LAST UPDATE | 7 Jun
POLLS HAVE NOW closed for the European and local elections as turnout reached above 50% in some parts of the country.
Polls in Limerick have also closed where the population were voting for a directly mayor, for the first time.
The elections will decide Ireland’s representation in the European Parliament for the next five years, as well as the composition of the country’s 31 local authorities.
EU elections
Local elections
Limerick
We will be liveblogging the polling from this post throughout the day.
Reporting by Lauren Boland, Jane Matthews, Cormac Fitzgerald and Muiris O’Cearbhaill.
GOOD MORNING.
Lauren Boland here with you this morning. The polls are now open across the country for voters to cast their ballots in the local and European elections.
Limerick is also voting for its first directly elected mayor.
We’ll be bringing you all the updates here on The Journal throughout the day.
Simon Harris was early to the polls this morning for his first election as Taoiseach.
He cast his vote at his local voting station in Delgany, Co Wicklow.
Finance Minister Michael McGrath of Fianna Fáil was also out early doors to cast his vote.
Democracy in action!
— Michael McGrath (@mmcgrathtd) June 7, 2024
Let’s cherish our right to vote today - a right that was earned for us by others through our nation’s history. pic.twitter.com/RdN5LJb8M4
The Journal has worked tirelessly in the lead-up to these elections to make sure you have all the details you need to cast an informed vote. From our News Editor Daragh Brophy, here’s a round-up to help you find what you’re looking for:
Need to know who’s running in the European Elections? There are a record number of 73 candidates across Ireland’s three constituencies this time around. If you need a quick list, we’ve got you covered here. If you’ve a little more time to spare, we’ve a more in-depth guide to the candidates in our interactive candidate database.
Given that there are also 949 council seats to fill around the country and multiple hopefuls running for each one, finding out about your local authority candidates can be a little more involved. Handily, our Assistant News Editor Valerie Flynn has put together this guide. If you’re casting your ballot in Limerick we’ve got you covered here, too, with a rundown of the candidates in the mayoral election.
So now that we’re up to speed on who’s on the various ballots, what exactly are we electing these people to do?
Our reporter Muiris O’Cearbhaill has dedicated most of the last few months to our European Election coverage – producing explainer articles on everything from the political groupings of the EU Parliament to what happens if an MEP gives up their seat mid-way through their term. Along the way, he’s also put together this piece looking at the role of our MEPs and their various responsibilities.
One expert who spoke to Muiris for that piece described our European representatives as being “not as powerful as TDs but probably more powerful than senators or councillors”. This begs the question – when we cast our vote to decide our next batch of councillors, what exactly are we tasking them to do? Our political reporter Jane Matthews examines that question here.
Got time to drill down further? We’ve probably got a podcast for that.
If you need to know more about how the election process works across the EU, Muiris O’Cearbhaill and European Movement Ireland CEO Noelle O’Connell discuss it all in a recent edition of The Explainer here.
If you’re still drilling after that and happen to be seeking some constituency-specific information, we’ve profiled all three voting areas in the new season of The Candidate podcast. If you’re voting in the capital you’ll find the Dublin edition here, Midlands-North West voters can find their podcast here, and if you’re in Ireland South, this is the podcast for you.
Finally, to borrow a peculiarly Irish advertising slogan from a chain of department stores, we also set out on an almost nationwide tour for a series of live panel events – creating spaces for experts to discuss topics like defence, European cohesion and climate and allowing audiences to ask questions of them.
In Limerick, we heard how Ireland is trailing behind on its promises to improve our citizens’ language skills as well as arguments for more scrutiny of MEPs from the Irish media.
And at our Galway event, our panel discussed how the results of the upcoming elections could impact on climate policy.
Just in: Here are some photos of the Taoiseach casting his vote in Delgany earlier this morning.
In the European elections, it’s not only Ireland voting, naturally – all 27 member states will cast their votes today or over the weekend, or already have.
The Netherlands went to the polls yesterday.
Ireland is one of the only ones to open polling stations today, along with Czech Republic (where stations are open from 2pm this afternoon until 2pm tomorrow). Estonia opened some stations earlier in the week (voters there are allowed to cast their vote at any station, regardless of where they live in the country) and fully opened them today.
The pace will pick up tomorrow (Saturday) when Italy, Latvia, Malta and Slovakia vote. Italy’s voting will start at 3pm tomorrow until 11pm the following day.
