Fianna Fail runaway

Fianna Fail are set to return to government, perhaps with an overall majority. 

At mid-afternoon on the day of election count, Friday 25 May, Fianna Fáil is set to return to government with 76 or 77 seats and possibly with an overall majority. Fine Gael will see a massive jump in seats from the 2002 election, and may even reach its ambitious target of 50 seats. Eight Fianna Fáil TDs have been elected on the first counts – John Curran Dublin Mid-West) Seamus Brennan (Dublin South), Brian Lenihan (Dublin West), Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West) Aine Brady (Kildare North) Martin Cullen (Waterford) John Browne (Wexford), Brendan Smith (Cavan Monaghan), Mary Wallace ( Meath East).

The success of the two main parties has come at the expense of the smaller parties and the independents. Independents Jerry Cowley (Mayo), Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central), and Paddy McHugh (Galway East) may lose their seats. The Green Party is also struggling in a few constituencies - John Gormley is going head-to-head for the last seat in Dublin South East with Michael McDowell. Ciarán Cuffe in Dun Laoghaire may lose his seat.
Sinn Féin is also struggling. Mary Lou McDonald is not certain to retain her seat in Dublin Central. Sean Crowe and Aengus O'Snodaigh also may lose out on seats.

Fianna Fáil's success is in part to clever vote management. However their strategy may have lost them seats in Dublin Central where they may fail to take a second seat at all, with Bertie Ahern clinching the first seat.

Brian Hayes of Fine Gael has filled a seat in Dublin South West as has Labour Party leader, Pat Rabbitte.

Fianna Fáil's coalition partners, the Progressive Democrats, are not doing well at all, and are likely to lose a number of seats. Leader Michael McDowell will be fighting out for the last seat in Dublin South East with John Gormley. Liz McManus looks likely to lose her seat. And Fiona O'Malley may also lose her seat in Dun Laoghaire. Noel Grealish and Tim O'Malley also look set to lose their seats in Galway East. Mary Harney will retain her seat.

The first counts have been declared in Dublin Mid-West, Dublin South, Dublin South West, Dublin West, Tipperary South, Kerry South and Kildare North, Cavan-Monaghan, Waterford, Dublin South West, Meath East and Meath West. In Kerry South, Tipperary South and Dublin South East no candidates were elected on the first count.
 
 
Here are the candidates elected so far:

Dublin Mid-West: John Curran (FF)

Dublin South: Seamus Brennan (FF)

Dublin West: Brian Lenihan (FF)

Dublin South West: Conor Lenihan (FF)

Dublin South West: Brian Hayes (FG)

Dublin South West: Pat Rabbitte (Lab)

Kildare North:Aine Brady (FF)

Waterford: Martin Cullen (FF)

Wexford: John Browne (FF)

Cavan-Monaghan: Brendan Smith (FF)

Cavan-Monaghan: Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF)

Meath East: Mary Wallace (FF)