Hello, hello. Cormac Fitzgerald here bringing you the latest updates from count day as 949 seats in 31 local authorities across the island are due to be filled.

Boxes will open at 9am in count centres and the ballots will be sorted. Let’s start thing off with a look at the set up in the RDS in Dublin, courtesy of our reporter Nicky Ryan:

Inside the RDS where counting is set to begin shortly in the local elections (and then later, although not today, the European elections) #EP2024 #LE2024 pic.twitter.com/lR0JohY2fP

— Nicky Ryan (@NickyRyan_) June 8, 2024

As you can see, there are A LOT of bags and ballots to sort through. 

Cast your mind back to when you cast your ballots yesterday.

European and local election (and in Limerick, mayoral) votes were dropped into the same box.

The first job when the boxes open this morning will be to separate the different ballots. This is a big job in itself and will take a few hours. 

The European ballots will then be taken to the three dedicated centres until tomorrow morning, when counting will begin.

Counting will begin on the local ballots later this afternoon, though some local authorities may not even begin counting until this evening.

It will be a good while so before a picture will emerge of the makeup of the councils. So settle in for a long day!

Here we go!

The first boxes have been opened and the sorting has begun.

First thing will be to sort out the ballots, then the counting can properly start.

Our reporter Nicky is down at the RDS, where the sorting has begun:

And the boxes are open! pic.twitter.com/0LNmqh39u2

— Nicky Ryan (@NickyRyan_) June 8, 2024

Look at those ballots go!

So, while we may not know who is elected or the state of the parties for a good few hours yet, there will be some early tallies taking place.

Eagle-eyed tallymen (and women) for the various parties will be eyeing up the ballots as they’re arranged and sorted.

While the results aren’t exact, tallies can give a very good prediction of which parties will come out on top. The main parties will be giving some idea of the make up of some local authorities before the official result come in.

Expect some tallies from the European elections also, but these will be a lot harder to predict. 

So, as the votes are separated some (very, very early) tallies in the European elections are coming in. Bear in mind that these are very local specific and cannot be used to predict any wider outcome.

With that caveat out of the way, our reporter Nicky Ryan in the RDS has a take on one of the ballot boxes. Keep in mind that this is Bríd Smith’s and Daithí Doolan’s stomping ground, so it is unsurprising to see them doing well.

One ballot box does not make an election but watching votes from one in Ballyfermot-Drimnagh for the European elections. Daithí Doolan (SF), Bríd Smith (S-PBP), and Niall Boylan (II) clearly ahead.

— Nicky Ryan (@NickyRyan_) June 8, 2024

Meanwhile, Louise Burne, political correspondent with the Irish Mirror has some very, very early tallies from Palmerston Fonthill:

A (very, very, very early) European tally from Palmerston Fonthill

Regina Doherty (FG), Barry Andrews (FF), Lynn Boylan (SF), Brid Smith (PBP-Sol) and Aodhan O Riordain (Lab) all neck in neck @IrishMirror pic.twitter.com/5pZP0H2zPY

— Louise Burne (@louiseburne_) June 8, 2024

In keeping with the theme of it being difficult to predict national trends from local ballot boxes, Virgin Media News political correspondent Gavan Reilly (the main man when it comes to count coverage!) has been tweeting about geographical variances:

“Geographical variances very evident in Euro polling,” says Gavan.

In parts of Tallaght, for example, visible support for Lynn Boylan, and indeed for Niall Boylan – but the latter getting close to nothing in more middle-class boxes in neighbouring electoral areas.

Once more for those at the back: it will be a while yet before a clear picture emerges.

Some early reports of spoiled votes in Dublin also. 

Our reporter Emma Hickey in the RDS reports a fairly significant number of spoilt votes coming in. 

Gavan Reilly also reporting that a large proportion of the votes in one Tallaght box were spoilt, with people ticking the boxes rather than adding numbers for their preference. 

Nicky Ryan says he is seeing an awful lot of ballots for Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan.

“Still very early, but it really does look like Niall Boylan will be elected as an MEP,” Nicky says.

“Some boxes suggest he might top the poll, but others are very erratic with first preferences flying in every direction.”

Very early days, as we’ve said. and other reporters have strong showings for Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews and Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty, with Ciarán Cuffe and Aodhán Ó Ríordáin going well, and Lynn Boylan, Niall Boylan, and Clare Daly all in the mix. 

Meanwhile, Nicky is hedging his bets on the local results in Dublin.

“Early local election tallies from Dublin constituencies appear to be quite varied. No huge surprises jumping out at this stage in what I’ve come across. How’s that for a non-committal tweet?”

Early local election tallies from Dublin constituencies appear to be quite varied. No huge surprises jumping out at this stage in what I’ve come across. How’s that for a non-committal tweet?

— Nicky Ryan (@NickyRyan_) June 8, 2024

Still very early days.

Let’s zoom out of Dublin for a moment (about time, says you) and have a quick look at Midlands North-West.

RTÉ are reporting that some (VERY EARLY) tallies of European votes from Sligo and Donegal showing strong for Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Sinn Féin’s Chris MacManus.

Meanwhile, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín told RTÉ that he is confident that his party ”had a really good election campaign”.

Tóibín – who is running himself in Midlands North-West – said that if he manages to stay ahead of Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry (who also hails from the eastern side of the constituency), his party could be in with a shout.

“There’s no doubt that we’re competing for the European elections as well, but the issue I’d say there is that there’s two candidates from the eastern area – the Kildare, Meath Louth area – and I think that if Nina Carberry is behind Maria Walsh and if she goes out of the race, a lot of those votes will be local votes and transfer,” he said.

“So if we can stay ahead of Nina, I think we’ve a good chance of actually taking many of them.”

Time will tell. 

Unfortunately for the Ray McAdam crew, voting is already finished.

Some decent tallyperson merch here among Ray McAdam’s team pic.twitter.com/gNl5AJmku1

— Nicky Ryan (@NickyRyan_) June 8, 2024

Zooming back into Dublin, here’s a look at a quick cross-party tally for the Navan road in Dublin 7.

Barry Andrews leading, closely followed by Regina Doherty and then Clare Daly coming third. Lynn Boylan, Aodhán Ó Riordáin and Ciarán Cuffe are all grouped together after the top three.

It’s very clear that that fourth seat is going to be a real dog fight.

Votes are being sorted at the European elections count centre for Ireland South at Nemo Rangers GAA club. 

The local election count for the city council will be at City Hall – with the county council counts taking place in Clonakilty, Mallow and at County Hall on the Carrigrohane Road.

The first votes tumbling onto the counters’ tables at the count centre for Ireland South. No actual counting here today. Instead, the local and Euro votes will be segregated here. Local election votes will be counted at Cork City Hall; Euros here tomorrow. #elections2024 @rtenews pic.twitter.com/5JqDU0zW7j

— Paschal Sheehy (@PaschalSheehy) June 8, 2024

And if you’ve ever wondered what candidates do on election day, once the votes have been cast… 

Hadn’t a chance to cut the silage -ie lawn since April. Finally got it done just now at the highest level . It kept blocking up but eventually got through it! Grass was never as long but it fitted in with #biodiversity in May ! pic.twitter.com/lGQwRnWDMQ

— Seán Kelly MEP (@SeanKellyMEP) June 7, 2024

One more from Dublin. Our reporter Emma Hickey reports big variation in the tallies for the Euros across the various Local Electoral Areas.

Clare Daly doing well in some places, but poorly in others, as one tallyman remarked, she doesn’t appear to be very transer friendly.

Meanwhile, Independent candidate Malachy Steenson is scoring well in the North Inner City, along with Lynn Boylan. Niall Boylan looking good also.

Barry Andrews performing very well in places, not so good in others.

Malachy Steenson (IND), Lynn Boylan (SF), and Clare Daly (Independents 4 Change) are currently doing well in LEA North Inner City for the EP elections. Niall Boylan (II) is appearing to be set to take a seat in the EP, performing well across the Dublin constituency pic.twitter.com/AZSuobdmHk

— emmahickey (@emma_hickey1) June 8, 2024

A look at how things are shaping up in some of the local councils in the south west.

In Kerry, the council have opened and tallied the Corca Dhuibhne ballot papers and they are now on the way to the Tralee count centre. 

Having been opened and tallied at the Killarney Count Centre, the Corca Dhuibhne ballot papers are being sealed by the Returning Officer before being moved to the Tralee Count Centre for counting

They will be removed to Tralee under Garda escort#localelections2024 #Kerry pic.twitter.com/B6PXLGVmgW

— Kerry County Council - Comhairle Contae Chiarraí (@countykerry) June 8, 2024

RTÉ’s Micheál Lehane reports a strong showing by Tommy Griffin (FG), Robert Brosnan (SF), Dr Peadar O’Fionnáin (GP) and Michael O’Shea (FF). Seán Mac an tSíhigh has full tallies here:

Full tally from Corca Dhuibhne (Dingle Peninsula):

Brosnan (SF) 1423
Fitzgerald (FF) 997
Fitzgerald (FG). 723
Griffin (FG). 1718
Kennedy (Lab) 497
Ó Fionnáin (GP). 977
O’Shea (FF). 1116 pic.twitter.com/3H8kHXbYSc

— Seán Mac an tSíthigh (@Buailtin) June 8, 2024

In Limerick, Newstalk’s Seán Defoe has some early tallies for the mayoral race. Keep in mind that these votes won’t be counted until Monday.

