Live BlogLAST UPDATE | 43 mins ago
AFTER THREE WEEKS of campaigning and debates, the public are having their say on who will make up the next Dáil – and there’s just a few hours left of voting.
Polling stations are open around the country until 10pm, with an RTÉ exit poll due shortly after that.
The exit poll results will be delivered on The Late Late Show and will give an indication of what the next government will look like.
Recent opinion polls have shown a tightening of the race, with Fine Gael and Sinn Féin neck-and-neck and Fianna Fáil enjoying a slight edge (although, it’s all within the margin of error).
Join us as we keep you up to date with the latest news throughout the day.
With updates by Lauren Boland (now), Órla Ryan and Muiris O’Cearbhaill (earlier)
In south Kilkenny, turnout for Templeorum was at 48% at 6pm.
It’s thought it should reach higher than 60% if not mid-60s by 10pm tonight.
For comparison, the same areas had 50% turnout in total for this year’s local elections.
It can be interesting to look at how international news outlets are covering the Irish election as they look in from the outside.
Sky News has published an explainer for its audience about how STV work, suggesting that counting the ballots is a “lengthy process” but that it “means votes aren’t wasted”
CNN hooked its coverage yesterday on Simon Harris, the ‘Tik Tok taoiseach’, being in the spotlight (does anyone actually call him that?)
The New York Times did some on-the-ground reporting in Dublin Central ahead of voting with interviews and photos.
At the risk of stating the obvious: in case you still need to vote, the closing time at all polling stations is 10pm. Just over three and a half hours left to go.
And if we look further south to Cork – as of 5pm, turnout was 38% in the Cork south-west, 32.9% in Cork east, and 37.9% in Cork north-west.
And this was the lie of the land in Galway East:
Here’s how turnout was looking in Galway West as of 4pm:
Evening all, Lauren here. If you’re eagle-eyed – yes, the same Lauren as at the start of the liveblog this morning. Plenty has happened since then – voters have been voting, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has given birth to her first child, and the shops have been packed with sales-hunters. A casual Friday.
Oh, and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has shared an update about his shoes, in case you were wondering.
The canvassing shoes held up well… pic.twitter.com/bdlYh6IUpO
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) November 29, 2024
On that bombshell, I’m going to hand you back to my colleague Lauren Boland who will keep you up to date this evening.
In keeping with the time-honoured tradition of people enjoying dogs at polling stations, please enjoy this pug at a polling station. #Vote4Chico
In some non-election but politically-adjacent news, both presenters from Virgin Media’s Tonight Show have confirmed they will depart the station after the election.
In separate statements, Ciara Doherty and Claire Brock confirmed today that Saturday night’s election special will be their last time fronting the late-night politics programme.
As of 3.30pm, the estimated national turnout was just shy of 30%, according to Ireland Votes.
Ireland Votes is estimating a national turnout of 29.7% as of 15:30 this afternoon.
— Ireland Votes (@Ireland_Votes) November 29, 2024
Follow our LIVE blog for turnout updates throughout the day 🔗 https://t.co/S1ZAlbF3QM#GE24 pic.twitter.com/WDMe7fzySj
Here is the voter turnout in Laois, as of 5pm:
Parochial Hall Rathdowney Booth 1
Parochial Hall Rathdowney Booth 2
Rosenallis Community Centre Booth 1
Rosenallis Community Centre Booth 2
Holy Family Senior School Booth 11
HFSS Booth 12
Knockmay NS Booth 1
Knockmay NS Booth 2
No filming at Dublin city polling stations? It depends who you ask…
Earlier today, Cathal McCann, Labour’s political director, criticised the fact the Dublin City Returning Officer had banned footage being recorded of party leaders casting their votes today. He labelled the move ”absolutely ridiculous”.
