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LAST UPDATE | 9 Feb 2020
Cónal Thomas reports from the RDS:
AS THE AFTERNOON wore on in Simmonscourt, it was all eyes on the main door as Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald arrived just after 3pm.
Just under eight hours later it would be confirmed that her party had won the biggest first preference vote in the state, a first for the party.
Rapturous applause went up in the hall as McDonald, flanked by deputy leader Michelle O’Neill, told the media the support for Sinn Fein was a “big statement of change”.
Minutes later, Sinn Fein’s Dessie Ellis was declared victorious, topping the poll in Dublin Northwest, a seat Ellis has held since 2011.
As the country reacts to the Sinn Fein surge, there were some sombre faces at the RDS, among them Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy who, although looking set to be reelected in Dublin Bay South, faced criticism with one woman telling Murphy her daughter had to emigrate as a result of the housing crisis.
As Murphy walked by the People Before Profit camp, chants of “Murphy out, Murphy out” rang out.
As it stands, it’s looking like Fine Gael will retain just one seat in this four-seat battleground constituency with Green Party leader Eamon Ryan and Sinn Fein’s Chris Andrews both tipped to take seats.
With 800 votes separating Fianna Fail’s Jim O’Callaghan and Fine Gael’s Kate O’Connell, it’ll all come down to transfers. Can O’Connell make up the ground? We’re hearing it’s very unlikely.
Meanwhile, as reporters, supporters and politicians grabbed a much-needed coffee, Labour’s Aodhan O’Riordain arrived, looking pleased.
He has likely won a seat in Dublin Bay North, where Sinn Fein’s Denise Mitchell has topped the poll.
It’s a tough five-seater this one but from what we’re hearing on the ground Fianna Fail’s Sean Haughey and Fine Gael’s Richard Bruton both look set to be reelected meaning the Green Party’s David Healy and Social Democrat Cian O’Callaghan will end up battling it out for the last seat.
We’re expecting an official count here at around 6pm.
Along with Ellis and Mitchell, the big success of the day here was Sinn Fein’s Aengus O’Snodaigh who topped the poll in Dublin South Central, setting the mood for the day.
People Before Profit’s Bríd Smith is also looking safe here so we’re heading into a dog-fight between Independents4Change TD Joan Collins, Fine Gael’s Catherine Byrne, the Green Party’s Patrick Costello and Fianna Fail’s Catherine Ardagh for the last two seats.
Transfers here will be key.
Shortly after ballot boxes were opened at Simmonscourt at 9am it became clear Sinn Fein leader McDonald was surging ahead in Dublin Central with her former party colleague (now independent) Christy Burke tipped to take some of her transfers.
As the morning rolled on, though, and ballot boxes were open in areas like East Wall and Phibsborough it looked like the Green Party’s Neasa Hourigan will take the second seat while Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe looks set to take the third.
That leaves Fianna Fail’s Mary Fitzpatrick, Independent Burke and Social Democrat Gary Gannon set to battle it out for the last two seats. Again, keep an eye on those transfers.
As the sun sets on Simmonscourt, we’re expecting more count announcements soon. For now, more coffee…
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Stay classy SF
@Willie: Stay calm. No need for the fear.
Change has arrived.
Good day..
@Willie: Trouble here we come….
@Willy Mc Entire:
Change, yea right
@Willie: stay bitter weeping Willie!
@Cupid Stunt:
Not really, if they get in they’ll implode and spend another century in the wilderness
@Shane Freeney: The needs of the many outweigh the desires of a few. We need change.
@Willie: Willie likes the Black and Tans then?
@Willie: ” they’ll implode and spend another century in the wilderness”. Bahahahaha hahahahahaha hahahaha…sore loser much.
Are you one of those people who said that they’d leave the country if SF are going to make up the next government? See ya
@Willy Mc Entire: the irony of a pro EU party singing this is just gas. No longer a Nationalist party.
@Willy Mc Entire: change? Noting will change Ireland still owe Europe 200 billion it will do what its eu masters want it to do as will Sinn Fein
you’d forget these people are running for government, carrying on like they’re at a Celtic match. I’d honestly put that nonsense in the same boat as Farage waving the union jacks. You’d nearly love to see them win it, just so future generations can have a cautionary tale of what happens when you vote blindly because you think you need change
@tenlover: You find a Tricolour/Union Jack flag offensive?
@tenlover: note how I said Celtic, because nobody in Ireland still wants to be represented by this republican nonsense
@tenlover: ‘these people’ ? Are real people! So are the homeless people, the people on trolleys in hospitals, the young ravaged by drug gangs.