Limerick tally at 10.20

Limerick city
John Moran 25pc
Helen O'Donnell 15pc
Maurice Quinlivan 14pc
Daniel Butler 8pc
Dee Ryan 6pc

Limerick county
John Moran 21 pc
Dee Ryan 20 pc
Helen O'Donnell 19pc
Daniel Butler 14pc
Maurice Quinlivan 8pc

Via @LN_but

— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) June 8, 2024

If you want to get a sense of what it’s like in a count centre, Roscommon County Council has you covered! 

They have a livestream of the Dr. Hyde Centre in Roscommon. Votes being sorted, tally folk leaning over the ledges, it’s all go!

📢 Ballot boxes are being opened since 9am at the Dr. Hyde Centre in Roscommon as the sorting of ballot papers continues.

💻 Livestreaming of the count can be accessed here - https://t.co/yPJOb2b0t2 pic.twitter.com/jWCDDR8zOD

— Roscommon County Council (@roscommoncoco) June 8, 2024

At the risk of being labelled Dublin-centric, a few more lines on the European election tallies.

Nicky Ryan has the inside scoop from some tally folk:

“General European elections vibe across a few Dublin tallies: seat each for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil (voters seem to be pairing their candidates together frequently), and then it’s Niall Boylan (II) and Lynn Boylan (SF),” he tweets.

However, others could transfer better than Niall Boylan, but it’s still so early.

The transfers are going to be key because Niall Boylan isn’t polling well at all in several areas, but great in others. The FF/FG dynamic – voters viewing them as a unit – is an interesting new element here, one tally expert told me. 

Meanwhile, tallyman extraordinaire Kevin Humphries of the Labour Party also reckons it will be a seat each for Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews and Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty. Both Boylans in the mix for the remaining seats also, though it will depend on transfers.

And here’s how the tallying looks!

A live tally experience for you pic.twitter.com/8Bzgr3SYNq

— Nicky Ryan (@NickyRyan_) June 8, 2024

Quick update from Cabra-Glasnevin. 

Fine Gael look set for an unusual gain in the area in Dublin City Council, where the party is leading among all the parties with just over 23% with almost one third of the tally done.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it’s very early days. It will be hard to get a national picture much later this evening.

However, local battles are shaping up to be very interesting. For example, as the Western People reports, a 100% tally of boxes has finished up in Castlebar in Mayo, a seven-seater.

Mayo is traditionally a Fine Gael stronghold, and Fine Gael are indeed performing well here with Ger Deere tallying at 1,866. Deere’s FG colleagues, as well as Fianna Fáil reps are doing okay also.

However, topping the poll is Independent Michael Kilcoyne, who is sure to be reelected. Hardline anti-immigration campaigner Stephen Kerr could be well in with a shout of getting elected also.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s vote had fallen, in what will be seen as a blow to the party. Local differences and all that, but a rise in support for Independents, establishment parties staying steady, and a drop in support for Sinn Féin chimes in with pre-election opinion polls.

Still a lot more sorting and counting before the day is done.

Emma Hickey doing some great work over there in the RDS. 

Tallies showing that Green Party candidate Michael Pidgeon is said to be “sweeping” the South West Inner City LEA.

Meanwhile, the Greens’ Claire Byrne is leading across several ballot boxes in the South East Inner City.

In the European elections, a tally shows Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (LP) as the front runner for the EP in the Clontarf LEA (unsurprisingly, given it’s his home turf).

“Bríd Smith (PBP), while not many people’s first preference across several LEAs, seems to have been given a high preference by many — which may lead to a large transfer of votes later on,” Emma reports. Follow her here for more updates:

Bríd Smith (PBP), while not many people’s first preference across several LEAs, seems to have been given a high preference by many — which may lead to a large transfer of votes later on #EP2024 #LE2024

— emmahickey (@emma_hickey1) June 8, 2024

Great news! Easy to lose a ring as you shove your ballot into the box.

A happy moment at Wicklow Count Centre! Oona McFarland from Bray is reunited with a special ring she lost in the ballot box while voting. The ring is in memory of her late daughter and very sentimental. Staff at the count centre were extra careful opening this box! @rtenews pic.twitter.com/lopR1FeYn0

— Gill Stedman (@GillStedman) June 8, 2024

Quick update from our Political Editor Christina Finn from the RDS.

Ballymun-Finglas tally people saying transfers are going all over the place.

I’m seeing lots of spoiled ballots too. Tally people seeing a few blank ballot papers too. pic.twitter.com/Nd8CG8Qgan

— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) June 8, 2024

An update from the North Inner City.

According to RTÉ, 44% of boxes have been opened and tallied in this area.

Fianna Fáil may be worried that their quasi-celebrity candidate Caio Benicio (the Deliveroo driver who intervened in the Parnell Square stabbing in November) isn’t going too well with just 3.7%. 

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan is going well with 15.5% of first preferences, Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam is on 14.8%, and Eoghan O’Ceannabhain of PBP-Solidarity is on 11.5% first preferences.

Still a lot of boxes to go.

An unusual update from Mayo, where there’s been reports that a small creature has been discovered in a ballot box…

Does a mouse in a ballot box deem votes spoilt if their soiled or ripped? @gavreilly #LE24 #Mayo

— Bríd Breathnach ☘️ (@Breegemw) June 8, 2024

Newstalk reporter Ellen Butler is keeping track of the latest tallies in the Limerick mayoral election, where it’s looking good (so far) for John Moran.

Initial tallies put the former Department of Finance sec gen eight points clear of Helen O’Donnell in second place.

Latest tally from the #limerick #mayor election...

1. John Moran (IND) - 25%

2. Helen O'Donnell (IND) - 17%

3. Dee Ryan (FF) - 14%

4. Dan Butler (FG) - 11%

5. Maurice Quinlivan (SF) - 10% pic.twitter.com/lDJR3Kif6r

— Ellen Butler (@LN_but) June 8, 2024

If you’ve been following the local and European campaigns over the past few weeks, you’ll no doubt have seen the grim emergence of a new trend: the intimidation of candidates while they’re canvassing or hanging up posters.

Our assistant news editor Stephen McDermott has written this morning about a new report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) and the Hope and Courage Collective (H&CC) which logged dozens of such incidents since the start of May.

“The incidents uncovered by the two think-tanks included racist abuse, harassment, physical violence and sexually-charged abuse,” he writes.

“It highlighted common themes from those involved in intimidation and harassment, including claims that established politicians are “traitors” and the issuing of “sinister threats” to candidates.”

Of the 36 incidents analysed, 13 targeted candidates from migrant backgrounds and featured racially-charged abuse; 21 incidents targeted women and 15 targeted men.

You can read more about that in depth here.

Here’s how tallies are looking in Louth.

Interestingly, tallies show Fine Gael candidate Marion Agrios running at around 2% despite her high-profile decision to suspend her campaign last week after reports that she received money and work on her home in exchange for withdrawing a planning objection.

Drogheda Rural LEA #Louth
Boxes Open: 14 Boxes Tallied: 54%

Anthony Murphy (GP): 4%
Mick Martin (IND): 2%
Marian Agrios (FG): 2%
Dereck McElearney (IP): 1%

(2/2)

— Marc O'Driscoll (@MarcODriscoll_) June 8, 2024

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has appeared at the Dublin count centre in the RDS.

He told reporters that he believes good tallies for the Coalition parties are a “reflection of a Government that functions well”, despite occasional policy differences between them.

“We have very different views with some of our Coalition colleagues, very different. But it’s not dysfunctional in the way that I see in some other European countries,” he said.

“And I think that maybe reflects in the public [vote] too.”

Like Eamon Ryan, our political editor Christina Finn is also in the RDS and reporting positive noises from the Greens (as well as Fine Gael).

Those in Fine Gael doing the rounds are saying the vote is holding up across the country - 'it's good news to start the day off with' said one.

Greens also confident. As one tally person said, the Green voters see the party has delivered on its policies and came out to vote.

— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) June 8, 2024

Political Editor Christina Finn here. I am down in the RDS where I have been chatting to folk from across all parties and checking out the tallies. 

Fine Gael seems to be confident that it is holding up across the country. One Fine Gaeler said it was good news to start the day off it, and that it had been some time since the party could say that. 

Green Party also seems to be doing better than they had hoped. One tally person said that Green voters appear to be happy that policies like greenways and cycle lanes are being delivered and they turned out to vote. 

Sinn Féin Party is holding its cards close to its chest so far. It looks like they will make improvements on 2019, but it does appears to have run too many candidates in some areas which could mean them losing out where they should have made gains. 

This can be seen in South West Inner City where the party ran three candidates, but it appears that it has split its vote. 

