2024 Irish local elections

Last updated

2024 Irish local elections
Flag of Ireland.svg
←  2019 7 June 20242029 →
949 County and City Council Seats
Opinion polls
Turnout49.4%
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
Micheal Martin TD (cropped).jpg
Simon Harris at the Special European Council - 2024 (cropped).jpg
Mary Lou McDonald, 2018.jpg
Leader Micheál Martin Simon Harris Mary Lou McDonald
Party Fianna Fáil Fine Gael Sinn Féin
Leader since 26 January 2011 24 March 2024 10 February 2018
Last election27925581
Seats won248245102
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 31Decrease2.svg 10Increase2.svg 21
 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
Ivana Bacik 2021 (cropped).jpg
Holly Cairns, April 2023 (headshot).jpg
Eamon Ryan 2020 (cropped).jpg
Leader Ivana Bacik Holly Cairns Eamon Ryan
Party Labour Social Democrats Green
Leader since 24 March 2022 1 March 202327 May 2011
Last election571949
Seats won563523
Seat changeDecrease2.svg 1Increase2.svg 16Decrease2.svg 26
 Seventh partyEighth partyNinth party
 
Michael Collins politician.jpg
PBP–S
Peadar Toibin (official portrait) 2020 (cropped).jpg
Leader Michael Collins Collective leadership Peadar Tóibín
Party Independent Ireland PBP–Solidarity Aontú
Leader since10 November 2023N/A28 January 2019
Last electionNew party113
Seats won23138
Seat changeN/AIncrease2.svg 2Increase2.svg 5
2024-ireland-local-elections.svg
Results by counties and cities

The 2024 Irish local elections were held in all local authorities in Ireland on Friday, 7 June 2024. European Parliament elections were held on the same day. [1] It also included the 2024 Limerick mayoral election, for the first directly elected mayor in Ireland. [2] [3] Each local government area (a city, a county, or a city and county) is divided into local electoral areas (LEAs) where three to seven councillors are elected on the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV). [4] This year saw a record number of women standing for election, with 31.4% (682 out of 2,171 candidates) being female. [5] 26.1% of those elected were women (248 out of 949), a small increase compared to the last elections. [6] Voter turnout for the elections was 49.4%, the first time less than half of registered voters participated, slightly down from 50.2% in 2019. [7]

Contents

Election timetable

Campaign

Violence and abuse against candidates

On 8 May, Fingal councillor Tania Doyle and her husband, while erecting election posters, were assaulted by a man shouting anti-immigration and anti-Muslim rhetoric while an accomplice filmed it. Her husband was left bleeding and knocked to the ground by the assault which also saw Doyle herself punched in the head after she attempted to shield her husband. The assault lasted 15 minutes and only ended when the accomplice pulled the assaulter away from kicking Doyle's husband while on the ground. Doyle stated she feared for their lives and going forward would not be canvassing for the remainder of the election. [8] The gardaí have stated that they are investigating the matter. [8]

Concurrently on 8 May, Dublin City Councillor Janet Horner of the Green Party and a colleague claim she was assaulted by a man who said "Dublin 1 is for the far-right". Horner was erecting election posters when she was reportedly confronted by a man who threatened to kill her. She said the man confiscated her posters and struck her when she resisted. Horner contacted the gardaí afterwards and resolved to continue to canvass despite the event. [9]

In another incident on 8 May, two women placing posters up in the Smithfield area of Dublin for Social Democrats candidate Ellen O'Doherty were threatened with a knife by a man demanding they remove the posters, who was then joined by another man. The women managed to escape when a local woman came from a nearby house and begged the men to stop. The campaigners reported the incident to the gardaí and said they would not canvass in future nor return to the area. [10] [11]