Absolutely ridiculous decision by Dublin City returning officer to ban the recording of Party leaders in Dublin casting their vote. It’s already been done outside Dublin. #ge24 Will be interesting to see if the ban is now lifted for others…
— Cathal McCann (@Cathal_McCann) November 29, 2024
Speaking to The Journal, McCann said Labour, like all parties, typically film their leader casting their vote (and did so in the local and European elections in June). Media outlets such as RTÉ are also often present to film.
Labour contacted the Returning Officer earlier this week to clarify if filming could take place and, in an email seen by The Journal, the party was told: “The Dublin City Returning Officer has made the decision that there will be no filming at polling places.”
This rule was applied in the case of Bacik, but not for other leaders – seemingly some polling centre staff enforced it and others did not.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Joan Collins, leader of Right to Change, were both filmed casting their ballots.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has cast her vote at Deaf Village Ireland on the Navan Road in Dublin | Follow live updates: https://t.co/MefDz9hqkn pic.twitter.com/WQ1HSmKdZX
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 29, 2024
Joan Collins, leader of Right to Change and a candidate in the Dublin South-Central constituency, cast her ballot | Read more: https://t.co/MefDz9hqkn pic.twitter.com/gh39Dbx67E
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 29, 2024
McCann said Labour was told no filming could take place ”because of GDPR rules and secrecy of the ballot”.
“If you set a new rule, apply it equally to everybody,” he added.
The Journal has contacted the Dublin City Returning Officer for comment.
Hi there, Órla Ryan back again.
How is your election day going? Have you voted yet? Or are you waiting until after work or college? Let us know in the comments.
Órla Ryan will be taking over for a short while, bringing you the latest on polling day.
A tranche of turnout figures will begin pouring in at 5pm too, so keep an eye out to see how your constituency is doing.
That’s all from me this afternoon, I’m heading off to cast my vote.
I turned to my colleague Mairead Maguire here in the newsroom, who is currently covering the assisted dying debate in the UK.
I asked how her polling day is going and she told me: “There was a dog at the polling station. I didn’t get a good video of it.”
Have you got any pictures or videos of dogs at polling stations? Send them to tips@thejournal.ie with ‘Dog at Polling Station’ in the subject line.
The returning officer in Kildare has reached out to us once again to update our readers on the latest turnout figures.
As of 3.30pm, turnout in Kildare North has jumped up to 10 points to 28%.
Meanwhile, voters in Kildare South have made a similar jump – reaching 26.5%.
Local paper The Leinster Leader is calculating turnout in Laois in an extremely interesting way… by booth.
How, you might ask? By counting how many ballot papers have been issued at each dock.
Local reporter Hannah Cahill has detailed some equally interesting facts about voting patterns in the county too.
Director of Ireland Thinks, a polling and research company, Kevin Cunningham has been entertaining political nerds (like me) over the last few weeks with interesting nuggets of information and data about voting patterns.
Kevin has carried out what is known as a Multilevel Regression and Post-stratification poll.
Now, look, I’ve never seen those words before either.
But as far as I’m aware, it’s when people like Kevin combine large data sets, like census information or more-recent polling data published in newspapers, in order to estimate the local levels of support in each constituency.
Writing on his website, Kevin gives a detailed account of his rationale, and has put together his final, polling day projection for the level of support in each constituency.
As we’ve previously posted about, there are plenty of things available to voters to help them make their decision today – including our wonderful candidate database.
But, how exactly does your vote work? What is a transfer? And how does one vote?
In June we spoke to Virgin Media’s Political Correspondent, and a former member of this parish, Gavan Reilly to get the rundown on the inner-workings of the Proportional Representation with a Single Transferable Vote system or, more simply, PR-STV.
At 25 minutes long, this episode of The Explainer might work well for you as you walk or drive to the polling station today or as you prepare to stay up for our coverage of ‘the count’ this weekend.
Stop what you’re doing (unless you’re voting – keep doing that).
Sausage dog at the polling station:
Oscar, the daschund, joined his humans at the polling station in The Harold School in Glasthule, Co Dublin.
