Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she “feels no pressure” over her leadership as counting continues in two by-elections in Dublin and Galway.
The hand counting of votes in two constituencies in Galway and Dublin began at 9am on Saturday and is expected to continue for several hours as candidates are eliminated and their votes transferred to those still in the running.
First tallies indicate that the Social Democrats’ Daniel Ennis is ahead in Dublin Central, with Fine Gael’s Sean Kyne and Independent Ireland and former Fianna Fail representative Noel Thomas neck-and-neck in Galway West.
The by-elections were held to fill the seats vacated by Catherine Connolly when she became President and former minister Paschal Donohoe, who left political life to become the World Bank’s chief knowledge officer.
Social Democrats candidate Daniel Ennis secured the most first preferences in the Dublin Central by-election, according to an unofficial tally of the ballots.
With 100% of boxes open, the tally put Mr Ennis on 19.6% of first preferences, followed by Sinn Fein’s Janice Boylan on 17.7%.
Mr Ennis and Ms Boylan were followed by Green Party’s Janet Horner (11.5%) and Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam (10.7%).
Gerard “The Monk” Hutch, who has been described in court by a judge as the patriarchal figurehead of the Hutch criminal organisation, polled at 11.4%.
Next in the running are Independent Malachy Steenson (9.5%), People Before Profit-Solidarity’s Eoghan O Ceannabhain (6.7%), Labour’s Ruth O’Dea (5.8%), Fianna Fail’s John Stephens (4.2%), and Aontu’s Ian Noel Smyth (2%).
The remaining candidates each secured less than 1% of first preferences, according to the tally.
Asked about the early indications, current Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central Gary Gannon told the Press Association the party was “obviously delighted”.
“It is a real endorsement of the type of politics Social Democrats stand for, and Daniel too.”
He added: “Knock on people’s doors, don’t generate hate and be ideas-focused – and people are buying into it.
“We’ve had what’s clearly an outstanding result today and that’s been shown in previous elections too where the Social Democrats’ vote has grown – and people are seeing the Social Democrats as a proper alternative for what comes next in Irish politics.”
With more than 95% of boxes opened in Galway West, the tally put Independent Ireland and former Fianna Fail representative Noel Thomas on 20.2%, Fine Gael’s Sean Kyne on 19.9% and Labour’s Helen Ogbu on 11.8%.
Fianna Fail’s candidate Cillian Keane is on 9.1%, the Social Democrats’ Mide Nic Fhionnlaoich on 6.8%, Galway mayor Mike Cubbard is on 7%, and Sinn Fein’s candidate Mark Lohan is on 6.5%.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the party is “disappointed with the result” and that it was “not our day” in Galway West.
“Today isn’t our day here in this constituency but I don’t think we should fail to note that this place at one point was a bastion of Fianna Fail – I think they had three seats here at one stage,” she said at the count centre at Galway Lawn Tennis Club.
“So, certainly anybody who believes that there isn’t politics beyond Fianna Fail and Fine Gael I would suggest look here.”
She said there was “no question on the leadership” and that she does not feel under pressure as counting continues in two by-elections.
“I am the leader of Sinn Fein, I lead us on days when we’re on a winning streak, I lead us on the days when we’re not lifting the cup,” she said.
The votes must first be sorted before counting formally begins, in a process which takes several hours because of Ireland’s complex system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV), where candidates are ranked by preference.
It means the voting slips need to be counted several times, an undertaking which is expected to last until Saturday evening for Dublin Central Sunday for Galway West.