On Sunday, it’ll be all systems go as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Dobré ráno! Dia duit! Czechia 🇨🇿 and Ireland 🇮🇪, are you ready to vote? It's time to seize the day: cast your vote and tell your family and friends to the same! #UseYourVote #EUelections2024. Cheers for doing your democratic duty! Na zdraví! pic.twitter.com/CCNhl3lFLu
— European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) June 7, 2024
For lots of young people, today will be their first time voting in an election.
(Some of them will be even be doing it amid sitting their Leaving Cert – good luck with Geography and Maths Paper One!)
The National Youth Council of Ireland is encouraging young people to get out and use their vote.
“Census data indicates there are over 600,000 young people aged 18-29 who if registered are entitled to vote in today’s local and European elections. We are urging each of them to make their voices heard,” says Mary Cunningham, NYCI CEO.
“These are important elections. Our local councillors make key decisions affecting our communities over the next five years, and it is important that young people have a say in deciding who they are. Likewise, our MEPs will have a key role in determining the future of the EU and contributing to key issues such as social inclusion, climate action, and other critical policies,” Cunningham said.
That is why NYCI is encouraging this age group in particular to make sure they exercise their right to vote today.
“We are hopeful that the extraordinary level of youth voter registration seen in recent years will be matched by a high level of youth voter turnout. But it’s important to remember that the result will be decided by those who turn out. Given the importance of each and every vote, it really is vital that people do get out and vote on the day.”
Labour leader Ivana Bacik has also shared a snap of her arriving to vote this morning.
Well done to this happy voter performing their civic duty at a polling station in the Netherlands yesterday.
When Simon Harris voted earlier this morning, he made a few remarks to reporters at the polling station.
“It is so important that people get out and vote, that they have their say, that they cast their ballots because of course if you don’t turn up you’re allowing someone else to speak on your behalf,” Harris said.
“Polls are open to 10pm tonight. I’d urge everybody to get out and have their say in what is a great exercise in democracy,” he said.
“We live in a healthy democracy and today is working proof of it.”
Okay, not to turn this into a liveblog about dogs, but these photos have just landed of some of Ireland’s own canine friends getting out to vote:
Some early turnout figures in for Dublin: as of 10am, the turnout across the three Dublin county constituencies (Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown) stood at 4.5% so far.
Over in Galway, turnout has been roughly similar to Dublin, though a little busier in some localities than others.
As of 9.30am, most polling centres in Galway stood at around 3% or 4% turnout, including in Clifden, Moycullen, Oranmore, Knocknacarra, Salthill, Renmore, Gort, Tuam, Castlegar, Bushypark, Ballybane, Westside and Ballinasloe.
Spiddal and Claregalway were at 5%.
The leader in Galway this morning is Loughrea, where 7% (338) of voters had cast their ballot within the first two and a half hours.
Early turnout figures in Dublin as of 10am: Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown at 4.5%
— Lauren Boland (@laurenanna_1) June 7, 2024
Figures in Galway as of 9.30am: Roughly similar to Dublin; most polling stations around 3% or 4%, though Loughrea pulled ahead to 7%@thejournal_ie
Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has now cast his vote in St. Anthony’s School in Cork.
Very pleased to be here this morning at St. Anthony’s School to vote with family.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 7, 2024
Polls are open until 10pm tonight. I would urge you to come out and vote and to vote for Fianna Fáil candidates in the Local, European and Limerick Mayoral elections. pic.twitter.com/LF9gbkoeah
More than four hours now since the polls opened. If you’re voting, have you been yet? Or will you be heading down later on?
Either way, we’ll be bringing you all the updates throughout the day on this liveblog as well as more coverage across The Journal website and our social media.
I’ll pass you over now to my colleague Cormac Fitzgerald.
Hello, and happy polling day!
Cormac Fitzgerald here to take you through the next few hours.
While it’s important to get out and cast your ballots in the local, European and (if you’re in Limerick) mayoral elections, they’re not the only things you can vote on today.
You can also cast your vote in our all important poll! Today, it’s a doozy:
Poll: Should schools close for polling day?
If you’re a teacher, the answer will be yes, no doubt, but the rest of us might wonder is it really necessary? Early tallies show “No” voters are inching out the “Yes” but it’s still all to play for!
The President has cast his vote.
President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina have been pictured casting their ballots this morning.
“President and Sabina Higgins this morning cast their ballots in today’s European and Local Elections. Polls are open throughout the country until 10pm tonight,” the official President of Ireland account posted on X.
Get out and join them when you can.