Another party leader has cast their vote, this time in the form of Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit.
A little ways-away from Dublin Bay South, we head to the Wicklow constituency.
Nothing too interesting is happening there right now. I just wanted an excuse to share this class piece of artwork on the wall of Delgany National School:
I’ve just been onto the phone with the Dublin City electoral office to get you the latest details of turnout around the capital.
The lovely people at the office, who are working very hard today, gave me the following:
Dublin Central has quite a lot of attention on it this election over the high-profile candidates. However, it also is – usually – the constituency with the lowest turnout in the county.
An Coimisúin Toghcháin – who have been keen to get out the vote this election – have visited neighbourhoods around the inner-city to encourage new and younger voters to cast a ballot today.
More rurally, in Longford-Westmeath, their electoral office tells me that polling stations in rural Longford are currently recording turnout rates between 8-10% while urban areas are recording figures of 9%.
As of 12.30pm this afternoon, pollings stations in rural parts of northern Westmeath (quite the mouthful) are recording turnout levels between 9-12% while Mullingar Town stands at 9%.
Lastly, 13.5% of voters in the Kilbeggan area have cast a ballot so far today while 9% of the electorate have shown up in-and-around Athlone.
As of an hour ago, the returning officer for both constituencies in Tipperary (North and South, that is) has told me that somewhere between 15- 20% of voters have cast a ballot.
Good afternoon, folks.
Thanks for staying with us and sorry about the delay.
In the last hour we have learned that a record 14,966 people were in emergency accommodation last month. That figure includes 4,645 children.
Homelessness charities have come out to voice their disappointment with how little airtime and attention political parties gave homelessness during the election campaign and in their manifestos.
Parties vying for a change have said today’s figures are all the more reason to vote for them today. Read the full piece here.
Thanks for staying with us so far today. I’m now going to hand you over to my colleague Muiris O’Cearbhaill.
More turnout figures, this time for Kildare:
As the votes continue to roll in, we’re going to take a look how the outgoing coalition did on some of its key promises in the Programme for Government.
Muiris O’Cearbhaill examined the status of pledges made in areas like transport, housing and climate.
You can read more about Holly Cairns’ happy baby news here.
Turnout across county Cork ranged from 12 to 15%, as of midday
Another constituency to keep an eye on is Donegal.
If local election results are anything to go by, the lineup of TDs in the sprawling constituency may be in line for a shake-up. A recent poll also showed that Fine Gael may lose its seat.
As homes continue to crumble and young people continue to emigrate, the need for sustained attention on Donegal is evident, Mairead Maguire writes.
As of midday, turnout in Galway West and Galway East has ranged from 8 to 16%
29 November 2024 will be memorable for Holly Cairns for more than one reason, the Social Democrats’ leader has given birth to a baby girl.
Congratulations!
This is the most gorgeous news! Congrats Holly and Barry 💜 https://t.co/RPK4Xg5pYt
— Jennifer Whitmore TD (@WhitmoreJen) November 29, 2024
It’s understood that it’s now very unlikely, and understandable, that Cairns won’t get to vote today.
Sylvia Power, a 29-year-old who lives in Dublin, has a strong message for all candidates about the housing crisis.
In this Voices column, she writes:
“…As we approach the end of 2024 and the upcoming election, the government’s promises to turn the ship around haven’t materialised, and my generation faces a housing crisis that becomes more dystopian by the day.
A mouldy, cramped one-bed apartment in Ireland’s cities now costs roughly €2,000 per month to rent, and it is quite common to see prices of €2,500 or more.
“Increasingly ludicrous property advertisements on websites taunt young adults looking to get an honest shot, and these often go viral on social media.”