What is also strange is the Sinn Féin votes are not transferring to one another, from what I have seen as the votes get sorted. 

Looking to the European elections (which needs a serious health warning as it is very early days) Independent Niall Boylan appears to be doing well, Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews also. 

Also noteworthy from looking at areas such as Ballymun, Finglas and Artane is that transfers are sporadically going everywhere. I saw votes where the National Party got number one and Labour got number two. 

Still a lot to play for. I’ll bring you more updates as I get them. 

Another major factor of the campaign has been the emergence of a significant number of anti-immigrant candidates.

Figures compiled by our assistant news editor Stephen McDermott found that there are 167 far-right candidates running in 31 out of 33 local authorities.

And our deputy editor Christine Bohan has crunched the numbers from tallies so far and analysed where those candidates could perform well.

I think this is going to be important: We can already see that in areas that had big anti-immigrant protests (Coolock, East Wall), there has been an increase in turnout coupled with a strong showing for candidates who supported these protests. #le24

— Christine Bohan (@ChristineBohan) June 8, 2024

Dangerous to make predictions at this stage but my working theory is that communities that had big local anti-immigration protests may see more of a swing to far-right candidates, but ones where people were just running on a generic far-right platform don't have the same change

— Christine Bohan (@ChristineBohan) June 8, 2024

After the appearance of a mouse in Mayo earlier, another west of Ireland count centre has reported a ballot box mishap.

This time it’s a missing diamond ring in Galway’s Leisureland:

🗳️ 💍Spare a thought for the counters in Leisureland in Galway who are also searching for a diamond ring. It’s believed to have fallen into a ballot box while someone voted, which they have opened on a cloth. Still unfortunately not found #LE24 #elections2024 @rtenews

— Mary Regan (@MaryERegan) June 8, 2024

Hello! Cormac Fitzgerald back again (I had some lunch).

The Journal reporter and proud Corkonian Niall O’Connor will be in City Hall soon to track the Cork City count. He popped into Nemo Rangers GAA Club on the way, where the votes were being sorted and where tomorrow’s EU election count for Ireland South will take place.

Here’s how things are looking there:

Niall O'Connor Niall O'Connor

So, not a whole lot going on at the moment.

Aha! But Niall caught hold of Lord Mayor of Cork City Kieran McCarthy for a quick interview.

McCarthy said that the vote in the city was down on 2019, which means that the quota will be lower this time round.

Independents going well and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael holding he says. Watch the short interview here:

I’ll be covering the Cork and Ireland South side of things for @thejournal_ie over the next few days - here is Lord Mayor of Cork City Kieran McCarthy giving his view on the state of play. pic.twitter.com/ToUxJnGlN6

— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) June 8, 2024

One more from Cork and Niall for now (to make up for all that Dublin coverage).

In relation to the Fermoy electoral area, it seems that ‘Other’ candidates are topping the poll, followed Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Labour. 

This is with 45% of the boxes open, so still a fair whack to go. As things stand, Other candidates are on 42%, FF on 31%, FG 18%, SF 5%, Labour 3% and the Greens are on 1%.

Topping the poll at 25% is William O’Leary, formerly of FF but now running as an Independent. He has gained a lot of publicity in relation to his opposition to IP accommodation in Fermoy town. As things stand:

• Cork County Mayor Frank O’Flynn (15%).
• Noel McCarthy of Fine Gael (13%).
• Fianna Fail’s Deirdre O’Brien (10%).
• Independent Peter O’Donoghue (7%).
• Nelius Cotter of Fiann Fail (7%).
• Sinn Féin’s first time candidate Joe O’Brien (5%).
• Derek Blighe of Ireland First is (5%).
• Fine Gael’s Kay Dawson is on (4%).
• Independent Frank Roche (4%).
• Labour’s Diarmuid Hanley (3%).
• Ken Brennan of Independent Ireland (1%).
• Thomas Horgan, Independent (1%).
• Mary Ryder, Green Party, (1%).
• Joe Tobin, Independent, (1%).

Few full tallies in for Dublin City Council districts. 

Christina showing that Green topped the poll in the Kimmage-Rathmines area. While there were many fears for the Green vote, in many areas in Dublin they appear to be keeping their seats (though vote share has dropped). 

Tally here from Kimmage-Rathmines with 100% boxes opened sees Greens top the poll pic.twitter.com/EWl3fz2Hxy

— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) June 8, 2024

Loot at those numbers!

Meanwhile, TU lecturer Dr Caroline O’Sullivan has tweeted out the final tallies for Ballymun-Finglas. The six-seater will certainly be one to watch, with a wide spread of votes.

As things stand, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, Aontú, the Green Party, the National Party and a number of Independents are all in the mix. 

Final tally without postal Ballymun/Finglas #le24 pic.twitter.com/n7bx8RzHch

— Dr Caroline O'Sullivan (@CarolineAnnO) June 8, 2024

**TIMELINE CLEANSER**

Look at this Female Great Spotted Woodpecker visiting a bird feeder in a garden in Roundwood, Wicklow. this species has continued its dramatic range expansion in Ireland and now occurs in all counties. 

Ain’t it cute?

Eamonn Farrell Eamonn Farrell

Ad we’re back.

Our Assistant Editor Christine Bohan has a bit of analysis from Dublin.

“Artane-Whitehall had the highest turnout in the Dublin City Council area with just under 50% (49.5%) and sitting councillor John Lyons looks set to top the poll with just over 9% of the vote,” Christine writes.

“The Coolock Says No protests were a bit issue in this area in recent months and at least one candidate who campaigned on the issue, Kevin Coyle, could be in contention for a seat. He’s currently in 6th place with 7.45% of the vote, which could be enough to see him get over the line in the six-seater.”

Much of the speculation and polling leading up to these elections showed that Sinn Féin was in trouble.

With dizzyingly high numbers in opinion polls since 2020, the party has seen it’s majority being eaten away as it was caught on the hop on a number of hot button issues, including immigration.

The party has tried to steer the conversation back to issues such as housing and the need for a change of Government, but early signs show that it may not make the gains it wants in the local elections. Bear in mind that this comes after a poor showing back in 2019 as well.

In Cork, for example, the party’s own tallies are showing a drop in support. Candidates are not polling well in the city and will struggle to gain seats.

Word is that a shift to the right by its traditional base is being blamed as the root cause, with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil coming out relatively unscathed.

Time will tell if this pattern is repeated in other areas. While the party is showing well in some areas, like the south east, it is also struggling in Dublin.

Quick glance back at the Euros. This is another quick analysis from our assistant editor Christine:

“While counting doesn’t start in the Europeans until tomorrow, there are some tallies which are giving us a picture of what is happening,” Christine writes.

“This one from Cabra in the Dublin constituency shows Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan topping the poll in the area, followed by Ciaran Cuffe, Barry Andrews and then Bríd Smith.”

Some more analysis from the Dublin count centre from our reporter Emma Hickey. Chiming in with what we were saying about Sinn Féin, the party is not doing well in Dublin, having fielded too many candidates. 

Sinn Féin have polled poorly locally. A major factor in this is the splitting of SF votes. The Greens' decision to run less candidates has clearly worked, sweeping Dublin Bay South

— emmahickey (@emma_hickey1) June 8, 2024

“Sinn Féin have polled poorly locally. A major factor in this is the splitting of SF votes. The Greens’ decision to run less candidates has clearly worked, sweeping Dublin Bay South,” Emma writes.

Greens have polled very well across the Dublin constituency in the local elections – despite leader Eamon Ryan admitting that they may lose MEP seat.

Meanwhile, some transfers all over the place, with one tallyer calling them “shocking”.

Where will it all end up? Stay with us to find out!

Worth highlighting Eamon Ryan’s comments there. 

It seems now that in Dublin at least the Green Party won’t be facing any massive wipeout, and will retain many of its local authority seats.

However, both the party’s MEPs are facing an uphill battle to retain their seats.

Ciarán Cuffe – one of the most high-profile MEPs – will struggle to keep his seat in a highly competitive field. Speaking earlier, Ryan said the seat was at risk.

“It’s such a competitive field, I know that myself having ran for it a few years ago,” he said.

I think he’ll be in with a chance for that last seat, but it’ll be dependent on transfers.

The good money is on Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews and Fine Gael’s Regina Doherty to take the first two seats. Lynn Boylan, Niall Boylan, Clare Daly, Bríd Smith and Cuffe are in the mix for the final two. But it will be days before it’s all settled.

They’re just about ready to start counting in Cork City Hall!

Counting about to begin here in Cork City Hall. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/SeaCGkmOE2

— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) June 8, 2024

A little look at the contest for a directly-elected mayor in Limerick.

While counting won’t start for some time yet, Nick Rabbitts of the Limerick Leader has interviewed veteran poll watcher Joe Kemmy. 

Kemmy has been described by some as one of the the best in the business, and he reckons John Moran will be the next mayor of Limerick. Have a listen here:

It's very early days in the election for Limerick's first directly elected mayor.