On 15 May Fianna Fáil candidate Suzzie O'Deniyi was canvassing with members of her team in the Caherdavin area of Limerick when a man is alleged to have begun screaming racist and sexist slurs about O'Deniyi at her supporters. The man recorded himself doing so on his phone. [12] A man, Aaron Daly of Caherdavin, was arrested by Gardaí and charged with two counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, contrary to section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, before being released on bail. Daly was ordered to have no contact of any kind with O'Deniyi and that he is to report to the gardaí regularly until his trial, which is scheduled for 6 September 2024. [13]

On 17 May, Fine Gael candidate in Artane–Whitehall Linkwinstar Mattathil Mathew and his campaign team were forced to take down posters after they were racially abused and intimidated by a group of men. The perpetrators filmed the incident and posted it to social media. [14]

On 16 May Tánaiste Micheál Martin denounced the targeting of candidates, noting that the large majority of those targeted were from minority backgrounds. Martin stated the right to run in elections was a pillar of liberal democracy, regardless of background. [15]

Standing of parties

PartyCouncillors
2019 resultSeats at election dayChange
Fianna Fáil 279276Decrease2.svg 3
Fine Gael 255254Decrease2.svg 1
Sinn Féin 8181Steady2.svg
Labour 5755Decrease2.svg 2
Green 4945Decrease2.svg 4
Social Democrats 1922Increase2.svg 3
Independent Ireland —13Increase2.svg 13
PBP–Solidarity 1110Decrease2.svg 1
Aontú 33Steady2.svg
Inds. 4 Change 32Decrease2.svg 1
Right to Change —2Increase2.svg 2
Rabharta —1Increase2.svg 1
Kerry Ind. Alliance 11Steady2.svg
Republican Sinn Féin 11Steady2.svg
Workers' Party 11Steady2.svg
Workers and Unemployed 11Steady2.svg
Independent 185181Decrease2.svg 4

Results by party

PartyCandidatesSeats [16] ± vs 20191st pref.FPv%±%
Fianna Fáil 366248Decrease2.svg31421,46222.9Decrease2.svg 4.00
Fine Gael 339245Decrease2.svg10421,87323.0Decrease2.svg 2.26
Sinn Féin 335102Increase2.svg21218,62011.8Increase2.svg 2.32
Labour 10956Decrease2.svg197,5755.3Decrease2.svg 0.4
Social Democrats 7735Increase2.svg1363,2733.4Increase2.svg 1.1
Green 12923Decrease2.svg2666,6843.6Decrease2.svg 2.1
Independent Ireland 6123Increase2.svg23 [lower-alpha 1] 51,5622.8New
People Before Profit [lower-alpha 2] 4510Increase2.svg322,231
Aontú 668Increase2.svg539,4612.1Increase2.svg 0.7
Wexford Ind. Alliance [lower-alpha 3] 125Increase2.svg510,2230.6New
100% Redress 64Increase2.svg47,4000.4New
Solidarity [lower-alpha 2] 83Decrease2.svg14,952
Inds. 4 Change 21Decrease2.svg23,5370.2Decrease2.svg0.3
Irish Freedom 281Increase2.svg19,5000.5New
National Party 151Increase2.svg14,9830.3New
Right to Change 21Increase2.svg12,6390.1New
Workers and Unemployed 21Steady2.svg1,8870.1
Kerry Ind. Alliance 11Steady2.svg1,5740.1
Independent Left 11Steady2.svg1,3650.1
Republican Sinn Féin [lower-alpha 3] 11Steady2.svg9740.1
The Irish People 570New13,1340.7New
Ireland First 80New3,1650.2New
Workers' Party 30Decrease2.svg11,7000.1
Rabharta [lower-alpha 4] 40New1,2460.1New
Glór10New559
Party for Animal Welfare 50New457New
Farmers' Alliance 20New355New
Independent 488178Decrease2.svg7
Total2,172949———
  1. ↑ Founded in November 2023. Entered the election with 13 sitting councillors, of whom 11 were re-elected.
  2. 1 2 Contesting as part of People Before Profit–Solidarity.
  3. 1 2 Not a registered party. Appeared on the ballot as non-party.
  4. ↑ Did not appear on the ballot as Rabharta. The Electoral Commission proposed the registration of the party to contest European and local elections on 12 April. However, as the proposed decision was subject to a 21-day appeal period, it was not in force for the 7 June 2024 elections. [17]

