Elections 2024: Six things we have learned so far
We are still in the early stages of counting in the 2024 local and European elections, but here is some of what we have learned so far.
It has been a good day for Independents as early predictions show a surge in support. Independent candidate Thomas Welby was the first person to be elected anywhere in the country, topping the poll for the fourth consecutive time in Conamara North. In fact, of the first five people elected, three were independent candidates, while tallies from all over the country showed a strong showing for non-party candidates.
While the party is set to improve on its showing in 2019 and gain more seats nationally, its overall strategy has backfired in some constituencies with no surge as was expected. In 2020, Sinn Féin was criticised for not putting forward enough candidates for the general election. Already this year, the party was criticised for running too many candidates in these local elections and it looks as though its vote has been split in some areas, potentially reducing the amount of seats it will claim overall. Transfers could be key, though.
3. A sigh of relief for the main parties
While they may lose seats overall, it could have been a lot worse, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael slogging it out for the highest number of councillors across the country. Micheál Martin hailed Fianna Fáil’s performance, claiming the party will be a “competitive force” in local government for the next five years. Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus McGrath, brother of the Finance Minister Michael McGrath, is set to secure over 5,000 votes, possibly the highest vote in the entire country.
4. No far-right surge
Despite the dire warnings, the country has not turned in any significant way to the far right. Several candidates in Dublin and Cork were in good shape once the tallying was completed, but it was far from the lurch that some had feared.
5. Off-colour day for the Green
Early tallies show that the Greens will hold their own in local elections, but Ciaran Cuffe will be in a battle for the final seat in the European race in Dublin. In the local elections, the Greens are performing strongly in some areas, with some expected to top the poll in parts of Dublin city. It isn’t a repeat of the Green wave from 2019 when the party won 49 council seats nationally, but it is a positive sign for Eamon Ryan’s party, though some representatives may yet find themselves in a scrap for the final seats in some of the country’s more competitive constituencies.
Shortly after 6pm, counting was complete in the Connemara North local electoral area. It took just four counts to re-elect four sitting councillors. In many other count centres nationally, counting hadn’t even started.