Not a single vote in this election will be counted until Monday. But veteran poll-watcher Joe Kemmy has made a bold prediction as to who he thinks will win the contest.

⬇️ pic.twitter.com/c6xOUI2b57

— Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) June 8, 2024

Christine Bohan has been looking at more trends in Dublin:

“Here’s an interesting trend in Dublin – or, more specifically, in the three local electoral areas that make up Dublin Bay South. In each one of them – Pembroke, Kimmage-Rathmines, and the South-East Inner City – candidates from the government parties have taken the top two positions.

“And more specifically, it’s candidates from the Green Party or Fine Gael who have come first and second, according to the tally with 100% of the boxes opened in each of the areas. This is Eamon Ryan’s area so it makes sense that the organisation turned out for their candidates, but it will give a boost to the government parties.

“We’ve already heard anecdotally that FG and the Greens are happy with their showings so this will be more grist to the mill for them.”

Meanwhile, in the South East Inner City:

“Claire Byrne of the Greens has topped the poll with 15%, followed by Danny Byrne of Fine Gael on 10.2%, with Social Democrats, People Before Profit, Independents and Sinn Féin coming in next.

It’s a similar story in Kimmage Rathmines where Carolyn Moore of the Greens topped the poll, with Fine Gael and Labour in second and third, while in Pembroke, former FG general election candidate James Geoghegan has gotten a whopping 20% of the vote, followed by former Lord Mayor Hazel Chu (Greens) on 17% and long-time councillor Dermot Lacey of Labour on 16.4%.

If you feel like you haven’t got enough election news well what about this from Paschal Donohoe:

Minister Paschal Donohoe says he still thinks the next General Election will take place in March

— Mícheál Lehane (@MichealLehane) June 8, 2024

Analysts will still be wondering if Simon Harris might go sooner, however, as Sinn Féin may be on the ropes if fears of a poor showing in the locals pan out.

Sinn Féin had a poor showing back in 2019 too, but rallied by early 2020 to make record gains. Maybe Harris will go a little sooner so as not to give the party the time to rally?

!WE HAVE AN ELECTED COUNCILLOR!

Independent councillor Thomas Welby has passed the quota on the first count and been elected in the Conamara North LEA.

Welby also topped the poll and was the first elected in 2019.

Not far behind Welby is Seamus Walsh of Independent Ireland, followed by Gerry King of Fianna Fáil and Eileen Mannion of Fine Gael.  

Toradh an 1 Comhaireamh do Thoghlimistéar Áitiúil Chonamara Thuaidh.
Results of the 1st Count for the Conamara North Local Electoral Area. #LE24 #Gaillimh #Galway pic.twitter.com/PuNv016It4

— Galway County Council (@GalwayCoCo) June 8, 2024

Now that one councillor has been elected my work here is done.

Cormac Fitzgerald signing off for the evening, and my colleague Jane Moore will be taking over the reins. Stay with us as there is a lot more to come!

Hello! Jane Moore here. I’ll be bringing you all the latest updates throughout the afternoon. 

As we’ve just heard, Independent councillor Thomas Welby is the first councillor to be elected, topping the poll in the Conamara North LEA.

Only 948 more to go. 

Our reporter Niall O’Connor, who is on the ground in Cork City Hall, has been speaking to Fianna Fáil Councillor Tony Fitzgerald. 

The former Lord Mayor of Cork looks set to retain his seat in Cork City North West. 

I had a chat with Cllr Tony Fitzgerald Fianna Fáil Councillor and former Lord
Mayor who looks likely to retain his seat in Cork City North-West. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/cQ4aNe6F9L

— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) June 8, 2024

Some fighting words from Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe this afternoon. 

He told Virgin Media’s Gavan Reilly that the election will “shatter the illusion that there’s any sense of inevitably about Sinn Féin being in government”. 

The Dublin Central TD also poured cold water on the chatter that Taoiseach Simon Harris may call an early general election based on the local results, saying the Government intends to run its full term until March 2025. 

💬 "This election is going to shatter the illusion that there's any sense of inevitably about Sinn Féin being in govenrment," Paschal Donohoe tells @virginmedianews.

Adds that the Government intends to run its full term until March 2025.

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) June 8, 2024

Meanwhile, Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe – who is facing an uphill battle to retain his seat in Europe – has been speaking to our reporter Jane Matthews.

Just had a brief chat with Green MEP Ciarán Cuffe who is in for a tough battle to retain his seat in Dublin - He says it’s hard to call but he’s happy he’s been working hard in Europe the last 5 years.

On the locals, he says it’s not a green wave “but not a wipeout either”.

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

Looking at the local elections, he said “it clearly isn’t a green wave, but it’s not a wipeout either”.

“It’s a real mixed bag for the Greens, but I’m glad that despite being in government during challenging times, we will still have some gains in certain areas,” he said.

You can read more here.

Sinn Féin’s Alan Whelan, who is looking unlikely to gain a seat in the North Inner City, has shared his thoughts. 

It is what it is. #LE24

— Alan Whelan (@AlanWhelanSF) June 8, 2024

Fasten your seatbelts.

Here at Weston Airport count centre for @thejournal_ie bringing you the latest on the election count for South Dublin County Council. pic.twitter.com/2x8iAVidRg

— Muiris O’Cearbhaill (@muirisoc) June 8, 2024

DING DING DING – WE HAVE THREE MORE COUNCILLORS!

PJ Murphy of Fine Gael, Martina Kinane of Fianna Fáil and Independent Geraldine Donohue have all been elected on the first count in the Gort-Kinvara LEA in Galway.

Fine Gael’s Paul Killilea now needs just 120 transfers to be elected.

Toradh an 1ú Chomhaireamh do Thoghlimistéar Áitiúil An Ghoirt-Chinn Mhara
Results of the 1st Count for the Gort-Kinvara Local Electoral Area. Murphy,PJ, Kinane, Martina & Donohue, Geraldine tofa/elected #LE24 #Gaillimh #Galway pic.twitter.com/3TP94Edeb4

— Galway County Council (@GalwayCoCo) June 8, 2024

Speaking to Galway Bay FM in the last few minutes, newly-elected Fine Gael councillor PJ Murphy said he was “absolutely delighted” to have topped the poll in the Gort-Kinvara LEA. 

Murphy said it was ”going to be a tight race” and that the “hard work really begins now”. 

Some analysis here on Conamara North. Bill Breathnach writes:

“There are four seats in total here. Independent incumbent Thomas Welby has just been elected on the first count. Independent Ireland, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil seem set to take the other three, although first-time independent Mánus Ó Conaire is polling well and in with a shout of taking the last seat, particularly if he performs well on transfers and surpluses.

“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are only running one candidate each. Sinn Féin will be disappointed that they have not improved on their 2019 vote. Seamus Walsh’s decision to jump ship to Independent Ireland from Fianna Fáil appears to have paid off.

“His FP vote is up by 5.29% and he looks set to take a seat. He was embroiled in controversy last December when he was criticised by Micheál Martin over comments he made following the arson attack at Ross Lake House Hotel in Rosscahill which was intended to be used to house asylum seekers.”

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has arrived at Cork City Hall. 

Speaking to reporters, the Fianna Fáil leader said it’s clear his party will be “over 20% by the time all of these counts are collated and put together”. 

“We’ve put up a very robust performance and we’re holding our own compared to our performance in the general election in 2020,” he said. 

Martin also said that while it seems Fianna Fáil have had a great result in Cork, “an awful lot will be determined by the transfers and by the later counts”. 

Tánaiste Micheál Martin speaks to reporters here in Cork. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/L4oxaOaqaE

— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) June 8, 2024

We have some more results coming in from Galway now. 

Independent Ireland candidate Seamus Walsh has been elected on the second count in the Conamara North LEA. 

Toradh an 2ú Comhaireamh do Thoghlimistéar Áitiúil Chonamara Thuaidh.
Results of the 2nd Count for the Conamara North Local Electoral Area. Walsh, Seamus tofa/elected #LE24 #Gaillimh #Galway pic.twitter.com/vzXO7MTskJ

— Galway County Council (@GalwayCoCo) June 8, 2024

Bill Breathnach writes that Independent Geraldine Donohue’s vote in Galway’s Gort-Kinvara LEA has really benefited from the rise in votes for Independents.

“She has been elected on the first count on 17.71% of FPs. This is up a substantial 12.42% from 2019. However she is the only Independent candidate in this LEA.

“This could be an indication of things to come whereby Independents receive a high vote, but don’t fully capitalise on it in terms of seats due to a lack of candidates. Something similar has been seen in Corca Dhuibhne, where there were no Independents.”

Donohue appears to have been campaigning on local issues, such as better roads, footpaths and bin services locally. She was also endorsed by Independent TD Seán Canney.

Minister of State and Fine Gael TD Colm Burke has been speaking to our man in Cork Niall O’Connor about how he thinks the day has gone so far. 

Minister for State and Fine Gael TD Colm Burke with his view on the day here in Cork so far. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/eJusiX64EL

— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) June 8, 2024

Crossing over to Dublin, and Labour’s MEP candidate Aodháin Ó Ríordáin has told reporters that “it’s going to be a great few days” for the party. 