Results by council

Authority FF FG SF Lab SD GP II PBP Aon WIA 100%R Sol I4C IF NP RTC WUA KIA IL RSF Ind TotalDetails
Carlow 562111218 Details
Cavan 66311118 Details
Clare 1492328 Details
Cork 19181234855 Details
Cork City 95431311431 Details
Donegal 1031014937 Details
Dublin City 811941081211963 Details
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown 5165162540 Details
Fingal 6747212211740 Details
Galway 1113261739 Details
Galway City 44132418 Details
Kerry 964211133 Details
Kildare 12111571340 Details
Kilkenny 117121224 Details
Laois 6521519 Details
Leitrim 634518 Details
Limerick 1013332121540 Details
Longford 88218 Details
Louth 66721729 Details
Mayo 1010111730 Details
Meath 9116121140 Details
Monaghan 368118 Details
Offaly 8531219 Details
Roscommon 5411718 Details
Sligo 64211418 Details
South Dublin 595321411040 Details
Tipperary 10102311440 Details
Waterford 58731832 Details
Westmeath 94221220 Details
Wexford 983115634 Details
Wicklow 49213211032 Details
Total248245102563523231385411111111186949

Opinion polls

Last date
of polling		Polling firm / CommissionerSample
size		 SF
Left 		FF
Renew 		FG
EPP 		GP
G/EFA 		Lab
S&D 		SD PBP–S Aon O/I
22 May 2024 Red C/Business Post [18] 1,0212115193544326 [lower-alpha 1]
15 May 2024The Irish Times/Ipsos B&A [19] 1,5001820215632123
8 February 2020 2020 general election —24.522.220.97.14.42.92.61.913.5
24 May 2019 2019 local elections —9.526.925.65.65.72.31.91.524.1
  1. ↑ Includes 24% for "Independent" and 2% for "Other Party".

Aftermath

The results were seen as a victory for governing coalition parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and a disappointment for Sinn Féin, which had significantly underperformed its polling despite performing better than in the 2019 elections. [20] [21] Fine Gael credited the results to the resignation of Leo Varadkar, which injected "fresh energy" in the coalition. [21] The Guardian , who stated that "the local elections were a calamity for Sinn Féin", also reported that some figures within the coalition called on taoiseach Simon Harris to call for a snap election to "seize the momentum." [21] Harris, Micheál Martin, and Eamon Ryan, rejected calls for an early election. [21]

Financial Times reported that Sinn Féin did particularly poor because their core demographic, the working-class and youth, increasingly hardened on immigration, and instead voted for independents and far-right parties. [22] These parties in turn saw a surge in public support, with the Irish Freedom Party and National Party seeing their first ever elected officials, [21] [23] though the number of far-right candidates elected remained small. [23] Independent candidates and the new right-wing Independent Ireland party notably performed well. [24]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of the Republic of Ireland</span>

Ireland is a parliamentary, representative democratic republic and a member state of the European Union. While the head of state is the popularly elected President of Ireland, it is a largely ceremonial position, with real political power being vested in the Taoiseach, who is nominated by the Dáil and is the head of the government.

Sinn Féin is an Irish republican and democratic socialist political party in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republican Sinn Féin</span> Irish republican political party split from Sinn Féin in 1986

Republican Sinn Féin or RSF is an Irish republican political party in Ireland. RSF claims to be heirs of the Sinn Féin party founded in 1905; the party took its present form in 1986 following a split in Sinn Féin. RSF members take seats when elected to local government in the Republic of Ireland, but do not recognise the validity of the Partition of Ireland. It subsequently does not recognise the legitimacy of the parliaments of Northern Ireland (Stormont) or the Republic of Ireland, so the party does not register itself with them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Lou McDonald</span> Irish politician, President of Sinn Féin (born 1969)

