Sinn Fein leader is 'very actively pursuing' trying to form a government in a bid to topple Ireland's ruling coalition after 'incredible performance' in Irish election - as vote counting continues

The leader of Sinn Fein has said she is ‘very actively pursuing’ trying to form a government in a bid to topple Ireland’s ruling coalition following an ‘incredible performance’ in today’s election.

Mary Lou McDonald made it clear she wanted to engage with other parties about the ‘possibilities of government’.

Ireland’s ruling coalition of centre-right parties is closing in on victory – but might need extra help to get back into power, new exit polls have shown.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which were in office prior to the elections, have ruled out a deal with Sinn Fein despite sitting on only a combined 40.5 per cent of the vote, short of an overall majority.

Republican party Sinn Fein is on 21.1 per cent of the total vote – but remains a political outlier. Experts say Fine Gael – led by Taoiseach Simon Harris – and Fianna Fail will likely have to create a further extended coalition in order to return to power.

Ms McDonald said: ‘Let’s wait and see where the numbers land and then I am going to very, very actively pursue with others, other formulations, other configurations that will result in a changed government.

‘And I don’t want to be overly ahead of myself, if you don’t mind here, or presumptuous in any way, because obviously I need to go and talk to the leaders of the other parties, one of whom has just had a baby girl (Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns), so is extremely busy, I’m sure, with all of that, too.’

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald celebrating after what she called an 'incredible performance' in the election

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald celebrating after what she called an ‘incredible performance’ in the election

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and wife Caoimhe Wade cast their votes - with some extra help - in the Irish general election on Friday

Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and wife Caoimhe Wade cast their votes – with some extra help – in the Irish general election on Friday

She added: ‘I am looking to bring about a government of change, and I’m going to go and look at all formulations.’

Leaders of the major political parties have cast their votes in what could be an extraordinary election – and the biggest in Irish history – that includes Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, leader of the infamous Hutch crime gang, among its election candidates.

Career criminal Hutch was released on a €100,000 bail earlier this month by a Spanish judge while facing money laundering allegations – and early polls suggest he may claim the final seat in the constituency behind other more established candidates.

His gang has been linked to some of the biggest heists in Irish history – but Hutch himself has never been convicted of involvement due to a lack of evidence. He was cleared of murdering David Byrne, a member of the rival Kinahan clan, last year.

Byrne had been shot six times at a boxing weigh-in event at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016.

A Special Criminal Court judge described Hutch, 61, as the patriarchal figurehead of the Hutch criminal organisation and said he had engaged in ‘serious criminal conduct’. 

This election could see gangster Gerry Hutch elected to Dublin Central - which could make further investigations of alleged gang activity more difficult

This election could see gangster Gerry Hutch elected to Dublin Central – which could make further investigations of alleged gang activity more difficult

A member of count staff gets to work at a count centre in ork as counting takes place at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork

Ballot papers are gathered up at a count centre in Dublin

A member of count staff gets to work at a count centre in ork as counting takes place at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork (left) while papers are gathered in Dublin (right)

There are four seats up for grabs in the Dublin Central area where Hutch is campaigning – and his election could make him more difficult to prosecute, or even investigate.

Current Taoiseach Simon Harris said he expects a ‘fascinating couple of days’ after he submitted his ballot minutes after polling stations opened.

As Ireland uses a system of proportional representation where candidates are ranked numerically according to preference, voting slips need to be counted several times. This means some seats could take days to declare.

Political leaders stepped out in driving rain on Friday to vote, with the exception of Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns – who gave birth to a baby girl on polling day.

Speaking after voting on Friday, Mr Harris said that the make-up and stability of the next government could be decided by where transfer votes go.

The Fine Gael leader arrived at the polling station at Delgany National School in Co Wicklow just before 7.30am with his wife Caoimhe and their children, Saoirse, five, and Cillian, three.

‘I’m feeling really hopeful, hopeful in terms of the election, but hopeful for the future of our country,’ he said as he called on people to ‘use your voice, use your vote’.

In an election which has seen several opinion polls put the three main parties – Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and opposition party Sinn Fein – within touching distance of one another, turnout is expected to be another crucial factor.

The three largest parties were virtually neck-and-neck heading into polling day, with one party leader describing the race as ‘too close to call’.

The largest opposition party Sinn Fein held 21.1% of first-preference votes, narrowly ahead of current coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail at 21% and 19.5% respectively, according to the Ipsos B&A Exit Poll commissioned by RTE, The Irish Times, TG4 and Trinity College Dublin. 

