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McDonald, Harris and Martin

It's (almost) over: McDonald looks confident, Harris ramps up fear factor and Martin keeps cool

The party leaders have been busy today making their final appeal to voters before polls open tomorrow.

LAST UPDATE | 28 Nov 2024

AFTER A FRANTIC three week campaign, politicians are scattered across the country today making one final pitch to voters ahead of polls opening in the general election tomorrow. 

With the last of the polls out and the debates finished, The Journal has been on the ground with party leaders Mary Lou McDonald, Simon Harris and Micheál Martin today to gauge how they are approaching the final hurdle. 

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris was out in Lucan this afternoon for a visit to St Joseph’s School where he met with students and teachers. 

IMG_0490 (1) The Taoiseach today in Lucan Jane Matthews Jane Matthews

Speaking to media as he arrived alongside Fine Gael councillor Vicki Casserly and outgoing minister Paschal Donohoe and minister of state Emer Higgins, the Taoiseach had one core message. Well, two actually.

Firstly – get out and vote tomorrow. 

Secondly – be very afraid of Sinn Féin. 

“A vote for Sinn Féin you could end up skint,” the Taoiseach said, adding: “Don’t end up with buyers’ remorse.” 

Fine Gael’s big pitch to voters on the final day of campaign was clear: We are the steady pair of hands and Sinn Féin are untested.

Mary Lou McDonald took a different tack though and batted away what she described as “desperation” from the Fine Gael ranks. 

The Sinn Féin leader today ended her 2024 general election campaign where she started it, outside the gates of Government Buildings.

sinn-fein-leader-mary-lou-mcdonald-and-housing-spokesperson-eoin-o-broin-during-a-visit-to-georges-street-arcade-to-canvas-and-meet-with-voters-photo-liam-murphy-alamy A relaxed-looking Mary Lou McDonald canvassing today in George's Street Arcade. Alamy Alamy

Flanked by fellow party spokespeople Eoin Ó Broin and Matt Carthy, McDonald pledged “a world beyond Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael” and attacked Taoiseach Simon Harris’s “desperation” in the final hours before polling begins.

“We’re also asking those who are considering maybe voting for someone else – if you want change, if you want a change of government, vote for Sinn Féin,” McDonald said.

“Lend us your vote for this election because Sinn Féin has the momentum.”

Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe had a direct response to this appeal when he spoke to media in Lucan. 

He was equally as direct with his words as the outgoing-Taoiseach was: “I’d ask the country to think seriously about this. If you lend Sinn Féin your vote, you also lend Sinn Féin your future.

“If you lend them your future, you might not get it back.”

Yesterday’s Red C poll results released by the Business Post has Sinn Féin tied with Fine Gael on 20 per cent, just behind Fianna Fáil who holds a narrow lead on 21 per cent.

It marks a rise of two percentage points for Sinn Féin but a fall of two points for Fine Gael compared to previous polling.

This week’s Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll reflected a similar landscape going into tomorrow’s decisive day, with Fianna Fáil on 20 – up two points – ahead of Sinn Féin up one on 20 and Fine Gael slumping six points to 19.

It is all to play for and none of the party leaders are taking anything for granted. 

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is spending much of the final day today in the South East of the country, where he has been canvassing with his candidates Malcolm Byrne, Stephen Donnelly and Pat Kennedy. 

The Fianna Fáil leader spending this vital final day in Simon Harris’s constituency of Wicklow is telling and shows just how under pressure outgoing Health Minister Stephen Donnelly might be to hold onto his seat. 

Martin was cool, calm and collected though speaking to reporters this afternoon in Greystones.

He praised the electorate for their engagement in this election and said housing and disability services have been the “standout” issues of this campaign. 

Asked whether he would reveal which parties he would transfer to when he votes on Friday, Martin said: “Well, that’s a matter for me, and then I cherish the privacy of the ballot box, and that’s the way it should be for every voter.”

Was this a dig a Simon Harris who yesterday told the Irish Examiner that he will be voting for parties like Fianna Fáil and Labour? 

Mary Lou McDonald on the other hand was more happy to give voters a steer, asking them to offer their preference votes to “candidates that are of the left” and who are part of the “progressive movement”.

Specifically, she urged voters to transfer to People Before Profit and the Social Democrats.

Responding to a question about the prospect of one of the two largest incumbent parties forming a coalition with her party, the Sinn Féin leader and Dublin Central candidate said: “The objective for us is for a new government led by Sinn Féin, without Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.