Mary Louise McDonald is an Irish politician who has served as Leader of the Opposition in Ireland since June 2020 and President of Sinn Féin since February 2018. She has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin Central constituency since 2011. She previously served as vice president of Sinn Féin from 2009 to 2018 and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Dublin constituency from 2004 to 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toiréasa Ferris</span> Barrister and former Sinn Féin politician

Toiréasa Ferris is an Irish former Sinn Féin politician who has served as a Kerry County Councillor for Tralee from 2003 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eoin Ó Broin</span> Irish politician (born 1972)

Eoin Ó Broin is an Irish Sinn Féin politician and writer who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for Dublin Mid-West constituency since the 2016 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice Quinlivan</span> Irish politician (born 1967/1968)

Maurice Quinlivan is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick City constituency since the 2016 general election. He was appointed Chair of the Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment in September 2020. He was chosen as Sinn Féin's nominee for Mayor of Limerick, at the 2024 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 European Parliament election in Ireland</span> Irish component of the 2014 European Parliament election

The 2014 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 2014 European Parliament election and was held on Friday, 23 May 2014, on the same day as the 2014 local elections and two by-elections. The election was conducted under the single transferable vote. Counting of the votes began on Sunday, 25 May and continued until Tuesday, 27 May.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Irish general election</span> Election to the 32nd Dáil

The 2016 Irish general election to the 32nd Dáil was held on Friday 26 February, following the dissolution of the 31st Dáil by President Michael D. Higgins on 3 February, at the request of Taoiseach Enda Kenny. The general election took place in 40 Dáil constituencies throughout Ireland to elect to elect 158 Teachtaí Dála to Dáil Éireann, the house of representatives of the Oireachtas. There was a reduction of eight seats under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Monaghan County Council election</span> Part of the 2014 Irish local elections

An election to all 18 seats on Monaghan County Council took place on 23 May 2014 as part of the 2014 Irish local elections, a decrease from 20 seats at the 2009 election. County Monaghan was divided into three local electoral areas (LEAs) to elect councillors for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV). In addition, the town councils of Ballybay, Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, Clones and Monaghan were abolished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Limerick City and County Council election</span> Part of the 2014 Irish local elections

An election to all 40 seats on Limerick City and County Council took place on 23 May 2014 as part of the 2014 Irish local elections, a reduction from an overall total of 45 seats at the previous elections and 28 at the 2009 County Council election). It was a new local authority replacing the abolished Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council. Limerick City and County was divided into 6 local electoral areas (LEAs) to elect 40 councillors for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

Patrick McKee is an Irish former politician. He is a member of Fianna Fáil, and was formerly a member of Renua and was their candidate in the 2015 Carlow-Kilkenny Dáil by-election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Irish general election</span> Election to the 33rd Dáil

The 2020 Irish general election took place on Saturday 8 February, to elect the 33rd Dáil, the lower house of Ireland's parliament. The election was called following the dissolution of the 32nd Dáil by the president, at the request of the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, on 14 January 2020. The members, Teachtaí Dála (TDs), were elected by single transferable vote in multi-seat constituencies. It was the first election since 1918 to be held on a weekend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Irish local elections</span> Nationwide local authority elections

The 2019 Irish local elections were held in all local authorities in Ireland on Friday, 24 May 2019, on the same day as the 2019 European Parliament election and a referendum easing restrictions on divorce. Each local government area is divided into local electoral areas (LEAs) where three to seven councillors are elected on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Northern Ireland local elections</span> Local elections

Local elections were held in Northern Ireland on Thursday 2 May 2019. The last elections were held in 2014. 819 candidates contested 462 seats across Northern Ireland's 11 local government districts. 1,305,384 people aged 18 and over were eligible to vote, and 52.7% of the electorate turned out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aontú</span> Irish political party

Aontú is an all-Ireland political party that was formally launched in January 2019, and operates in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Ideologically, Aontú is opposed to abortion and combines elements of social conservatism with advocacy for a united Ireland and centre-left economics. It has been led by Peadar Tóibín since its foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Next Irish general election</span> Election to the 34th Dáil