Last year, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch was cleared of murdering David Byrne at a hotel in Dublin in 2016 (pictured outside court after the verdict)

Last year, Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch was cleared of murdering David Byrne at a hotel in Dublin in 2016 (pictured outside court after the verdict)

Irish president Michael D Higgins casting his vote in Dublin yesterday. This year's election is the biggest in Irish history after the number of constituencies grew from 39 to 43

Irish president Michael D Higgins casting his vote in Dublin yesterday. This year’s election is the biggest in Irish history after the number of constituencies grew from 39 to 43

Polling day on Friday was wet and windy across most of the country, which may affect turnout

Polling day on Friday was wet and windy across most of the country, which may affect turnout 

Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail are expected to group up for another coalition government - but exit polling suggests they will need more support to get over the line

Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail are expected to group up for another coalition government – but exit polling suggests they will need more support to get over the line

Irish ballot papers are counted by hand because of the ranking system used for candidates - meaning some results could take days to declare

Irish ballot papers are counted by hand because of the ranking system used for candidates – meaning some results could take days to declare

‘If they (Fine Gael and Fianna Fail) are both at 20%, that’ll get them close to 80 seats, I suspect, and then it’s a matter of who will go in with them,’ Dublin City University politics professor Gary Murphy told the Reuters news agency.

More than three million registered voters have their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the country’s housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living as well as potential future trade shocks.

After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Ireland’s Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power.

Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government.

The election, called on November 8, has been trailed by a lacklustre three-week campaign that seemed to fail to ignite a surge of enthusiasm among the public.

Fine Gael’s campaign has been plagued with several controversies which the Taoiseach has been unable to shake.

Mr Harris has repeatedly apologised for a much-criticised encounter in which he was accused of dismissing the concerns of a disability care worker at a supermarket, which had been filmed by RTE.

The Fine Gael campaign has also been dogged by footage entering the public domain which showed a candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub.

John McGahon had been found not guilty in a criminal case around the incident, but was ordered to pay damages in a civil case.

Former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, who is retiring from front-line politics, said his party had not had a good day in the Irish General Election. 

Meanwhile, Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said his party’s ‘red lines’ were not intended to rule them out of being in government with Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. 

The left-wing party may yet speak with other parties in its vein, including the Labour Party, about how they could leverage themselves against the centre-right during potential coalition discussions. 

You May Also Like

Surprising move by Trump administration in lawsuit involving Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by Capitol Police during Jan 6 riot

The Trump administration has agreed to settle a lawsuit with the family…

Russia launches a large drone attack on Kyiv while Putin ignores 30-day truce and Zelensky states ‘I won’t engage in manipulation’.

VLADIMIR Putin has unleashed a terrifying swarm of drones on Kyiv after…

Texas Jailer Accused of Allowing Fatal Assault on Inmate: Authorities

Murder charges have been filed against a former Bexar County deputy after…

Explore a £90k 8ft wide cottage that is considered tiny – could you call it home?

The small owner of a unique tiny house, only 8 feet wide,…

Kemi Badenoch urged to take bold action to restore Tory hopes amid warnings of a year-long battle with Reform UK’s threat

Kemi Badenoch is set to launch a policy push as she tries…

Notable Celebrities Attend David Beckham’s Lavish 50th Birthday Celebration, Including Eva Longoria, The Ramsays, and Tom Cruise with Girlfriend Ana de Armas – One Prominent Absence

It was David Beckham’s big night as he celebrated his 50th birthday…

Look Out For: Teen Girl from North Carolina Missing After Leaving Court Office

A North Carolina teen has gone missing and police are looking for…

Youngest son of billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed escapes his father by going to sea and criticizes our mistreatment of the Earth.

The youngest son of Mohamed Al Fayed has revealed he ran away…

Condolences Received for 14-Year-Old Boy Who Died in Abandoned Warehouse Fire – 14 Minors in Custody Following Tragedy

Relatives of a 14-year-old boy who died in a fire at an…

Chairman of Reform UK promises to utilize all available power to prevent migrants from being accommodated in council areas under his party’s control – with plans to secure 400 MPs.

Zia Yusuf, chairman of Reform UK, has affirmed that the party will…

Virginia Giuffre’s £12 million settlement with Prince Andrew is currently on hold due to a dispute over inheritance involving her husband and family.

PRINCE Andrew’s multi-million-pound settlement paid to his sex abuse accuser has been…

How to Generate Support for Strikes: Doctors’ Union Suggests Organizing Pizza Nights

MILITANT junior doctors have secretly admitted some members are reluctant to go…