“I know that the older establishment parties desperately cling to the narrative that it’s them or nothing,” McDonald said.

Outside the Ambassador Theatre in Dublin city centre the Social Democrats were similarly urging people to vote left down the ballot.

Outgoing Dublin Central TD Gary Gannon, echoed McDonald’s sentiment.

“Yes, what we’ve been very clear about is vote left, transfer left,” he said.

“But what’s very clear to me is that 14 years of Fine Gael has left us in the situation that we are today. I mean…standing at the top of O’Connell Street right now, look at the vacancy, look at the dereliction.”

He also confirmed he would include McDonald on his Dublin Central ballot paper and added that he will give his preference votes to Labour’s Marie Sherlock, People Before Profit’s Eoghan O Ceannabhain and Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Ivana Bacik wasn’t too happy with the Taoiseach’s appeal to voters to transfer voters to Labour.

The outgoing Dublin Bay South TD criticised the comments made by Harris and appealed to the public to vote for “radical” change and “centre-left” parties.

Elsewhere in Dublin, Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman was also making his final pitch to voters: “Stick with us”. 

“We’re asking for another mandate to continue that work in the Dáil,” O’Gorman said, adding that the Greens have broken the tradition in Ireland that the smaller party is “always overwhelmed by the agendas of the larger coalition partners.”

All of the party leaders will be going to bed tonight hoping they have done enough to get their teams over the line.

Whether they have or not, will be up to you.

  • Check out The Journal‘s Candidate Database if you are still deciding how to cast your vote. 

With reporting from Gráinne Ní Aodha

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John S
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    Mar 13th 2016, 3:57 PM

    Patty = Homer Simpson’s sister in law. Paddy = patron saint of Ireland.

    372
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    Mute GameOverMan
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    Mar 13th 2016, 11:08 PM

    Its a good idea, i just think it should’ve been ya know funny. Don’t get me wrong, great pictures great idea but comedy wise its a weak piece.

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    Mute danny corrigan
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:02 PM

    Actually it’s Patrick, not Paddy

    283
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    Mute John Collins
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:13 PM

    Actually it’s Padraig.

    183
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    Mute Chief
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:14 PM

    Actually it’s Patricius if we go right back

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    Mute AARO-SAURUS
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:28 PM

    Actually, it’s Pato.

    55
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    Mute George Hogan
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:44 PM

    Happy Patty’s Day one and all!

    35
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    Mute Tom the Bomb
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:46 PM

    It was actually Cothraige if you want to be really pedantic.

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    Mute Chief
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:52 PM

    Care to explain Tom the bomb?

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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:57 PM

    Actually it’s KISS MY ARSE and not as the Americans say ” kiss my ass”. So remember that loyke.

    33
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    Mute Jimmy jones
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    Mar 13th 2016, 5:24 PM

    Actually Tom the Bomb is correct . The guys name was Cothraige .
    If you want to be correct it is Cothraige’s day .

    27
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    Mute Chief
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    Mar 13th 2016, 6:30 PM

    The “guys” name was Corthraige after he was the slave of four people is what I’m coming up with when I do a search Jimmy. Can you get me a link to what you seen as I’ve a good interest in this malarkey

    13
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 14th 2016, 2:41 AM

    Patrick means Noble but is it Welsh or French lol.

    1
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    Mute Mark Byrne
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    Mar 13th 2016, 5:00 PM

    I called my son Patrick because he was born on Saint Patrick’s day, did I ever tell you about my son pancake…..

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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Mar 13th 2016, 9:53 PM

    Wha did st paddy say when he was driving the snakes out of Ireland?

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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Mar 13th 2016, 9:54 PM

    Yiz alri in the back ? I have my coat, gone !!

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    Mute Larry Doyle
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:30 PM

    Looking forward to celebrating Depenance Day in July.

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    Mute Lad
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    Mar 13th 2016, 7:08 PM

    Am I the only person who is as annoyed as it being called paddy’s day than pattys day?! It’s St Patrick’s day if your going to go serious about it..

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Mar 13th 2016, 8:00 PM

    As he is not an officially recognised saint, then Patrick’s Day would be more apt

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    Mute Uncle Denise
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    Mar 13th 2016, 8:01 PM

    I thought paddy was a term used by the brits for the Irish. Correct me if I’m wrong.

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Mar 13th 2016, 8:04 PM

    It is a term used by the English – but the more derogatory term would be “Micks”.

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    Mute Smiley
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    Mar 13th 2016, 10:13 PM

    Or, Mickey Doolin.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 14th 2016, 3:04 AM

    Presidance Day was fun… lol.

