We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
AT THIS STAGE on Saturday night the first seats have been decided and it’s become clear what way the wind is blowing.
Here are a number of key takeaways from the first day of the election count.
Fianna Fáil will actually come out on top (despite what the exit poll suggested)
Last night’s RTÉ/Irish Times/TG4/Ipsos B&A exit poll had Fianna Fáil’s support at 19.5%, just behind Fine Gael on 21% and Sinn Féin on 21.1%.
What’s become clear over the course of the day is that the parties will end up very close together – but not in the order that the exit poll suggested.
Fianna Fáil look likely to be on top with 21.3%, according to figures compiled by pollster Kevin Cunningham and academic Stefan Mueller, followed by Fine Gael on 20.8% – and Sinn Féin on 18.7%.
The margin of error of the exit poll is 1.4%, and so while we don’t have the final result for each party yet, it’s looking right now like Fianna Fáil’s result was underestimated and Sinn Féin’s support was overestimated by the exit poll, and both outside of the margin of error.
Expect lots of theories trying to explain this over the coming days.
A bad day at the office for the Green Party
The Greens look set to lose up to three-quarters – and maybe more – of their Dáil seats in a bruising election result for the smallest of the government parties.
Party leader Roderic O’Gorman says he expects the party to win only two or three seats, having gone into the election with 12. In an even more dire forecast, former leader Eamon Ryan has said it’s “going to be very difficult” for the party to win even one seat.
“It is clear the Green Party has not had a good day,” O’Gorman told reporters this afternoon.
O’Gorman is in for a fight for his own seat in Dublin West, where he battling for the fifth of five seats there, while junior ministers Joe O’Brien and Ossian Smyth have already lost their seats, among others.
It begs the question: is it possible for a smaller party to go into government in this country without ending up being completely battered by the experience? Which brings us to…
The Social Democrats are having a really good day
The Social Democrats are on track to return all of their TDs, plus as of Saturday evening, they’re well-placed to bring a few new ones over the line too.
One source within the Soc Dems told us that they’re hoping to break into double figures for the Dáil this time around, up from their current haul of six.
That sounds ambitious, but a number of their candidates are in serious contention right now, including Elisa O’Donovan in Limerick City and Rory Hearne in Dublin North West.
All of this may make them an attractive proposition as a potential coalition partner for the next government.
The party made it clear that they have a number of red line issues – including a minister for disability – before they’ll even consider going into government.
Today is…. not Independents’ Day
It seems to be a running themes of recent Irish elections that independents do extremely well in the polls.
Independents did fine this time around – they look set to bring home just over 13% of the first-preference votes – but there was no big surge of support for them, like there was in previous years.
There were also a number of high-profile independents who didn’t get over the line, including former Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and former Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell.
And it doesn’t look like it’s going to be a big day for the far-right either
Immigration was a huge issue in the local and European elections in June but its salience has faded this time around – and anti-immigration candidates have seen this in their vote shares.
High profile candidates who might have expected to do well look set to lose out on seats, despite doing well in the local elections.
Independent candidate and Dublin City councillor Malachy Steenson remains in seventh place in Dublin Central on the fifth count and is not in contention for a seat in the constituency. Nearby, in Dublin North-West where independent candidate Gavin Pepper had been tipped to potentially take a seat, he is also currently in seventh place in the three-seater and does not appear to be in contention.
The exit poll found that housing, the cost of living, and healthcare were the biggest issues by far for people when deciding who to vote for.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
“Dad what’s that flower called ?
“Well son that’s a rhododendron”
How do you spell that ?
On second thought, i think that’s a rose
@larry smith: there’s a richie Kavanagh song to be written about that plant,if he’s still alive
Great series. People have gone mad for Cherry Laurel too and it’s choking out woods. They create dead zones. Birds don’t land on them or use them for cover and there’s nothing to forage on underneath.
Ever one off house in my area has it planted at their boundary in the last 10 years. Should be illegal.