The next Irish general election must be held no later than March 2025 to elect the 34th Dáil, the lower house of the Oireachtas, Ireland's parliament. It will elect Teachtaí Dála (TDs) across Dáil constituencies of between 3 and 5 seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independent Ireland</span> Irish political party

Independent Ireland is a right-wing political party in Ireland. It was formed on 8 November 2023 by former independent TDs Michael Collins and Richard O'Donoghue. Collins said that the party seeks to provide "a comfortable alternative" to voters unhappy with the Fianna Fáil–Fine Gael–Green Party coalition but unwilling to vote for Sinn Féin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Fingal County Council election</span> Part of the 2024 Irish local elections

An election to all 40 seats on Fingal County Council was held on 7 June 2024 as part of the 2024 Irish local elections. Fingal is divided into 7 local electoral areas (LEAs) to elect councillors for a five-year term of office on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote (PR-STV).

References

  1. 1 2 "Polling Day Orders made for European, local and Limerick mayoral elections". Gov.ie (Press release). Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. 6 April 2024.
  2. ↑ "Cabinet approves legislation for a directly elected Mayor for Limerick". Government of Ireland. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  3. ↑ English, Bernie (6 March 2024). "President signs Mayor of Limerick bill into law". Limerick Post. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  4. ↑ "Local elections in Ireland". Citizens Information Board. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "Local elections 2024: See the full list of candidates in your area". web.archive.org. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "Womens' groups call for gender quotas in local elections after 'disappointing' results". web.archive.org. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "Analysis: We had record low turnout in these elections - what does it mean?". web.archive.org. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 MacRedmond, David (12 May 2024). "'We feared for our lives': Fingal councillor Tania Doyle attacked while putting up posters". TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  9. ↑ Jennifer, Bray (15 May 2024). "Green Party councillor attacked while hanging posters in Dublin". The Irish Times . Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  10. ↑ Gataveckaite, Gabija (10 May 2024). "Social Democrats campaigners say they were threatened with knife while putting up local election posters". Irish Independent . Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  11. ↑ Gataveckaite, Gabija (14 May 2024). "Gardaí investigate alleged knife threat against Social Democrats campaigners". Irish Independent . Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  12. ↑ McGee, Harry (16 May 2024). "Gardaí investigating alleged racist abuse of Limerick election candidate and canvassing team". The Irish Times . Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  13. ↑ Raleigh, David (20 May 2024). "Man granted bail after alleged racist abuse of Fianna Fáil local election canvassers in Limerick". TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  14. ↑ Matthews, Jane (20 May 2024). "FG candidate grateful for outpouring of support after being attacked for putting up posters". TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  15. ↑ Matthews, Jane (16 May 2024). "Threats to election candidates from minority backgrounds 'dangerously off the wall', Tánaiste says". TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "RTÉ 2024 Elections". RTÉ . Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  17. ↑ "Changes to Register of Political Parties See New Party Proposed and Name/Emblem Changes for Another". Electoral Commission. 12 April 2024.
  18. ↑ "Business Post Red C Opinion Poll Report May 2024" (PDF). Business Post. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  19. ↑ "Three main parties and Independents expected to evenly divide most of local elections spoils". The Irish Times .
  20. ↑ Halpin, Padraic (9 June 2024). "Irish coalition parties hammer Sinn Fein in local elections". Reuters. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Carroll, Rory (10 June 2024). "Disappointment for Sinn Féin as Irish local elections bolster coalition". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  22. ↑ Webber, Jude. "Sinn Féin falters in Irish local elections". Financial Times . Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  23. 1 2 O’Keeffe, Cormac (10 June 2024). "No 'revolution' but landmark result for four far-right candidates in local elections". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  24. ↑ McMorrow, Conor (8 June 2024). "Bumper day for independents: 5 teatime election takeaways". RTE.ie. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.