The Green Party looks set for somewhat of a wipe-out in the general election, as more boxes open across the country while Sinn Féin is seeing a resurgence in support in Dublin
Fianna Fáil Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is in trouble in Wicklow, where he has received just 49 out of his 1,215 votes in 3 boxes in his base in Greystones. Meanwhile, Green Party Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman appears to be in trouble in Dublin West. Hazel Chu in Dublin Bay South, who is trying to hold onto the flagship seat vacated by Eamon Ryan, is not performing well.
Meanwhile, Media Minister Catherine Martin appears to be in with a shot of hanging onto her seat in her constituency in Dublin Rathdown, where the Social Democrats are also in with a shot.
Green Party Minister Joe O’Brien’s vote has fallen to 8.7%, who looks set to be replaced by a Fine Gael candidate.
A Sinn Féin resurgence in the capital sees the party likely to add three seats in Dublin.
In the Kingdom county of Kerry, where 25 per cent of the boxes have been counted Michael Healy-Rae is coming in with 22.7% of the vote, in first place, followed by his brother, Danny Healy-Rae, with 15% of the vote. Norma Foley is trailing both, coming in third, with 13.3% of the vote, followed by Pa Daly of Sinn Fein in fourth position, also at 15%.
In Meath West, early tallies have shown strong support for Sinn Fein TD Johnny Guirke, who is on 24 per cent first preference botes, with a quarter of boxes opened. Peadar Tóibín is in second place, in 19% – followed by Aisling Dempsey of Fianna Fail.
Aontú have increased their share of the vote, but it is unclear how many seats they will gain.
Rural Independents look to be doing well. 21% of boxes have been tallied for Tipperary South at the count centre in Thurles, where Mattie McGrath is topping the poll at 26.6 per cent, followed by Fine Gael’s Michael Murphy who is on 18.8%. Independent candidate and former TD Seamus Healy is on 15.8% while Fianna Fail’s Imelda Goldsboro is on 13.6%. Meanwhile, outgoing Sinn Fein TD Martin Browne is currently in fifth place, on 11.7%.
Almost halfway through the opening of the boxes in Offaly, tally results from 42 of 112 boxes show that outgoing TD Carol Nolan is outpolling all the parties with 23.9%.
You can watch Gript Media’s LIVE coverage and commentary of the count here.
More to follow as we have it.