Labour’s MEP candidate Aodháin Ó Ríordáin feeing confident ahead of the European Parliament count starting tomorrow.

Overall it seems to be a lot of smiles from team Labour so far, with the party looking set to hold its own in the local elections. ⁦@thejournal_ie⁩ pic.twitter.com/vaY9lyOdCg

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

After Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe’s comments about Sinn Féin earlier, Daithí Doolan has hit back saying Fine Gael is “obsessed” with his party. 

Sinn Féin’s Daithí Doolan in response says Paschal Donohoe ‘would say that’.

He says Fine Gael are obsessed with Sinn Fein. pic.twitter.com/tXjzF49EBX

— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) June 8, 2024

Hello! Jane Matthews here reporting from the RDS count centre in Dublin where Labour leader Ivana Bacik has just had a quick chat with some media. 

And look, it is all smiles from Team Labour today. 

Based on the early tallies, the party looks like it has managed to hold its own and even make gains in some areas.

Bacik said the party is “delighted” to see how strong Labour’s local campaign has been.

 The Labour Party ran 109 candidates across the country in the local elections, while in the European Parliament elections, TD Aodháin Ó Ríordáin looks like he is possibly in with a chance at nabbing the final seat in the Dublin constituency. 

“It’s early days there and we don’t have a decent tally, but he’s in the mix,” Bacik said. 

Asked by one reporter if she is delighted that reporters of Labour’s death have been “much exaggerated” in recent years, Bacik responded: “I always knew it was greatly exaggerated”.

Labour’s MEP candidate Aodháin Ó Ríordáin feeing confident ahead of the European Parliament count starting tomorrow.

Overall it seems to be a lot of smiles from team Labour so far, with the party looking set to hold its own in the local elections. ⁦@thejournal_ie⁩ pic.twitter.com/vaY9lyOdCg

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

Our reporter Niall O’Connor has some analysis from Cork City North East:

“Independent Ireland candidate Ken O’Flynn is, if tallies are to be believed, taking an extraordinary lead in the polls. It is expected he will get 22.57% in first preferences.

“A senior Fine Gael source in the city believes that such a percentage would see him easily take a seat in a general election, as estimates are that 16% would get a candidate over the line on a Dáil seat campaign.”

Fine Gael’s Séamus Cosaí Fitzgerald, who has served on Kerry County Council since 1999, has been eliminated on the second count in Corca Dhuibhne LEA.

Judging by the first count, he appears to have lost a lot of ground to his running mate Tommy Griffin, who narrowly missed out on a seat last time round.

Bill Breathnach writes:

“Really bad vote management locally by Fine Gael, who ought to have been in strong contention for a second seat judging by their overall FP vote count. In fact, they are up 2.27% from last year.”

Away from the local elections, Joshua McCormack has been looking at how things are shaping up on the continent in the European elections.  

Looking to Italy, right-wing prime-minister Giorgia Meloni’s FDI looks set to storm the polls.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voting in the European elections in Rome today. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Her ruling party, the FDI (Brothers of Italy) finished in the 2019 European Elections with just 6.44% of the vote, is poised to quadruple that share with early exit-polls predicting Meloni could win 27% of the vote.

Meloni’s approach to the election, like much of her leadership, has been characterised by strong personalistic overtones. In one campaign speech, she urged voters to ‘just write Giorgia’ on their ballots – permissible under Italian electoral law – and many of her would-be MEPS have her front-and-centre in their posters, running less under the FDI banner, and more under the Meloni umbrella.

Matteo Salvini’s LEGA party, which currently holds the crown for the most MEPS in the European Parliament – 22 – has haemorrhaged voters in recent years, on foot of increased right-wing sentiment in the country, which has only bolstered Meloni’s electoral prospects.

Sticking with Europe, Stephen Conneely writes that with results from the Netherlands to be officially announced at 11PM local time on Sunday, we only have polls and predictions to guide us towards what our next European Parliament may look like.

Benefitting from the largest turnout in an EU election since 1989, the race is on between the right-wing populist PVV (Party for Freedom) and the GreenLeft-Labour alliance – and it is neck and neck.

Dutch national newspaper NRC suggests that PVV will enjoy a “big win”. However, it isn’t as large as their landslide victory from last year’s General Election, suggesting that their support amongst the Dutch electorate is waning.

The GreenLeft-Labour alliance is thought to pip PVV for the most seats. However, it’s significant to note that this alliance does not transfer neatly over to the European Parliament, as Labour and GreenLeft belong to separate – albeit similar – political groups in Brussels.

NOS, a member of the Dutch public broadcasting system, says that BBB – a party seen as a populist, ‘farmers first’ party – is in a good position to win its first ever seat, or possibly even two of them. BBB was founded in 2019 and is currently led by a former journalist who is the daughter of an Irish immigrant.

Finally, the centrist VVD party, who was in power from 2010 until 2023, is expected to lose only one seat. Although this is of course a loss, it is seen as a net win for the party, who hoped to avoid a second consecutive embarrassment from the ballot papers.

We see here from the Netherlands that the expected right-wing sweep may not cross the continent after all, although its probability is not to be underestimated. The greens have also enjoyed notable success, a feat that may not be as easily replicated here in Ireland.

Back in Kerry, Fine Gael’s Tommy Griffin has been elected in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA on the third count.

Griffin received the bulk of the FG vote, with his running mate Seamus Cosaí Fitzgerald being eliminated on the second count.

Cue getting lifted up to celebrate.

Tommy Griffin of Fine Gael has been elected in Corcha Dhuibhne pic.twitter.com/jUlIgcfNKi

— Radio Kerry (@radiokerry) June 8, 2024

Early Wexford LEA tallies are showing George Lawlor (LAB) topping the poll. Robbie Staples (FG), Garry Laffan (FF), Leonard Kelly (IND) and Tom Forde (SF) should also take a seat. The last two seats are in contention, with Labour expected to win another.

Bill Breathnach writes: “This would be a disappointing result for the newly formed Wexford Independent Alliance, which is affiliated with local TD Verona Murphy.

“A strong Labour vote in Wexford town would also bode well for the Labour party, with George Lawlor widely expected to contest the next General Election with outgoing TD Brendan Howlin due to retire.”

Independent Ireland elected councillor for Conamara North Seamus Walsh has told Galway Bay FM:

“We have never been right wing, we are not right wing, we love people, we are good to people, but we are disgusted with the way the government is mishandling the immigration issue.”

A total of 19.2% of Conamara North voters indicated Walsh as their first preference, and he was elected with 1,525 votes on the second count. 

“We have never been right wing, we are not right wing, we love people, we are good to people, but we are disgusted with the way the government is mishandling the immigration issue”. Seamus Walsh, Ind Ireland, Oughterard. #LocalElections2024 pic.twitter.com/tTXbbqlnJT

— Galway Bay FM (@gbayfm) June 8, 2024

More seats filled in Galway!

Fine Gael candidate Paul Killilea has been elected on the second count in the Gort-Kinvara LEA.

Toradh an 2ú Comhaireamh do Thoghlimistéar Áitiúil An Ghoirt-Chinn Mhara
Results of the 2nd Count for the Gort-Kinvara Local Electoral Area. Killilea, Paul tofa/elected #LE24 #Gaillimh #Galway pic.twitter.com/lULrsvnO4N

— Galway County Council (@GalwayCoCo) June 8, 2024

Meanwhile, everything has wrapped up in the Conamara North LEA, with Fianna Fáil’s Gerry King and Fine Gael’s Eileen Mannion taking the final two seats on the fourth count. 

Toradh an 4ú Comhaireamh do Thoghlimistéar Áitiúil Chonamara Thuaidh
Results of the 4th Count for the Conamara North Local Electoral Area. Mannion,Eileen & King, Gerry tofa/elected #LE24 #Gaillimh #Galway pic.twitter.com/XCWOv0Wyk9

— Galway County Council (@GalwayCoCo) June 8, 2024

We turn now to the South East Inner City, where… no one has been elected on the first count. 

The Green Party’s Claire Byrne is at the top of the pile with 1,094 first preference votes, only slightly short of the 1,212 quota. 

No candidate has met the quota for South East Inner City. A second count will take place pic.twitter.com/39Bswy1rrO

— emmahickey (@emma_hickey1) June 8, 2024

Fine Gael TD and former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been speaking on Newstalk in the last while, telling the station that it looks like the party could see a few candidates from migrant backgrounds elected. 

Varadkar said it was nice to see his party picking up seats in areas “where we didn’t have them before, like Swords (Dublin), like Celbridge (Kildare), possibly Donabate (Dublin), second seats in Castleknock and Lucan (Dublin).

“But it looks like we could have about five or six Fine Gael candidates from migrant backgrounds elected in Dublin,” Varadkar said.

“Baby and Britto Pereppadan in Tallaght, Punam Rane who is certainly going to be elected in Kimmage-Rathmines. Supriya Singh has got a good chance as well, also a woman with a Romanian background recently added to the ticket in Celbridge (Lumi Panaite Fahey) is also going to win.