Party leaders and deputy leaders are continuing to cast their votes in various constituencies:
Richard Boyd Barrett, leader of People Before Profit-Solidarity, has voted in Glasthule, Dublin | Follow live updates: https://t.co/MefDz9hqkn pic.twitter.com/lgTuyycaP7
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 29, 2024
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has voted in Johnstown in Navan, Co Meath | Follow live updates: https://t.co/MefDz9hqkn pic.twitter.com/Rpaft6CVkX
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 29, 2024
Deputy leader of the Social Democrats, Cian O'Callaghan, cast his ballot in Howth | Follow live updates: https://t.co/MefDz9hqkn pic.twitter.com/iTeo5UFD5x
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 29, 2024
McDonald, who is running in the Dublin Central constituency, told reporters: “We’ve lost count of the number of conversations that we’ve had with people with disabilities, children waiting and waiting for services, and that is really hard and really unacceptable, but we need to mark today with a note of optimism and hope and confidence and ambition, because today is election day.
“And the great beauty of this, and it’s a moment of almost, of actual unique equality for every citizen, because your vote holds exactly the same weight, whether you’re down on your luck and you’re struggling, or if you’re a multi millionaire, your vote carries equal weight.
“So this is the moment where people can really shape the next government, and we need a new government, but really have your say on an equal basis.
“So I always think that that’s a really positive thing.”
Outside the polling station at the Deaf Village in Cabra, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told young voters “this can be your election”, PA News reports.
She said: “This is a really important election for everybody.
“I think it has a particular significance for younger people because there is a generation of people for whom housing is out of reach, opportunity out of reach, and in frightening numbers now are deciding that perhaps they will leave – others that are away and believe that they have no opportunity to come up.
“That’s not acceptable to us, simply not acceptable. So a significant day for everyone, a particular significance for younger people, and we’re asking young people especially, make the effort to vote today. Please don’t miss this. This can be your election.”
Speaking of Simon Harris, Carl Kinsella takes a look at the Taoiseach’s percevied lack of empathy following his interaction with a care worker in Kanturk last weekend – in what may prove to be the most pivotal moment of the campaign, or at least the most-talked-about moment.
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was approached during a canvass this evening by a woman who says she is a carer, and who said she believes the Government has "done nothing for us" | follow live: https://t.co/eUoCK3Qb5Y pic.twitter.com/MXiN9b60Ke
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) November 22, 2024
Our columnist writes:
It is a time-honoured tradition that each Taoiseach eventually makes a rod for their own back — there was Brian Cowen’s ‘tired and emotional’ interview on Morning Ireland, there was Bertie Ahern’s bank accounts or lack thereof, and now, Simon Harris has Kanturk. Quite impressive really, given that – as he keeps reminding us – he’s only been in the job seven months.
The Taoiseach has since apologised to Charlotte Fallon and agreed to go to her place of work, St Joseph’s Foundation.
One of the main talking points of the last few days has been whether or not Health Minister Stephen Donnelly will lose his seat in Wicklow.
Thanks to @MichealMartinTD for canvassing with me in #Wicklow today and great to have engagement with voters ahead of tomorrow #GE2024 #DonnellyNumber1 pic.twitter.com/Fs1PdGYDxL
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) November 28, 2024
Micheál Martin was out canvasing with Donnelly in Greystones yesterday in a bid to shore up more votes.
The constituency (which also includes Taoiseach Simon Harris) has gone from a five to a four-seater, so someone is assured to lose a seat.
St Vincent’s polling centre on Griffith Avenue in Dublin was also busier than usual, according to workers there.
A group of nuns were spotted entering the building earlier – so that’s one square ticked on today’s election bingo sheet. Sadly, no footage was captured.
Have you been listening to our election podcast, The Candidate?
We’re biased, but it really is very good.
Catch up on the latest epsiode here:
A record 3.7 million people are eligible to vote, but what will turnout be like?
Ireland Votes is estimating a national turnout of 4.9% as of 9:30 this morning.