@Sean O’ Donovan: where did I mention I took offence? Just said it’s stupid carry on and I don’t want to be represented by those clowns
At least Farage doesn’t have the blood of many innocents on his hands.
@tenlover: then go to england
@tenlover: I’m starting to think that myself. There is no panacea but some people won’t listen. Mind you Sinn Féin have already dialled things down. Difficult decisions, tough road ahead etc etc. It appears the spirit of Pat Rabbittes (about keeping things simple during an election) “isn’t that what you do” is being warmed up on the side lines.
@paddy: class comment, cheers. Hope you don’t do well for yourself pal because SF are going to punish you for it
@tenlover: seems the electorate are massively disagreeing with you
@SouperArlene: if you believe that British elitist like Farage don’t have blood on their hands you really need to read a lot more.
@M Bowe: to all of our detriment, Ireland will no longer be a place where it’ll be a good thing to earn money. Watch us reverse the economic progress of the last 4 years
@Sean O’ Donovan: what about the red flag of socialism can they not fly that too all other socialists fly it proudly .
@tenlover: and who is responsible for that. When your mantra is let them eat cake then revolution is what you get.
@Mjhint: so the middle class, who will be funding SF’s radical social welfare projects, have that mantra?? Pull the other one, it’s regular, working professionals who are going to be taxed to high heaven so people on the dole can have it easier. In a SF Ireland, it would be more lucrative to be unemployed than to be working for the multinationals or banks. You thought the exodus to Australia and Canada was bad during the recession? Oh just you wait till the people who make a bit, fly the best too because they’re not content with 57% ! Whose bankrolling the economy then?
@tenlover: *fly the nest
@tenlover: you clearly don’t pay any attention to the actual policies do you?
@tenlover: I’ve never heard such drivel in my life. All left party policies were geared towards tilting the playing field between the top 5%/corporate and the bottom 50%. FG couldn’t negotiate their way out of a paper bag, let alone a public tender. Hence why the average tax payer has seen no return for their money in health, transport or housing. FF are corrupt as it gets being led by the likes of Charlie Haughey and No Bank Bertie. The electorate has voted left partly because of policy, but mainly because they couldn’t stomach FFG’s incompetence and corruption any longer.
@SouperArlene:
The British government has blood of the innocent on its hands. The people of Derry / Miami Showband / Aidan McAnespie (and many others) can verify this.
It’s great to see FFG sh!t themselves.
@tenlover: ill ask you again who is responsible for the situation we are in & i didnt vote SF nor would i. Is it SF or those who voted for them. This is a carbon copy of every country that has bern rescued by the IMF where, after austerity which was a horrendos ideological position forced on us by german economics, countries voted for left wing governments on every occasion. Im not doubting your position im just durecting my critism to places outside of SF. SF have a mandate to cjange things. Thats the reality.
@SouperArlene: No.. They murder by inciting to violence against minorities and immigrants.
@tenlover: last 4 years. More like last 44 years! Disgrace! Dopes voting for SF!
@Paul O’Sullivan: Well said,Paul!
No matter what the next Government consists of I sincerely hope that the seriousness of the ongoing National emergencies in homelessness, housing and health etc affecting real people, families especially children are acknowledged as needing urgent attention and are top priority.
@tenlover: tell that to the people sleeping on the streets
@tenlover: You want to come out of your bubble ,we do need change and now we are going to get it .
@tenlover: Celtic is a club open to all always had been and always will be .
@tenlover: Ahahaha, the people won’t be forgetting that FF bankrupted this country, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of young people, packing up and emigrating because they couldn’t get a job. Nor will they forget that thanks to FF policies, they were evicted from their homes, making their children homeless, and in a lot of cases, ended up with a lot of these people, taking their own lives.
People in the 18 – 49 age group, won’t forget that FG put what was best for the vulture funds and the “market”, at the expense of those who are homeless, including their parents and siblings, adult in their 30′s still living at home with their parents, because they cannot afford to either rent of buy. But sure we have Noonan, to thank for that, putting tax loopholes in place so his mates in Davos, could walk in here, buy up houses and apartments in bulk, and then feckoff, without paying a cent in tax. The people won’t forget that Leo didn’t give a flying fk about OAP’s and told them that he wouldn’t be “writing a blank cheque” when they couldn’t afford extra heat in their homes, during the snow storm…that’s the contempt that Leo has for vulnerable people in this society. Leo only cares about not upsetting “the market”, it doesn’t matter what affect it has on the people who elected his party.
Both of these dinosaur parties, have done nothing but enrich themselves and their mates. And the people wont forget about, the fact that both of these parties covered up and turned a blind eye to what was going on in industrial schools and mother and baby homes.