So for every far-right warrior on Twitter that is going to get elected, there will be at least one Fine Gael migrant candidate in Dublin elected. So five fingers to the far-right.

'For every far-right warrior on Twitter who's going to get elected, there will be at least one Fine Gael migrant-background candidate in Dublin elected'@LeoVaradkar on #LE24 pic.twitter.com/eIn2LdeaO7

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) June 8, 2024

Back in Cork, Finance Minister Michael McGrath has been telling our reporter Niall O’Connor that Fianna Fáil is “encouraged” by the tallies they’ve seen so far. 

His brother Seamus McGrath looks set to secure over 5,000 first preference votes in the Carrigaline LEA in Cork. 

Minister for Finance Michael McGrath spoke to me here at City Hall about how the day is going as they await the first count. His brother Cllr Seamus McGrath is polling strongly. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/1nB1XF52oO

— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) June 8, 2024

We have our first elected Dublin City councillors!

Fine Gael’s James Geoghegan and the Green Party’s Hazel Chu have both been elected on the first count in the Pembroke LEA. 

Fine Gael’s Emma Blain is just below the 1,947 quota, with 1,792 votes.

James Geoghegan (FG) and Hazel Chu (G) both in on first count in Pembroke Dublin @thejournal_ie

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

On that note, I’m going to hand you over to my colleague Órla Ryan.

Stay with us as there is a lot more to come this evening!

Hi there, it’s Órla Ryan here. Thanks for staying with us so far today. 

Here’s the latest update from my colleague Bill Breathnach:

Mannix Flynn, incumbent independent councillor with Dublin City Council, has described the count there as “very fractured” and “very clear in one respect, but no one is getting any particular clear mandate”.

He describes Sinn Féin and Labour’s decision to run multiple candidates as “a mistake”, saying: “That strategy is more geared towards the general election which is coming up very soon. It’s a branding strategy.

The local elections for them are something you would sacrifice for the bigger picture.

Flynn says PBP vote is “decent enough” but “nothing decisive” and they won’t be “transfer friendly”. Both PBP and Flynn are neck-and-neck after the first count, and Flynn will be hoping to be more transfer friendly.

He says the Greens in particular and Fine Gael are surprised with how well they have done, with both candidates expecting to do worse.

Flynn predicts that FG, the Green Party and Sinn Féin will take seats, and that Labour will lose a seat.

He also predicts that he and the Social Democrats will be in poll position for the last two seats, depending on transfers.

“It’s not so much about who’s goning to swim, it’s about who the tides are going to take out.”

Here’s how things are looking after the first count in Pembroke LEA. As we reported earlier, Fine Gael’s James Geoghegan and the Green Party’s Hazel Chu have been elected.

Looking abroad now, Joshua McCormack has compiled this update on the European election in Slovakia:

In Slovakia, the election falls in the shadow of the recent assassination attempt against Prime Minister Robert Fico, and a broader context of flaring pro and anti-EU sentiments which have boiled over in recent months.

Fico’s attitude toward the European Union often echoes that of the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban; both have advocated severing EU spending on Ukrainian defence and diverging from EU laws.

The last few months – prior to the assassination attempt – were characterised by mass protest in the capitol’s streets; movements against Fico’s perceived slide towards Russia and against restrictions on public broadcasting freedoms – with a sea of EU flag waving over many demonstrations.

However, in the 2023 general election, SMER (Fico’s party) and HLAS (another pro-Russia, Eurosceptic party) polled well. The former secured the highest vote share – 22.95% – and the latter won over 14%, showing there are strong eurosceptic sentiments in the population at large.

Progressive Slovakia (PS), the second largest party, is pro-Europe, along with a number of other smaller parties, and PS looked set to come out on top in the EP election, polling ahead of SMER – but that was before the assassination attempt.

In a strange twist of fate, Fico’s would-be assassin has caused the injured prime minister’s electoral prospects to skyrocket in early exit polls. Before the attack, the race was relatively contested, but now SMER has soared ahead of its left-wing rivals, rising to top the polls.

Our Political Editor Christina Finn has been speaking to Regina Doherty, Fine Gael’s MEP candidate in Dublin.

Doherty, who is predicted to take one of the four seats in the Dublin constituency, gave some interesting insights into her party’s recent leadership change.

She thanked Leo Varadkar for being by her side, but said it would have perhaps been a tougher fight had Simon Harris not taken over. 

Regina Doherty who is predicted to take a seat says there is ‘great affection’ for Simon Harris.

She thanks Leo Varadkar for being by her side but also says it would have perhaps been a tougher fight had there not been change in leadership pic.twitter.com/8riypy2UHV

— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) June 8, 2024

Jackie Healy-Rae elected on first count in Castleisland LEA pic.twitter.com/8bgZu6AInj

— Radio Kerry (@radiokerry) June 8, 2024

Jackie Healy-Rae Jnr, son of TD Michael Healy-Rae, has been elected in Castleisland.

Here is a list of all the councillors elected to date.

Looking abroad once again, Stephen Conneely has compiled this update on what’s happening in Spain:

Spain is to join most member states in voting for the European Parliament on Sunday, in what will result in a truly massive number of Europeans flocking to the polls.

The Spanish electorate will, broadly speaking, be faced with the choice between the conservative People’s Party and the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party.

There isn’t a huge difference in the vote share between these two, according to opinion polls that consistently show the People’s Party marginally outperforming the socialists, who have been in government since 2018, by 2 to 4%.

Despite the name, the Socialist Workers’ Party isn’t particularly radical in their policies, preferring to be known as a party that “attracts the centre” and advocates for “reformism”, according to their leader Pedro Sanchez.

The Spanish socialists join Ireland’s Labour Party in the Party of European Socialists group in the EU, while the People’s Party share the same tent as Fine Gael with the European People’s Party – headed by Ursula von der Leyen.

Apart from this, we see Spain joining in the trend of a rising far-right.

Vox, known for its anti-immigrant rhetoric, pro-traditional Catholic values, and anti-Catalan separatism, is eyeing up a near doubling of its seats in the European Parliament, from four to seven.

Although Vox’s relative success in the upcoming election is of note as it places the party firmly in third place nationally, the centre-left and centre-right have an undeniable grasp over the Spanish electorate, and it is close to a done-deal that the vast majority of Spanish MEPs will come from them.

Our News Correspondent Niall O’Connor has been speaking to Saoirse Mackin, the Social Democrats’ local election candidate for Cork City North West.

The Journal The Journal

Mackin is unlikely to be elected, but is feeling positive overall.

“We’re very happy to get nearly 400 first preference votes, the fact that nearly 400 people put their faith in me for their first preferences is really, really nice to see, and I appreciate it a lot.”

Mackin is trans and said she has received “a very, very positive reception on the doors”, but social media has been “a bit more negative”.

“The vast majority of people have been very positive,” she added. 

My colleague Alessia Micalizzi has this update from Pembroke:

Hazel Chu and James Geoghegan retain the first two seats, like they did in 2019.

Emma Blain is the new Fine Gael name in the area and is keeping up with 2019′s third favourite Lacey Dermot (Labour).

Blain strongly supported Simon Harris becoming the party’s new leader, writing on her X account that “she has known him long before his hair went silver” and that he is “undoubtedly the most dedicated, hard working politician” she has ever known.

People looking at a TV showing the tally of ballots at Nemo Rangers GAA club during counting for local elections in Cork Alamy Stock Photos Alamy Stock Photos

The latest from Niall O’Connor in Cork: First counts from Cork city and county are due in Mallow in the next 45 minutes. But it is understood that Clonakilty in West Cork only got their boxes opened in last hour – huge delay there.

Another update from our reporter Muiris O’Cearbhaill: 

A number of Dublin-West and South-West TDs have arrived at Weston Airport count centre ahead of the first results for South Dublin County Council (SDCC), namely Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin, People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy and Fine Gael’s Colm Brophy.

None of them have stopped to chat to reporters, however, and have chosen to spend some time with their families, chat with the campaign team or, in Ó Broin’s case, walk in and out of the count centre in front of reporters a few times.

Elsewhere in Dublin, coalition parties are suggesting today’s results mean Sinn Féin’s chances at topping polls at the next general election are “shattered”.

But final tally figures from SDCC earlier showed the party were topping polls in at least two five-seater wards, Palmerstown-Fonthill (22%) and Tallaght South (20.5%).

As of now, no results have been announced here at Weston Airport. The first counts for Tallaght South and Firhouse-Bohernabreena are currently underway, with the results expected in the next hour.

Votes in Lucan are also currently being counted. 

Count staff for the Rathfarnham-Templeogue and Clondalkin wards have gone for dinner and will begin counting within the hour.

Bill Breathnach has the latest from Dublin’s South East Inner City:

The Independent/Others vote is up.

However, this is unlikely to be reflected in final seat count due to the crowded field of independents and small parties splitting the vote.

Many LEAs showing either too many or too few independents running to fully capitalise on the vote share. The question is, who will benefit from this trend?