— Ireland Votes (@Ireland_Votes) November 29, 2024
Follow our LIVE blog for turnout updates throughout the day 🔗 https://t.co/S1ZAlbF3QM#GE24 pic.twitter.com/Kqgmbzlics
We’re re-sharing this guide, ICYMI: Here’s everything you need to know about voting in the general election
It’s busier than usual in St Andrew’s polling station in Dublin Bay South, according to staff working there.
Sinn Féin’s Chris Andrews was spotted dropping off an elderly lady who said she wasn’t going to vote until he offered her a lift.
Another woman shouted at her: “You better give him your number one so.”
An interesting development in Dublin city, where Labour’s political director Cathal McCann says the recording of party leaders casting their vote has apparently been banned.
Absolutely ridiculous decision by Dublin City returning officer to ban the recording of Party leaders in Dublin casting their vote. It’s already been done outside Dublin. #ge24 Will be interesting to see if the ban is now lifted for others…
— Cathal McCann (@Cathal_McCann) November 29, 2024
Polling stations: The Irish just do it better
Only in Ireland 💚
— Today FM 💛 (@TodayFM) November 29, 2024
Some of our favourite polling stations from around the country 🇮🇪#GE24 #GeneralElection pic.twitter.com/80vzzOrpFD
Speaking to reporters in Cork, Martin said he is “cautiously hopeful” of the outcome of what he called a “close fought” election battle.
He said Fianna Fáil had a “stronger team” than they had in the 2020 election, when they came back with 38 seats.
Asked if he will sleep tonight, he said, “oh I will, yeah”. Asked if he has any rituals on count day, Martin said: “I take it easy..
“I’ll have a very good breakfast tomorrow morning, and I tell everyone not to come near me until about midday.
“I don’t want to hear a tally from the 44th box, no point. I can go over all that later.
Actually, I’m very relaxed on count day and the only challenge is to make sure that I can keep the noise out.
“I will probably go into town and do a few things, go to Douglas market maybe. Then in around midday, 1pm maybe, depending when the tally will be finished, head to the count centre, and it’s very familiar ground for me, Nemo Rangers, and I’ll enjoy that.
“Maybe that’ll be a good omen,” he said, referring to the fact that his son Micheál Aodh plays football for Nemo Rangers GAA club.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has urged voters to brave the weather and cast their vote in the general election.
The Fianna Fáil leader said the rainy weather was “a great pity” but that there had been bad weather on polling days before, PA News reports.
“It’s not a good weather day but we’ve had these before in different elections and people still turn out to vote,” he said after voting with his family at his local polling centre in Ballinlough, Cork.
I encourage people to vote – it’s a key part of our democracy. The weather notwithstanding we encourage people to come out to vote but yes it is a pity that it’s such a wet morning.
Asked whether a fractured or unclear outcome could see another poll being held in 2025, Martin said: “I think that’s something we clearly do not want to do, but it’s in the hands of the people.”
Asked about the election campaign, the Tánaiste said he was “fighting to be Taoiseach” after the election but added “nothing is certain until every vote is counted”.
“But certainly I did have a good feeling in the last two to three days in terms of the response that I was getting after the debates, and very warm response in Louth and in Wexford and Wicklow yesterday.
“We’re hopeful of a good result but we take nothing for granted. We’ve a long day ahead of us. The focus now on the party is to get our supporters our friends our families to get the vote out notwithstanding the weather.”
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina have cast their vote in the general election. They voted at St Mary’s Hospital in Phoenix Park in Dublin.
The president wished the election officials well as he cast his ballot, PA News reports.
Another useful tool to help any last-minute undecided voters is the WhichCandidate website, developed by the University of Limerick.
The tool aims to show voters which candidates in their constituencies most align with their views, based on a number of questions about key issues.
Around 3.7 million people are eligible to vote today – the largest ever number. Here’s a breakdown of how many people are registered to vote in each constituency:
In some non-election news, Irish rap trio Kneecap have won their legal challenge over a decision by former UK business secretary Kemi Badenoch to refuse them a £14,250 (about €17,000) funding award after the British government conceded at Belfast High Court it was “unlawful”.