So you need to think again.
A stable government will not be formed… I suggest we go to the polls again… sinn Fein candidate in every constituency please. let’s put an end to FF/G for good… let them merge…
it is clear Sinn Fein are the more popular party in the country.
@Paul O’Sullivan: Very early to make such a claim,
People said the same about the last election and funny enough we had a goverment out of it,.
@Barry Somers: the last government was a stable one because FF were not in government they supplied only confidence and supply… this time round FFG may have to actually share power I honestly cannot see that working particularly if independents back them up..to make the numbers. The country will not benefit, the only winners then will be North Kerry and the Healy-Raes, the Shane Ross’s the Michael Lowrys? The goverment will be blackmailed by local politics and not of the benefit of national politics… how can you have the most popular party not in government?
@Paul O’Sullivan: According to Pearse Doherty Mary Lou is already in discussions to form a government that does not include either Ff or Fg!…,
@Kate Flaherty: Poor auld Pearse isn’t great with the numbers! Look at the numbers in their manifesto. Del Boy stuff!
@Paul O’Sullivan: I think I would leave the country!
@Ann Moynihan: not very democratic are you..? From a psycho- Analytical perspective I would diagnose you as being fear of the unknown.
@Ann Moynihan: you won’t be missed
@Kate Flaherty: and according to other sources,, she will talk to any party including FF or FG.
@For Goodness Sake: “The phantom €€2B:How everyone except Sinn Fein got the maths wrong” Journal.ie
@Ann Moynihan: good
Ah jaysus, what have we done?
@Peter Leonard: The people are done with FFGL doing what is best for the wealthy.
The people are sick of carry three civil war parties on their backs. The citizens have decided, enough is enough and voted for those who WILL represent them and put their interests and needs, ahead of big business and the wealthy.
So well done to SF and all those who voted for them :))
A bad day for West Brits
@Ray de Róiste: it’s silly comments like this that show just how backward some (not all) SF supporters can be, you included in this instances.
Comments like this show they need to move on from devision and hate.
Well done, you’ve shown yourself up.
@Barry Somers: Dessie Ellis sweeping the boards in Dublin NW. You’d wonder do many of the young people who voted for him know much about him. He has spent more time in Portlaoise than the locals.
@Barry Somers: I didn’t vote SF, thus I’m not really sure what your rant is regarding.
@GrumpyAulFella: its called standing up your country somthing you wouldt get FFG doing
@Tom o brien: it’s called terrorism.
@GrumpyAulFella: He is a former Provisional IRA prisoner. He was arrested in 1981, when explosives and bomb making equipment were found under his bed. He was charged with possession of explosives.[2] He jumped bail, but was arrested in Buffalo, New York in February 1982 and extradited to the Republic of Ireland,[2] where in April 1983, he was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment in Portlaoise Prison. In 1983, Ellis’ fingerprints were found on a huge cache of IRA explosives found in a forest outside the Berkshire town of Pangbourne. The cache was linked to the Harrods and Hyde Park bombings. On 14 November 1990, after thirty-five days on hunger-strike, Ellis became the first person extradited from the Republic of Ireland to the United Kingdom under the 1987 Extradition Act.
@Big D: He went on hunger strike to protest efforts to send him to Britain, but was extradited in the sixth week of his fast. Ellis had been convicted of possessing multiple power-timer units for IRA bombs, including those suspected of being used in the Hyde Park and Regent’s Park bombings.[3]
@Big D: That’s the terrorist those fools voted in. Shame on them.
@Ray de Róiste: keep your west brit comments. I’m Irish proud to be I would love to see a 32 county in my life time. But i also know that Sinn Fein in power would destroy Ireland as a place to do business. The people have spoken so let the Shinners in government, the are guaranteed to flatter to deceive!
@Big D: go on give a few bars of the sash, you shoneen
@Ray de Róiste:
How’s Charlie Flanagan doing? Hope we see the back of him.
@Big D: Perhaps you should have done a better job for those people and they wouldn’t have voted for SF?
The first step toward understanding is the hardest part – looking at yourself.
@Fergal Doyle: Guaranteed ? What’s this based on ? How could the housing/homeless/healthcare crisis get any worse ? As for the multinationals , they’re not going anywhere … The only people going anywhere are the bankers , for they will see their day inside the walls of a dark cell.
@Síle Donohoe: besides being an ugly sob , I suppose he’s doing grand. How are you?
@Colm: Not a shoneen man. Just don’t live in the past, and don’t like the fact that a person who’s been involved with blowing up children is a representative of this country.