Independent Patsy O’Brien has been elected after the first count in Claremorris, Mayo.

Quite the feat. 

Local Election in Kerry

Michael Cahill will ensure that since 1960 the Cahill family have defended their council seat

His late Father Thomas first won in 1960

That’s an incredible length of time and should Michael serve his 5 years that will be an unbroken 69 year record

— Donal Barry (@BarryDonal) June 8, 2024

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty told reporters there is some “disappointment” over his party’s performance so far, but the race isn’t over yet.

He said there is “disappointment with some of our new candidates that were trying to break new ground”, adding “it’s been a tough election”.

“The key thing is that there’s strong indicators as well coming from the three constituencies, the three European constituencies, and there’s a lot to play for both in that election and also many of the local elections yet when we see where the transfers will go.”

Joshua McCormack has the latest on what’s happening in Malta:

Turning to the Mediterranean, and the smallest nation in the EU, we have Malta.

Here, it’s a two-horse race between the centre-left Labour Party, the current government, and their opposition: the National Party, centre-right.

The Maltese have six MEP seats, with four in the hands of the LP, and two in the hands of the NP.

There are a slew of smaller parties, and a number of independent candidates on the ticket but – according to their performance in the 2022 general election – between them they only account for about 5% of the vote, and are thus unlikely to give the dominant parties any sleepless nights in the next few days.

The only real question for this election is whether or not the National Party’s favourable rise in polling will translate into them snatching a seat from the LP.

As things stand, the polls indicate just this; a draw between the ruling parties. Three for three. And not much changed.

The latest from Niall O’Connor in Cork: 

Thomas Gould TD of Sinn Fein speaking here in Cork city as the first count is progressing. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/O5iDlTjtRE

— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) June 8, 2024

Sure look, only 929 seats to go. Be grand.

Here's where we're at at 8pm - 20 seats filled out of 949 #LE2024 pic.twitter.com/DvJ1Mp0IIT

— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) June 8, 2024

Naoise Ó Muirí (FG) and Deirdre Heney (FF) have been elected in Clontarf, Dublin.

FF’s Deirdre Heney and FG’s Naoise Ó Muirí both through on the first count in Clontarf.

Big celebrations from the Heney camp! ⁦@thejournal_ie⁩ pic.twitter.com/99f0lsmUAm

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

Dan Boyle is hoping to retain his seat in Cork city, he tells Niall O’Connor. 

Dan Boyle former Green Party TD and hopeful to retain his seat here in Cork Coty Council. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/DHG2skOPUP

— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) June 8, 2024

Here’s a round-up of all the councillors elected to date. 

I shall hand you back to my colleague Jane Moore for the next while. Stay with us for all the latest updates. 

Hello all, Jane Moore here. I’ll be bringing you all the latest updates for the next while. 

Speaking of updates, two more seats have been filled – this time in the Castlebar LEA in Mayo. 

Independent Michael Kilcoyne and Fine Gael’s Ger Deere have been elected on the first count, both exceeding the quota of 1,878. 

Kilcoyne topped the poll with 2,405 first preference votes, with Deere following behind on 1,958 votes. Kilcoyne’s surplus will now be distributed.

RTÉ RTÉ

Our reporter Niall O’Connor has the latest from the Cobh LEA in Cork County Council:

Sheila O’Callaghan (FF) will get elected with Anthony Barry (FG) on the first count. Sinéad Shepherd (FG) will be next, then Cathal Rasmussen (Labour), then Ger Curley (Independent Ireland).

It looks like there’ll be a big fight between Dominic Finn, a new Fianna Fáil candidate, and Clíona O’Halloran (Green Party) for the last seat. Diarmuid O’Cadhla (Glór), who organised a number of anti-lockdown protests during the Covid-19 pandemic, received 500 votes.

Corca Dhuibhne in Kerry has become only the second LEA to fill all available seats. Conamara North in Galway was the first to wrap things up earlier today. 

The three successful candidates in Corca Dhuibhne were:

• Tommy Griffin (FG) – elected on the third count
• Robert Brosnan (SF) – elected on the fourth count
• Brendán Fitzgerald (FF) – elected on the fifth count

The second count has taken place in Dublin South East Inner City… but a candidate has yet to take up a seat there. 

Our reporter Jane Matthews says the Green Party’s Claire Byrne remains at the top of the poll, but she’s still shy of the 1,212 quota.

Second count for Dublin South East Inner City - still no one through.

Claire Byrne who is top of the poll got 3 transfers but is still shy of the quota at 1,101 (quota: 1,212) @thejournal_ie

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

Meanwhile, our reporter Muiris O’Cearbhaill has the latest on South Dublin County Council from Weston Airport count centre:

There are still no results yet, but all ballots from Firhouse-Bohernabreena have been counted and we should know the results very soon.

From just looking at the table, there are two candidates who have polled much higher than the rest (but I can’t get close enough to see who tops those ballots).

Staff are currently sorting ballots from the six other wards into cubbyholes. Each team started at a different time, so it’s tough to know how soon we will know the result of their first counts.

It is safe to say that the results of the first counts from South Dublin County Council will be coming thick and fast over the next few hours.

The third LEA to finish counting for the day is in – it’s Gort-Kinvara in Galway. 

The successful candidates to fill the LEA’s five available seats were:

• PJ Murphy (Fine Gael) – elected on the first count
• Martina Kinane (Fianna Fáil) – elected on the first count
• Geraldine Donohue (Independent) – elected on the first count
• Paul Killilea (Fine Gael) – elected on the second count
• Gerry Finnerty (Fianna Fáil) – elected on the fifth count

As we approach 9.30pm, the national picture across the 166 Local Electoral Areas looks like this:

Only three LEAs have completed their entire counts – Conamara North in Galway, Corca Dhuibhne in Kerry and Gort-Kinvara in Galway.

A total of 15 LEAs have completed at least one count but have not been entirely concluded yet.

This leaves 148 LEAs yet to declare their first count. 

Two more seats have been filled, this time in the Celbridge LEA in Kildare.

Fianna Fáil’s David Trost has been elected on the first count, with 1,687 first preference votes. 

The Social Democrats have gained their first seat of the day, with their candidate Claire O’Rourke also elected on the first count with 1,412 votes. 

Anyone for a Simpsons meme?

Former Fine Gael TD Noel Rock has shared this in relation to Sinn Féin’s current position…

https://t.co/z6DAZzS77f pic.twitter.com/ST9NAw92Yc

— Noel Rock (@NoelRock) June 8, 2024

It’s still all quiet on the Weston front – the airport, that is.

Votes are still being counted there for the South Dublin County Council LEA, with a first result yet to be announced. 

Our man on the ground Muiris O’Cearbhaill has heard that they’ll be shutting up shop for the day at midnight, so there may well be an announcement in the next couple of hours. 

It’s good news for Fianna Fáil in the Kanturk LEA in Cork, with councillor Bernard Moynihan retaining his seat after topping the poll with 3,030 first preference votes on the first count. 

And he’s only delighted. 

Bernard Moynihan first to be elected to Cork County Council #LE24 pic.twitter.com/2HCxYvEtY0

— Liz Dunphy (@LizDunphy1) June 8, 2024

No one has been elected on the first count for the Dublin North Inner City LEA, according to our reporter Jane Matthews. 

Ray McAdam (FG) is topping the poll at 1,043 votes, with Christy Burke (Ind) next with 1,021 votes, followed by Malachy Steenson (Ind) with 918 votes. 

The quota is 1,280.

The latest from our reporter Niall O’Connor in Cork City Hall as we wait for the result of the first count:

Niall O'Connor Niall O'Connor

Ballot papers are being checked, with the option to contest if they are spoiled or not.

The counting is expected to continue until 10pm. If they have not elected anyone and if it is unlikely to happen, they will adjourn. If there’s a chance they can rapidly elect, they will extend for a short period.

Muiris O’Cearbhaill brings us another update from Weston Airport count centre:

“The sun is setting at Weston Airport as we await the first results for South Dublin County Council. The Deputy Returning Officer for Tallaght Central has asked the parties’ agents to come to the count station so that they can adjudicate a few of the undetermined ballots.”

No one has been elected on the first count in Dublin’s Ballymun-Finglas LEA.

Keith Connolly (FF) is the closest with 2,042 votes, followed by Anthony Connaghan (SF) with 1,428 votes, Conor Reddy (S-PBP) with 1,249 votes and Mary Callaghan (SD) with 1,176 votes. 

There are six seats to be filled there. 

Another Independent has been elected in Kerry in the Castleisland LEA: Charlie Farrelly received 314 votes from Jackie Healy-Rae’s surplus, which brought his total vote to 2,117.

Charlie Farrelly has been elected in Castleisland pic.twitter.com/dPkimiMIbS

— Radio Kerry (@radiokerry) June 8, 2024

Independent candidate Barry Heneghan and Catherine Stocker of the Social Democrats are both approaching the 2,858 quota on the second count in Dublin’s Clontarf LEA.

