in and Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe topping the poll, followed by Fine Gael’s Colm Brophy and Fianna Fail’s John Lahart. The last two seats are going to be hard fought, with Labour’s Ciaran Ahern, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, Fianna Fail’s Teresa Costello, Fine Gael’s Sarah Barnes and Social Democrats Ross O’Mullane all fighting it out. It seems to mean there will be no room for Green Party TD Noel Francis Duffy.
1.28pm
In the Mayo 5 seat constituency, former Fine Gael TD Jim Higgins told the Western People that, while not all tallies are in. he sees it going to Fine Gael’s Alan Dillon, Fianna Fáil’s Dara Calleary, and Sinn Féin’s Rose Conway-Walsh in the first three seats. He predicts the fourth seat may go to Fine Gael’s Mark Duffy. After that he says it will be a real battle for the final seat, with the chances of Fine Gael taking it.
1.26pm
Chairperson of the Green Party Senator Pauline O’ Reilly concedes it’s not the Green’s day today.
She said: “The feeling on the ground was very positive towards us and overall we were squeezed out by a lot of choice. Whether that’s within Government or the centre left.”
1.20pm
With 10% of the boxes open in the Carlow/Kilkenny constituency, three Carlow candidates are performing well with Fianna Fáil’s Jennifer Murnane O’Connor on 25.5%, Fine Gael’s Catherine Callaghan on 19.9% and Sinn Féin’s Áine Knox Gladney on 17.4%.
1.18pm
Early signs of the turnout in Waterford point to the election quota being around 10,750. Turnout is believed to be 54,012, with the number of spoilt ballots yet to be revealed. A four-seat constituency, this means the quota is likely to be around 10,750 but may drop slightly when spoiled ballots are counted. The final tally numbers for the first count mean that David Cullinane, Sinn Féin TD, is expected to be elected on the first count with 10,839 votes.
1pm
Limerick county: Tallies show Fine Gael’s Richard O’Donovan, Independent Ireland’s Richard O’Donoghue and Fianna Fáil’s Niall Collins leading the way, followed by Sinn Féin’s first-time candidiate Joanne Collins who is the best of the remaining 11 candidates on 12%.
12.52pm
Sinn Fein’s director of elections Matt Carthy says it would be a phenomenal performance if they emerge as the largest party when the votes are counted.
He told Newstalk: “I think in virtually every consistency where I’ve been looking at the tallies, the last one if not two seats are in play between several contenders so all I can say is if you consider where we were just a few short weeks ago, the prospect that Sinn Féin could emerge as the largest party out of this election will be an absolutely phenomenal result.”
12.20pm
Meath West too nearing a full tally – there will be one Sinn Féin and one Aontú TD, and then the final seat looks to be a fight between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
A member of the count staff as counting takes place at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork, after voters went to the polls to elect 174 TDs across 43 constituencies during the general election. Photo: Jacob King/PA Images
12.10pm
Final tallies are starting to come in starting in Dublin Central where Mary Lou McDonald will top the poll but the big story is Gerry the Monk Hutch could finish 4th and take a Dail seat
The other story there is the underperformance of Clare Daly who looks well off the pace.
11.42am
Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch is performing well in early ballots in the Dublin Central constituency, and is currently in fifth place.
Mary Lou McDonald 19%
Paschal Donohoe 17%
Gary Gannon 13%
Gerry Hutch 9%
Mary Fitzpatrick 7%
Marie Sherlock 7%
Neasa Hourigan 6%
Malachy Steenson 5%
Clare Daly 4%
12pm
In Dublin West, figures don’t look good for Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman.
Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers is currently at 21 per cent, followed by Sinn Féin’s Paul Donnelly at 19 per cent.
Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie is at 13 per cent, Peope Before Protfit’s Ruth Coppinger is at eight per cent with Mr O’Gorman and Labour’s John Walsh both holding six per cent.
There are five seats in the constituency.
11.36am
Incoming EU Commissioner Michael McGrath has said that there is a danger in reading too much in to the exit poll last night and insists that “everything is still to play for.”
11:30am
Taoiseach Simon Harris is on course to top the poll in Wicklow. However, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is struggling.
Early counting shows Mr Harris in first place (28 per cent), followed by Sinn Féin’s John Brady (15 per cent) and Social Democrats’ Jennifer Whitmore in third (14 per cent).
There are four seats in the constituency and Stephen Donnelly is currently in fith (6.6 per cent), trailling Fine Gael’s Edward Timmins (6.8 per cent).