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    Mute The Green Monkey
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:15 PM

    Same shít story surfaces every year.

    The Yanks call it Patty,
    The Brits called us Paddys

    His name is St. Patrick……….

    138
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    Mute Sean Costello
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:21 PM

    We make a big deal of not calling it pattys while at the same time calling it paddy’s, which was a derogatory term the english used for us. It’s neither paddy not patty.

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    Mute Caroline McQ
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:31 PM

    Paddy is not a derogatory word if it is your name. Paddy is a common short version of Patrick or Padraig.

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    Mute Fear Uisce
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    Mar 13th 2016, 5:10 PM

    Just like African Americans using the N word, we’re taking ownership of paddy and feck the tans

    57
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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Mar 13th 2016, 5:13 PM

    If your auntie Patty had balls she would be your uncle Paddy

    67
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    Mute pZTahAXy
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    Mar 13th 2016, 8:31 PM

    What about her moustache?

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 14th 2016, 3:05 AM

    Or making oyster soup lol.

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    Mute UM
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:05 PM

    Can we just get over it. Who gives a crap what the Americans call the day

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    Mute Tony Hartigan
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:36 PM

    Saint Patrick day that’s it.

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    Mute Del Haven
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:44 PM

    Nope

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    Mute Notthatguy
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    Mar 13th 2016, 9:53 PM

    Its get hammered day to be fair…

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    Mute Alan Carthy
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:57 PM

    Who is st paddy It Saint PATRICK always has n always will me #respectfortheman

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    Mute Avril McLoughlin
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    Mar 13th 2016, 7:21 PM

    It’s St Patrick’s Day or La Fheile Padraig…..☘

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    Mute Noel Falkhall
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:37 PM

    …..the 5th of July

    18
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Mar 13th 2016, 5:02 PM

    Patrick was a gentleman, he came from decent people

    17
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Mar 13th 2016, 8:53 PM

    He built a church in Dublin town, and on it put a steeple

    His Father was a Gallagher, his Mother was a Brady

    His Aunt was an O’Shaughnessy, and his Uncle was a Grady

    12
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    Mute Luke Victory
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    Mar 13th 2016, 6:29 PM

    Am intrigued to find out what a $5 red bull yellow irish bomb is…

    14
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 14th 2016, 2:44 AM

    Anything yellow might be scary…

    1
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    Mute Padraig
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:13 PM

    Dara O’Briain’s tweet also needs to be rolled out again.
    https://twitter.com/daraobriain/status/577773188370866176

    13
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    Mute Aodh Ó Fógartaigh
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    Mar 13th 2016, 10:18 PM

    It won’t help that much, seeing as Americans usually ‘celebrate’ Paddy’s Day on the previous Saturday…

    8
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    Mute Tony Hartigan
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:35 PM

    Such ignorance

    8
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    Mute Martin Greene
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    Mar 13th 2016, 10:52 PM

    Dumb yanks

    5
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    Mute Noel Falkhall
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:19 PM

    Can’t wait to celebrate the

    4
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    Mute AARO-SAURUS
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    Mar 13th 2016, 5:17 PM

    Ok. The anticipation is killing me. SPIT IT OUT!

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    Mute Castalla Villas
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    Mar 14th 2016, 8:51 AM

    Absolute idiots who cares what they call it. They’ll eventually get around to calling thanksgiving something else.

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    Mute Pat Gorman
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    Mar 13th 2016, 8:52 PM

    The proper Irish name is ” lá le pádraig”.
    Only English speaking idiots beyond the Pale up there in Dublin call it “St. Patrick’s Day”.

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    Mute Amy Gaffney
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    Mar 13th 2016, 10:22 PM

    The stupid is strong with this one

    16
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    Mute Aodh Ó Fógartaigh
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    Mar 13th 2016, 10:27 PM

    Lá ‘le Phádraig’, to be precise (‘Lá ‘le’ =’Lá Fhéile’…)

    [From an English speaking 'idiot' up here in Dublin... which is, I think you'll find, within the Pale rather than beyond it. You're welcome.]

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    Mute Kirk Van Houten
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    Mar 13th 2016, 4:57 PM

    St. Pirlo

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    Mute Journaliest
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    Mar 13th 2016, 7:09 PM

    It’s St. P****y day.

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    Mute Owen McDermott
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    Mar 14th 2016, 5:45 AM

    Happy St Patty’s Day!

    1
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