They don’t like that we oppose British rule, that we don’t believe that England serves anyone in Ireland and the working classes on both sides of the community deserve better; deserve funding, deserve appropriate mental health services, deserve to celebrate music and art and… pic.twitter.com/8L9SnU5aTC
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) November 29, 2024
My colleague Jane Matthews, our political correspondent, also read through the manifestos of the three biggest parties to see where Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin stand on issues like housing, health, tax cuts and cost-of-living measures.
It’s Órla here, taking over from Lauren. Thanks for staying with us so far this morning!
If you’re still undecided about who to vote for, or who to transfer to, we’re here to help.
Our candidate database - featuring profiles of all candidates from the 43 constituencies - is a good first port of call.
We’ve also rounded up where parties stand on major issues like housing, Gaza and how’d they’d spend the Apple Tax billions.
As we near ten o’clock, that’s it from myself (Lauren) for the moment – handing you over to my colleague Órla Ryan.
There’s Labour leader Ivana Bacik, who’s on the ballot in Dublin Bay South, cycling to cast her vote this morning.
A reminder from the Electoral Commission to make sure your ballot is officially stamped:
Today, your ballot paper should be stamped by the polling staff 📃
— An Coimisiún Toghcháin, The Electoral Commission (@ElecCommIRL) November 29, 2024
If your ballot isn’t stamped, your vote won’t count, so double check your ballot paper when you receive it in the polling station 🗳️https://t.co/CIv8jvfBqQ pic.twitter.com/x4n5h6kMX5
A nice video here from RTÉ doing a mock election with children at Scoil Cholmcille An Tearmann to demonstrate PR-STV in action. (Who’d you vote for? The ice-cream party?)
A lot of fun putting this together with the brilliant students at my old school, Scoil Cholmcille An Tearmann.
— Barry Gallagher (@b_gallagher2) November 28, 2024
Hopefully this comes in handy for someone out there 🗳️#Election2024 https://t.co/KSr7qNzKng
Harris also said he expects it to be a “fascinating couple of days” of counting the votes before the final result emerges.
“Isn’t it the beauty and the complexity of our system that when the clock strikes 10 o’clock tonight, there’ll be an exit poll but that won’t even tell us the outcome of the election because of our PR-STV,” he said.
He took a bit of a dig at the UK’s approach: “Compare and contrast that with the British system, Big Ben hits 10 o’clock and Sky News can say ‘the winner is…’ we don’t live in that sort of system.”
Rather, with Ireland’s system, he said, “where the fourth seat goes in a five-seat constituency or where that third seat goes in a crucial third-seat constituency, that – I believe – it’s going to play a major role in deciding the composition of the next government and the relative strength of potentially different parties in that coalition government”.
Speaking to media earlier as he arrived at his polling stations at Delgany National School in Co Wicklow, Simon Harris said he was “feeling really good” and “really hopeful – hopeful in terms of the election but also hopeful for the future of our country”.
“I wanted to vote early because I now want to head across our country today, continuing to encourage everyone to get out and have their say in this election.”
He’s expected to make a whirlwind tour around parts of the country today, stopping in Dublin, Carlow, Laois, Monaghan and Tipperary.
In the competitive constituency of Dublin Central, turnout has been slow so far at the St Paul’s CBS polling station. They’re expecting the usual post-work rush this evening.
Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has been out with his wife Caoimhe and his children Cillian and Saoirse to cast his vote.
If you need to look up which candidates are running in your area or learn a little bit about them, our candidate database is a handy tool.
Don’t forget your umbrella! Met Éireann is forecasting a wet and breezy morning, with outbreaks of rain in the west and southwest of the country spreading nationwide by noon. The afternoon looks to be a bit drier with some sunny spells before the weather turns wetter again in the late evening.
If you need something to listen to on your way to vote, the latest episode of our podcast The Explainer is all about how exactly our voting system – proportional representation with a single transferable vote – works .
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