President and Sabina Higgins this morning cast their ballots in today's European and Local Elections. Polls are open throughout the country until 10pm tonight. pic.twitter.com/jEl01q7AIc
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) June 7, 2024
With 949 seats up for grabs across 166 electoral areas, voting in the local elections can be confusing business.
Don’t worry, though, if you’re in Dublin City or Fingal our friends over at the Dublin Inquirer have you covered.
The Dublin Voter Guide lists the candidates for each local electoral area, and also asked them important questions about their views and what they will do if elected. Worth checking out if you’re undecided.
If you want to get a broader sense of the other local authorities, Women for Election have a nationwide picture geared primarily towards female candidates, but that tells who is running where.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has cast her ballot.
“I want to encourage people to come out and use their vote,” McDonald said, speaking after voting at the polling station on Navan Road in Cabra, Dublin.
“This is a moment where change can start, the first step in getting a change of government. So the elections are significant and it is very, very important that each and every person exercises their democratic right to vote.”
She said it was a “great”, “very interesting” and “very engaged” campaign and encouraged people to “be part of a big change”.
Sinn Féin has come under pressure in recent months as polling showed a decline in support for the party.
Asked whether her party ran to many candidates, McDonald said:
“No, we ran a great slate of candidates and they have all thoroughly enjoyed the campaign and (being) out and about meeting people. So today is the people’s day, please come out and vote.”
I’m about to hand you over to my colleague Jane Matthews while I run and vote myself!
Before I go, an update on turnout. According to our reporter Lauren Boland, turnout in the elections in Galway is now around 9% to 12% at polling stations.
Lowest in Castlegar and Oranmore. Loughrea, on 11%, has been passed out by Clifden, Spiddal, Salthill and Ballinasloe, all on 12%.
The three Dublin county areas are at 10% as of noon.
Update:
— Lauren Boland (@laurenanna_1) June 7, 2024
Turnout in the elections in Galway is now around 9% to 12% at polling stations. Lowest in Castlegar and Oranmore. Loughrea, on 11%, has been passed out by Clifden, Spiddal, Salthill and Ballinasloe, all on 12%
The three Dublin county areas are at 10% as of noon https://t.co/V8vXR3ufSC
And that’s all from me for now!
Good afternoon and happy voting day! Jane Matthews here for the next while to bring you the latest as voters go to the polls across the country. Are you excited? I’m excited.
First up, let’s head to Cork where Social Democrats’ leader Holly Cairns has just cast her vote.
Spoiler: She voted for the Social Democrats’ Chris Heinhold in the locals and Susan Doyle in the Europeans.
In a post on Instagram, the Cork South-West native shared a snap of her dropping her ballot in the box at her old primary school.
Cairns, who had her first electoral success in the 2019 local elections, wrote that she found the experience “emotional”.
“If you haven’t voted yet, if you’re not sure if you will, please take it from me that your vote does count,” she wrote.
Cairns famously secured her seat in 2019 by just a single vote.
Let’s stick with the “real capital” for a while longer. Here’s the latest turnout figures for County Cork:
As of 12pm midday turnout in the local and European elections is 11.3%.
By comparison, this is slightly lower than the same time in 2019.
Meanwhile, back in the actual real capital, Labour party members are on their bikes.
Senator Marie Sherlock has been leading candidates across the city as the party “pedal to the polls”.
I’ll have what they’re having, please.
Here are the latest turnout figures for Louth courtesy of our reporter Lauren Boland:
Some election voter turnout figures for Louth up to lunchtime:
— Lauren Boland (@laurenanna_1) June 7, 2024
Average turnout in Dundalk Carlingford at 12%
Drogheda at 11%
Dundalk South at 11%@thejournal_ie
Could you explain how election counts work under the PR-STV (proportional representation-single transferable vote) system if you really had to?
Well, fear not. Now you can. Thanks Gavan Reilly.
🗳️ Have you ever been bamboozled by Ireland’s electoral system, or how election counts work under the PR-STV system?
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) June 7, 2024
Fear not: I can explain… 🔴 using 🟠 a 🟡 well-known 🟢 chocolate 🔵 sweet 🟣 snack 🟤.
(Other tasty confections are available. #notspon.) pic.twitter.com/kMHooliKRK
There have been some reporters that the Voter.ie website was down earlier, but the site (where you can double-check that you are on the register) is back up and running this afternoon.
Voters in Laytown and Bettystown appear to be leading the pack with 18.7% turnout as of 2pm.