@Ray de Róiste: ROFL I bet you believed them when they said they were going to oust Michael D and jail him for signing the Irish water Bill
@Ray de Róiste: what a sad comment. De roiste a good norman name you have…
@Niall Brew: thanks Niall . I often do consider myself a Northern Frog
@GrumpyAulFella: and how many were killed in the civil war when F.G. and F.F. were fighting it out .
The shinners doing a decent imitation of UKIPers jingoism. Lads you don’t get to claim ownership of the nations flag. Put it away
@Sim0n: Agreed. However some may argue that they do have a claim to it , considering that it was a future Sinn Féin TD responsible for raising the raising the flag for the very first time.
Often sssociated with separatism (by west Brits) in the past, it was first flown during the Easter Rising of 1916 and captured the national imagination as the banner of the new revolutionary Ireland. the tricolour then came to be acclaimed throughout the country as somewhat of a national flag. To many Irish people, though, it was still considered to be a “Sinn Féin flag”.
@Ray de Róiste: Jingoistic arguments certainly do like to rewrite history. The SF that are flegging it up in the RDS have no connection to the Sinn Féin of 1916. Co-opting a name might give SF the chance to blag proclamations cheekily co-signed by Adams, McGuinness & McDonald for €115, but a lot of us know the facts.
@Ray de Róiste: check your history on the flag. You are very much mistaken. The flag was used long before 1916
@finbarr walsh: I don’t doubt that it existed … To suggest it was “used” is very debatable. There is no historical evidence suggesting it was publicly “used” prior to rising. Therefore I doubt I am “very much” mistaken.
I get the feeling with the amount of people voting left in this country that theres a large element of our society who want the government to spoon feed them and almost look to government for how to think. We’re bloated with useless beaurocrats who are the cause of many of the ills of the country and people think to expand government programs is the answer. With these programs expanding more money will be gathered tru increased taxation and those who work will suffer all the more while being a lifelong doler will be the most attractive career of choice.
@Vote4Pedro: yawn. See my above comment.
You’ve only yourselves to blame.
A nation once again
I hope Sinn Fein will remember that some of these people have loaned them their votes and probably aren’t too impressed with choruses of ‘black and tans’. Many of them will know their history well enough to know that the Fine Gael roots who fought the black and tans, not the Belfast brigade of the provo’s.
@Misty Eyed Mutton: Very sorry that you find an anti Black and Tans song so offensive. I hope you are OK x
Didn’t take long for their terrorist masks to slip
So now we know why we have to mark our ballot paper in pencil!
This was the election Sinn Féin could have been in government if they’d run enough candidates. Still early days I guess but the numbers look just about sufficient for an FG/FF coalition with independents. So functionally the same as it ever was, big SF vote notwithstanding.
@John Considine: the exit poll suggests that 77% of people don’t want SF thankfully but they are a player in terms of a minority partner in a coalition no doubt.
@John Considine: there’ll probably be another election soon and they’ll run more and their supporters and others who usually don’t vote because it doesn’t usually make a difference will turn up.
@GrumpyAulFella: daft comment – the same can be said if F and FG.
Is this holds it represents an enormous surge in support for SF and a further dwindling of support for the old two.
Great day for Irish democracy and progress and a Terrible day for the Establishment
@GrumpyAulFella: your maths is great!! The exit poll also suggests that 77% of people don’t want Fianna Fail and also 77% of people don’t want Fianna Gael. So your anti SF comment is a bit of nul point really
@Sandra Whelehan: yes but it’s a fact. I was talking about SF. Most Shinners have been looking at FF and FG as the same party, FFG. That being the case then twice as many people want that than want SF. That’s also a fact.
As a Sinn Fein voter I’d like to apologise for all the Black and Tans sympathisers on here. I am so so sorry. ;)
@Peter Denham: I didn’t think you did apologies? Change indeed. How about rolling out the diggers to celebrate?
@Peter Denham: many people from non Sinn Fein roots actually fought and defeated the Black and Tans. Many people who voted for Sinn Fein in the modern era did nothing when Northern nationalists were under attack. The hypocrisy is rife in GAA club Saturday night rebels contributed nothing to the advancement of Ireland.
@Misty Eyed Mutton: Many people just don’t care about that stuff, like me, we just care about our country and making sure it’s citizens can afford houses and won’t die on trollies in a hospital.
And the song is obviously a dig at Leo and FG who sent it to number 1 in the UK and Ireland, and almost number one in Oz, because they wanted to celebrate the death of Irish people by the British. You couldn’t write it!
@AnnaXx: who did you vote for Anna ?
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