Naoise Ó Muirí (FG) and Deirdre Heney (FF) were elected there on the first count earlier.

pic.twitter.com/pTJgu35AHE

— Dublin City Council (@DubCityCouncil) June 8, 2024

Meanwhile, the waiting game continues in Cork City Hall:

Current situation in Cork City Hall: hurry up and wait. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/sEQhkezvfG

— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) June 8, 2024

Independent TD Mattie McGrath (file photo) RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Independent TD Mattie McGrath has been speaking to my colleague Bill Breathnach.

“It’s a strange election. Independents are doing well. But some of the bigger parties are doing well also, with the exception of Sinn Féin I think,” the Tipperary TD said.

In response to questions on Independents not capitalising on their vote count due very high/low number if candidates in certain areas, he says: “Independents, they’re not in any alliance to anybody else”. However, further cooperation in the future “has to be examined and explored and extrapolated”, but he added: “It’s not simple.”

McGrath’s daughter Máirín is a sitting Councillor in Cahir LEA in Tipperary. Present tallies there indicated that she is likely to top the poll in this election. Her proud father describes this as “an amazing result” and “incredible”.

Máirín McGrath was also named as a substitution for independent Michael McNamara should he be elected to the European Parliament.

However, Mattie McGrath confirms that we will “certainly not” ever see a #EuroMattie campaign as he is very happy to continue representing Tipp.

Two more seats have been filled, this time in the Ballinamore LEA in Leitrim. 

Paddy O’Rourke (FF) topped the poll with 1,434 votes, followed by Enda McGloin (FG) with 1,033 votes. 

Paddy O’Rourke and Enda McGloin ELECTED in Ballinamore LEA in Leitrim

More to follow #LE24 #leitrim pic.twitter.com/rrNsYwR2lA

— Shannonside FM News (@shannonsidenews) June 8, 2024

With that, I’m signing off for the evening. My colleague Órla Ryan will be with you for the next while.

Stick with us for all the latest updates.

Órla Ryan here again for the last stretch (tonight, at least).

Gav Reilly, the oracle of all things politics-related, has beeen helping break down elections for years.

Here is his overview of tallies, in case you were wondering how they worked.

Tallies are unofficial and basically entail looking at results in each individual box. For political parties this is much more revealing as they confirm which *parts* of a constituency are good/bad for them, not just the overall figure https://t.co/B7DmGWMQP7

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) June 8, 2024

Two people elected here in Cork City Hall. Tony Fitzgerald FF and Damian Boylan FG. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/QUmeIiAr8w

— Niall O’Connor (@NiallJournal_ie) June 8, 2024

Tony Fitzgerald (FF) and Damian Boylan (FG) have been elected in the Cork City North West constituency.

First count of night in #corkcity is north west LEA and sees @DamianBoylanFG & @Tfitzgeraldcork elected #LocalElections2024 pic.twitter.com/STw5wT1Uld

— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) June 8, 2024

Things are winding down at the RDS, but they’re not quite done yet…

RDS starting to empty out now with a number of counts now adjourned until the morning - first count for Ballyfermot Drimnagh up next though @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/OsFdwzdORy

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

Caio Benicio, the Deliveroo driver who intervened in the Parnell Square attack in November, has received just 324 first preference votes in Dublin’s North Inner City – a disappointment for Fianna Fáil. 

Our political reporter Jane Matthews has confirmed that no-one is through after the first count in Ballyfermot-Drimnagh.

No one through on the first count in Ballyfermot-Drimnagh which is now adjourned until the morning.

Sinn Féin’s Daithí Doolan with the highest first preference votes at 1,849. https://t.co/gtSvTZjM7T

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

More from Jane Matthews at the RDS: 

Second count for Ballymun-Finglas just finished with no candidate reaching the quota. Count adjourned until the morning.

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

The Journal The Journal

As day one of counting in the local elections begins to wind down, Jane has compiled some key takeaways so far.

More than 60 councillors have been elected so far (out of 949) – this is a marathon, not a sprint.  

Ted Leddy (FG) is the first councillor elected to Fingal County Council in Dublin.

Seamus McGrath, brother of Finance Minister Michael Grath, has been elected in Carrigaline in Cork. 

FIRST COUNT: CARRIGALINE

Seamus McGrath (Fianna Fáil) and Ben Dalton-O’Sullivan (Non-Party) have been elected in the Carrigaline Local Electoral Area after the first count.

4 seats remain to be filled.#CorkCountyLE24 #LE2024 #LE24 pic.twitter.com/aK8jrbn1ye

— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) June 8, 2024

Sitting FF councillor Deirdre Conroy has lost her seat in Kimmage-Rathmines (Dublin).

No one has reached the quota in the second count for Kimmage-Rathmines and counting has been adjourned for the night.

Sitting FF councillor Deirdre Conroy has lost her seat.

The Green’s Carolyn Moore remains in the top spot.

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

Last summer the Irish Times broke the story that Conroy told a lodger, who was paying €260 in rent a week, not to cook in the kitchen.

Counts are being suspended in many centres around the country, including Weston Airport and Westmeath, as we edge closer to midnight.

To give you some type of update, four LEAs are currently reviewing doubtful/could-be spoiled ballots with party agents. Some have a lot, others not so much. @thejournal_ie

— Muiris O’Cearbhaill (@muirisoc) June 8, 2024

Counting will be suspended at the Count Centre in Moate, Co. Westmeath, following the verification of the doubtful ballots for the Kinnegad and Mullingar LEA’s and will resume at 9.00am Sunday morning.

— Westmeath County Council (@westmeathcoco) June 8, 2024

We see what you did there, etc etc

A clear winner https://t.co/FUViHhi7EK pic.twitter.com/glyE18UX1M

— Cllr NualaKilleen (@NualaKilleenSD) June 8, 2024

MEP Billy Kelleher, who is seeking re-election in Ireland South, has congratulated his sister Sheila O’Callaghan on being re-elected to the council in Cobh. 

Super proud of my sister Cllr. Sheila O’Callaghan who just topped the poll in the Cobh Electoral Area for @fiannafailparty #LE2024 pic.twitter.com/sla7cBWJUp

— Billy Kelleher MEP (@BillyKelleherEU) June 8, 2024

Good news for the Greens: Michael Pidgeon has been re-elected in Dublin after topping the South West Inner City poll. 

The Green’s Michael Pidgeon has topped the polls in the South West inner city and has been elected on the first count ⁦@thejournal_ie⁩ pic.twitter.com/0iLP8tcoxt

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

Day one is almost done…

And that’s a wrap!

For tonight. pic.twitter.com/TYd8Lq3jVP

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) June 8, 2024

Count 8 - Galway City East LEA
One candidate has been eliminated (MATHIAS JOYCE (Green Party/Comhaontas Glas)).
Her votes will now be distributed.

It is expected that counting for Galway City East will cease for tonight after Count 9.

First count for the Central LEA is ongoing. pic.twitter.com/sPeT4a5FXY

— Galway City Council (@GalwayCityCo) June 8, 2024

Maron Agrios, of The Ditch fame, withdrew from the election but was still on the ballot paper in Drogheda and got 105 votes.

Marian Agrios, the FG candidate who informally withdrew from the Drogheda Rural race after @wearetheditch uncovered her negotiations with a developer over a planning objection, still got 105 votes

— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) June 8, 2024

Declan Bree (independent) and Tom MacSharry (FF) have been re-elected to Sligo County Council.

Declan Bree and Tom MacSharry have been re-elected to Sligo County Council on the first count having exceeded the quota.#Le24 #Sligo #LocalElections2024 pic.twitter.com/8eAtMpzZDA

— Sligo County Council (@sligococo) June 8, 2024

Another update from Muiris: 

Rathfarnham - Templeogue and Tallaght South have stopped counting for this evening and will reopen again tomorrow around 9am.

Tallaght South has adjudicated all of the doubtful ballots and will be announcing the results of the first count early tomorrow morning. @thejournal_ie

— Muiris O’Cearbhaill (@muirisoc) June 8, 2024

Paul Gogarty (independent) has been elected in Lucan. 

Fine print, for the nerds like me 🙂:

Votes: 11,673
Spoiled ballots: 120
Valid votes: 11,553
Quota: 1,926

Gogarty’s transferable votes: 745

— Muiris O’Cearbhaill (@muirisoc) June 8, 2024

More than 90 councillors have now been elected (out of 949). We are, slowly, getting there. 

Shane P O’Reilly (independent) and Trevor Smith (FG) have been elected in Ballyjamesduff LEA, Cavan. 

Result of the first count in the Ballyjamesduff LEA. Candidates Shane P O'Reilly and Trevor Smith are deemed elected. The votes of lowest-placed candidate, Kieran Goggins will be distributed. The count in this LEA has been adjourned until 10am Sunday. #LE24 #Cavan pic.twitter.com/1SQKBQrZ9L

— Cavan County Council (@cavancoco) June 8, 2024

More than 100 councillors have now been elected, as counting is suspended for the night across the country. 

We’re going to follow suit and wrap things up for the night. Thanks for staying with us throughout the day, we’ll be back again with the latest updates in a few hours.