Latest figures for Meath are just in from our reporter Lauren Boland:
As of between 1 and 2pm, here's how turnout looked in parts of Meath:
— Lauren Boland (@laurenanna_1) June 7, 2024
14% in Ratoath
13% in Kells
14.3% in Trim
18.7% in Laytown & Bettystown (the highest figure I've heard myself so far today)@thejournal_ie
Okay, Cormac Fitzgerald back with you again for an hour after running to cast my vote for [REDACTED].
I’ll start with some comments from Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, as he cast his vote in south Dublin today, where he said there was a queue outside the Muslim School in Clonskeagh by 7am this morning.
According to Ryan, there is no “anti-government sentiment” among the Irish public.
“This is a Government that’s working and my sense in the last few months canvassing is there isn’t you know … people they recognise the Government is working,” Ryan said.
“They’re not happy with, rightly, a whole range of different things we need to do better. But you couldn’t say out there that there’s a strong anti-government sentiment.
We’ll see if that’s reflected in the count in the end.
We sure will.
They say a week is long time in politics, so what does that make five years then!?
If you cast your mind back to 2019, a “Green Wave” saw a big surge for the Green Party as it scooped up two European seats and had a strong showing in the locals.
This matched sentiments around Europe, as people were impatient for some meaningful action on climate change. Five years and one global pandemic later, and you might be wondering if that action ever came.
What certainly did happen, however, is a kickback against green policies, with farmers groups and others mobilising and protesting the implementation of the EU’s controversial Nature Restoration Law and other measures.
Time will tell if Eamon Ryan (and his party’s tw0 MEPs and councillors) should be less worried about “anti-government” sentiment, and more concerned about anti-Green sentiment.
Looks like voter turnout is steadily increasing across the country. A number of locations reporting lower turnouts than back in 2019 so far.
My colleague Lauren has the figures for Cavan:
Latest turnout figures at some polling stations in Cavan:
— Lauren Boland (@laurenanna_1) June 7, 2024
St Clare's national school - 19%
Ballyconnell Central national school - 23%
Mountnugent national school - 13%
St Anne's national school Bailieborough - 20%@thejournal_ie
And for Tipp:
And in Tipperary: overall voter turnout in the elections was at 15% at 1pm, now getting to around 20% https://t.co/57DBUREUjs
— Lauren Boland (@laurenanna_1) June 7, 2024
Send us your Democracy Dogs
📸🐶PICTURE CALL OUT: Let's see your democracy dogs! Snap some pictures of your dog at the polling station today and send them to tips@thejournal.ie or on social media.
— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) June 7, 2024
It’s important to keep in mind that while we are voting here today, voting will take place across the EU over the next few days.
The big hitters of France and Germany and most other countries in the EU won’t vote until Sunday. And, importantly, Ireland won’t be able to announce any results until polls have closed in all other countries.
Voting with us today is Czechia, where it is reported that voters are apathetic to the EU vote. Billionaire former prime minister Andrej Babis is leading a centrist movement targeting the Greens and “pro-migration enthusiasts”.
The Dutch voted last night, with exit polls showing gains for the Freedom Party (PVV) of anti-immigration eurosceptic Geert Wilders.
But the tight Dutch result – in which a Green-left alliance looked set for first place – might provide some comfort for centrists hoping to maintain their majority.
One way or another, it will be a crucial election across the bloc.
Muiris O’Cearbhaill with you here for the next few hours. Picking up where my colleague Cormac Fitzgerald left off: the far-right surge has been expected for sometime now.
In January, The Journal reported that anti-European and populist candidates were expected to top polls in the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Slovakia based on analysis of polling by two political scientists.
While polling gives the media a snapshot of public opinion at a particular place in time, it can be very useful to gauge the type of results we could see over the weekend all throughout Europe.
In short, the gains reflected in last night’s Dutch exit poll of the Freedom Party (PVV) of anti-immigration Eurosceptic Geert Wilders are not particularly surprising.
However, the same exit poll showed that the PVV could be narrowly beaten by the Labor-Green alliance – who are set to pick up eight seats. This has been the source of a surprise for some pollsters.
An increase in far-right MEPs at the European Parliament could send further shockwaves across the EU, especially for the European Commission as Ursula von der Leyen seeks re-election as President.
Far-right and right-leaning groupings, such as the European Conservatives and Reformists and the Identity and Democracy, could get larger with an influx of MEPs from the right.
