Bye-election sees new political reality in Dublin Central

The count may be done and dusted in Dublin Central but the attention of local political watchers is already turning to the next general election.

The Social Democrats' newest TD, Daniel Ennis, will join his party colleague Gary Gannon alongside Labour's Marie Sherlock and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald in representing this four-seat constituency.

It will be a tall task for the Social Democrats to retain both their seats - but it's a first-world political problem for the growing party.

A constituency redraw or enlargement cannot be ruled out either, so both deputies Gannon and Ennis will likely worry about the next general election further down the line.

Sinn Féin should have taken two seats here in 2020 when it pulled 1.78 of a quota but only had one candidate.

If Mary Lou McDonald is to lead her party to general election success, this is a constituency she needs to target for a second seat.

The party's vote dropped again this weekend to 17.5%, having already declined by 12 percentage points in 2024.

Sinn Féin figures have expressed satisfaction with Janice Boylan's campaign despite her loss.

Ms Boylan defeated disability advocate and mother of Harvey Morrison, Gillian Sherratt, at a selection convention to contest the weekend election.

Asked whether she would run again, Ms Sherratt said it was early days, but she would be tempted.

Independent Gerard Hutch has indicated he will run again in the next general election.

This time, his vote share was up on 2024, but his number of first preferences was down.

His 11.3% of the vote, combined with the 9% accrued by Independent Malachy Steenson, suggests a candidate outspoken on immigration could prosper next time.

The Green Party is buoyed by Janet Horner's bye-election showing after she surprised pundits by taking in 11.7% and lasting until the dying embers of the count.

The party held a seat here after the 2020 general election and has a strong representation in Dublin City Council from this area.

The Labour Party's vote was slightly down on Marie Sherlock's 7.5% in 2024, for a new candidate in Ruth O'Dea.

Labour bosses will hope Ms Sherlock can boost that figure next time.

Fine Gael's Ray McAdam performed slightly below expectations this weekend but should be well positioned to regain Paschal Donohoe's old seat here in the next general election.

The party's aim was to solidify Mr McAdam's base for the general election in a similar vein to Mr Donohoe's run in the 2009 bye-election here.

Fine Gael figures appear satisfied that aim has been achieved.

People Before Profit's Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin also increased his vote yesterday and the Irish folk musician's profile seems to be growing.

Fianna Fáil took 44.4% of the vote here in 2007 when Bertie Ahern was in his electoral pomp.

This weekend, its candidate John Stephens posted Fianna Fáil's worst ever bye-election result with just 4.2% of the vote.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has alluded to "historical problems" in the constituency, but a lot of soul searching is likely needed by local party apparatchiks.

Mr Stephens is the party's councillor for the Cabra-Glasnevin area but the party failed to take a seat with any of its three candidates in the North Inner City in the last local elections.

Senator Mary Fitzpatrick - who ran in 2007, 2011, 2016, 2020 and 2024 - declined a go in this bye-election.

Interesting times ahead as party figures adjust to the new political reality in Dublin Central.

Full Results

Get the count-by-count detail from Dublin Central's results