@Ronan Mc: People should plant native hedges, cherry laurels contain cyanide so the birds are probably wise
@Ronan Mc: fwiw All our forest plantations are dead inside. With or without cherry Laurel. Forests are so densely planted not a bird inside. Anyway, cherry Laurel not banned by NPWS but probably should, yes.
Isnt Michael Healy Rae being made the super junior minister of rhododendrons?
I saw a garden centre advertise Rhododendron for sale on their social media. I called them out and it was removed, but I am sure it happens elsewhere.
@Ann Kennan: Apparently there are 200 types of Rhododendrons, and the only pest is Rhododendron Ponticum!
Does anyone on here ever regret opening up this site/ app as it’s getting so depressing?? But yet we somehow always seem to back for more.
@Donna Fallon: Personally, I’m just here for Larry’s dad jokes.
@Donna Fallon: Only you,my dear. Only you. But it’s nice to chat and mingle in a cesspit of filth every now and again. Nothing brings us back down to earth again as quickly as a malfunctioning Temu parachute.
@Chop Chop: For that comment,I sentence you to ten Hail Mary’s and two Our Father’s. It used to be one Our Father. Times have changed.
@Larry Betts: Only youuu can make the darkness bright…
@Chop Chop: We all need a bit of that… lol!!
@Donna Fallon: Awww thanks Madonna.
@Dave f Doe: Pri ck.
Bindweed is a divil in my garden. The flowers are pretty nice though and at least it dies back in winter.
@Chop Chop: I saw bindweed in Italy a few years back, the flowers weren’t white but a kind of electric blue, beautiful!
@Chop Chop: If you have bindweed in your garden,Chop Chop,do you know what you should do? You should chop and chop,Chop Chop,and don’t stop chopping til the chopper chops the lot.
@Larry Betts: On a roll Larry!
@Larry Betts: You’ve got the makings of a Dr. Seuss book there!
@Brian Hunt: Maybe I’ll get some seeds… it would like nice and also give the journal something to write about next year :-)
@Brian Hunt: The Greens tried to outlaw bindweed imported from Italy a few years ago. They said the electric blue flowers were bad for the environment. They preferred solar powered bindweed that gave off a yellow hue,or wind powered white bindweed.
@Chop Chop: Don’t plant them until after The Journal poll. “Have you ever planted an invasive species? Leave your answers in the comments below”
Maybe instead of poisoning the Japanese Knotweed, we could do like the Japanese and eat it – ideally as young sprouts (before it flowers). It tastes a slight bit rhubarby but when cooked is more like asparagus. It’s rich in plant bioactives like resveratrol, flavonoids and some of the beneficial antioxidant chemicals from green tea. It could and should be kept in check in this way rather than our current approach. The poisons don’t work. Eating does. Obviously not an option right now as they’re laden with weedkiller.
@Peter Conry: Shit. I just ate some before I’d finished reading your comment.
@Peter Conry: it’s held in check in Japan by native fungi and insects.
@JoeJoe Kilbride: yep, they’re important, along with other plants that compete for the same space.
Invasive species are indeed a problem……
Tipperary. Sure it can’t be that bad if someone’s going to make a few quid then. God help us.
We’re having a festival, Its called “Watch Your House Burn to the ground”, sure it’s very destructive and the tickets cost a lot but the flames are so pretty
The vee should be turned into a national park. (All mountain ranges IMO) Then let Parks & Wildlife & local volunteers start clearing this invasive species. In years to come the mountains could be purple with native heather.
Might as well ban everything that grows out there then , next it will be spuds etc
I’ve got three beauties in my back garden but they never recreate!
@Hotirish: Nuns,Dougal. They’re called nuns.
Laurel also a problem!
If it is such a problem why are garden centres allowed to sell it?
Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development.
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then these services may not function properly.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not be able to monitor our performance.