This could impact von der Leyen’s chances of being reelected, as the number of MEPs from her grouping, the European People’s Party, and its allies, such as the Socialists & Democrats, could shrink after the count is complete.
This scenario could force von der Leyen into a position where she will need to seek a pact with politicians from a more-radical grouping than her’s to pick up enough votes to be re-elected.
With an eye on the horse-trading that may be needed, von der Leyen has been courting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who heads the post-fascist Brothers of Italy party.
In France, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is predicted to come out on top, as is Meloni’s party in Italy – which votes Saturday. The Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s far-right Fidesz party and Germany’s extreme-right AfD group are also expected to top polls.
My colleague Lauren Boland has been sharing the latest turnout figures over on X.
The newest numbers, from Galway, show some of the highest turnout rates we have seen so far – ahead of the tea-time rush – with the highest in Castlegar at 35% and the lowest in Loughrea (20%).
Voter turnout around Galway as of 4pm ⬇️
— Lauren Boland (@laurenanna_1) June 7, 2024
Highest in Castlegar at 35%. Loughrea now one of the lowest at 20%, despite having the most early birds in the morning! https://t.co/V8vXR3ufSC pic.twitter.com/bHVLowAt1s
Some of our team have cast their vote throughout the day.
In Bray, Co Wicklow, turnout figures are at 31% according to staff at the polling station. In Dublin, around 25% have voted in Terenure while things have been a little slower down at Synge Street.
Make sure, whoever you’re voting for, that you get to your local polling station before 10pm so that your voice can be heard. This video from the EU, explaining to the importance of your vote, has been viewed over half-a-billion times since May.
As we approach the usual tea-time rush, some of the latest turnout figures have begun to pour in. In most local areas, polling is around 30%.
In Kildare, as of 5.30pm, the highest turnout is currently at Kilcock at 31% while the lowest is at Rathangan Boys National School, 19%.
In Tipperary turnout is at 32% countrywide, as of 6pm. In Cork County, as of 5pm, turnout is at 26.8%.
Meanwhile, my colleague Lauren Boland has the latest out of Cavan:
Boost in Cavan in the last couple of hours - here's how it stands as of 5pm:
— Lauren Boland (@laurenanna_1) June 7, 2024
St Clare's national school - 26%
Ballyconnell Central national school - 36%
Mountnugent national school - 23%
St Anne's national school Bailieborough - 30% https://t.co/57DBUREmtU
As of 5pm in Dublin City, turnout is highest in Kimmage-Rathmines, at 23.6%, and at its lowest in Ballymun-Finglas, at 17.8%.
A (rough) nationwide average is that turnout at 30%. There could be a large surge in the next few hours as many finish up at work.
Just under three hours are left until polls close and shortly we will have the latest turn out figures after the tea-time rush.
The vast majority of votes will have been cast between 5pm and 10pm, so if you haven’t voted yet make sure to get down soon – as there could be a bit of a wait.
Czechia have also been voting in the European elections today, alongside Ireland, and their polling stations will remain open until tomorrow morning.
The Czech leaders have also cast their ballot throughout the day, and President Petr Pavel has urged the public to get out and cast their ballots, aiming to beat the 2019 turnout rate of 28%.
Under one hour left and some of the latest turnout figures are in:
Turnout in some places of Meath has doubled since we last checked in at 2pm.
A total of 45.8% of voters in Ratoath have cast their ballots, while Laytown-Bettystown and Kells have seen 42% of voters show up so far.
Turnout in Trim is a little lower at 34.6% and just 29.2% have voted so far in Navan.
As of 7.30pm total of 38% of Co Louth have cast their ballot, according to the latest figures provided to The Journal.
In Cork, as of 8pm, turnout figures have reached 43.4%, surpassing its previous turnout rate of 42.2% in 2019. At some polling stations in Co Cork, turn out has reached as high as 53%.
At 8pm in Cavan, 39% of voters have cast a ballot at St Clare’s National School, 59% have cast a ballot at Ballyconnell Central National School, 42% at Mountnugent National School and 46% at St Anne’s National School Bailieborough.
As of 8.30pm in Dublin City turnout is at 38.3% and a breakdown of the figures are as follows:
In Galway turnout rates are as follows (as of 8.10pm):
Polls have now closed and voter turnout at some polling stations has reached 50%, as of 8.30pm.
So, what now? You can find out all the details about the count in a piece we prepared earlier, here.
The Journal will bring you the breaking stories, analysis and more live blogs over the weekend. That’s me off!
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