Cookies, device or similar online identifiers (e.g. login-based identifiers, randomly assigned identifiers, network based identifiers) together with other information (e.g. browser type and information, language, screen size, supported technologies etc.) can be stored or read on your device to recognise it each time it connects to an app or to a website, for one or several of the purposes presented here.
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times an ad is presented to you).
Information about your activity on this service (such as forms you submit, content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (for example, information from your previous activity on this service and other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (that might include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present advertising that appears more relevant based on your possible interests by this and other entities.
Advertising presented to you on this service can be based on your advertising profiles, which can reflect your activity on this service or other websites or apps (like the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects.
Information about your activity on this service (for instance, forms you submit, non-advertising content you look at) can be stored and combined with other information about you (such as your previous activity on this service or other websites or apps) or similar users. This is then used to build or improve a profile about you (which might for example include possible interests and personal aspects). Your profile can be used (also later) to present content that appears more relevant based on your possible interests, such as by adapting the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find content that matches your interests.
Content presented to you on this service can be based on your content personalisation profiles, which can reflect your activity on this or other services (for instance, the forms you submit, content you look at), possible interests and personal aspects. This can for example be used to adapt the order in which content is shown to you, so that it is even easier for you to find (non-advertising) content that matches your interests.
Information regarding which advertising is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine how well an advert has worked for you or other users and whether the goals of the advertising were reached. For instance, whether you saw an ad, whether you clicked on it, whether it led you to buy a product or visit a website, etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of advertising campaigns.
Information regarding which content is presented to you and how you interact with it can be used to determine whether the (non-advertising) content e.g. reached its intended audience and matched your interests. For instance, whether you read an article, watch a video, listen to a podcast or look at a product description, how long you spent on this service and the web pages you visit etc. This is very helpful to understand the relevance of (non-advertising) content that is shown to you.
Reports can be generated based on the combination of data sets (like user profiles, statistics, market research, analytics data) regarding your interactions and those of other users with advertising or (non-advertising) content to identify common characteristics (for instance, to determine which target audiences are more receptive to an ad campaign or to certain contents).
Information about your activity on this service, such as your interaction with ads or content, can be very helpful to improve products and services and to build new products and services based on user interactions, the type of audience, etc. This specific purpose does not include the development or improvement of user profiles and identifiers.
Content presented to you on this service can be based on limited data, such as the website or app you are using, your non-precise location, your device type, or which content you are (or have been) interacting with (for example, to limit the number of times a video or an article is presented to you).
With your acceptance, your precise location (within a radius of less than 500 metres) may be used in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
With your acceptance, certain characteristics specific to your device might be requested and used to distinguish it from other devices (such as the installed fonts or plugins, the resolution of your screen) in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
Your data can be used to monitor for and prevent unusual and possibly fraudulent activity (for example, regarding advertising, ad clicks by bots), and ensure systems and processes work properly and securely. It can also be used to correct any problems you, the publisher or the advertiser may encounter in the delivery of content and ads and in your interaction with them.
Certain information (like an IP address or device capabilities) is used to ensure the technical compatibility of the content or advertising, and to facilitate the transmission of the content or ad to your device.
Information about your activity on this service may be matched and combined with other information relating to you and originating from various sources (for instance your activity on a separate online service, your use of a loyalty card in-store, or your answers to a survey), in support of the purposes explained in this notice.
In support of the purposes explained in this notice, your device might be considered as likely linked to other devices that belong to you or your household (for instance because you are logged in to the same service on both your phone and your computer, or because you may use the same Internet connection on both devices).
Your device might be distinguished from other devices based on information it automatically sends when accessing the Internet (for instance, the IP address of your Internet connection or the type of browser you are using) in support of the purposes exposed in this notice.
The choices you make regarding the purposes and entities listed in this notice are saved and made available to those entities in the form of digital signals (such as a string of characters). This is necessary in order to enable both this service and those entities to respect such choices.
have your say