Live: Social Democrat Daniel Ennis tops the poll on the first count in Dublin Central
James Cox and Eva Osborne
- Social Democrat candidate Daniel Ennis has topped the poll on the first count in Dublin Central
- Ennis took 4,903 first preference votes, followed by Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan on 4,348
- Fine Gael’s Sean Kyne and Independent Ireland and former Fianna Fáil representative Noel Thomas are neck-and-neck in Galway West
- Both Kyne and Thomas are sitting on around 20 per cent of the vote, while Labour’s Helen Ogbu is on 12 per cent
5.15pm
Social Democrat candidate Daniel Ennis has topped the poll on the first count in Dublin Central.
Ennis took 4,903 first preference votes, followed by Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan on 4,348.
Green candidate Janet Horner secured 2,907 votes, followed closely by independent Gerry Hutch on 2,817.
Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam secured 2,659, The Irish Times reports.
4.25pm
According to tallies, Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats looks set to top the poll in the Dublin Central byelection, The Irish Times has reported.
If Ennis takes the seat, the Social Democrats would have two seats in same constituency for first time.
Winning an 11th seat will mean the Soc Dems will have improved speaking rights over Labour and will speak ahead of them in the Dáil.
Ennis has said he is “delighted” with his performance in the Dublin Central by-election.
He was cheered at the count centre in the RDS as he arrived with party leader Holly Cairns, who said it was an “emotional day” for the Social Democrats.
3.40pm
Fianna Fáil is on course for its worst ever by-election result with John Stephens tallying around 4.2 per cent in Dublin Central.
Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien has denied that means Micheál Martin's leadership is under further pressure.
"[There] isn't a week that passes where someone doesn't ask me that question. I've been asked that quesiton since 2020 actually," he said.
"Since after the 2020 general election, I was asked would Micheál lead us into the general election. I said he would. He did, and not only did he do that, he came back and he returned as Taoiseach with the largest party in Dáil Éireann.
"Our focus though has got to be in working for our people
2.50pm
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she “feels no pressure” over her leadership as counting continues in two by-elections in Dublin and Galway.
The hand counting of votes in two constituencies in Galway and Dublin began at 9am on Saturday and is expected to continue for several hours as candidates are eliminated and their votes transferred to those still in the running.
First tallies indicate that the Social Democrats’ Daniel Ennis is ahead in Dublin Central, with Fine Gael’s Sean Kyne and Independent Ireland and former Fianna Fáil representative Noel Thomas neck-and-neck in Galway West.
The by-elections were held to fill the seats vacated by Catherine Connolly when she became President and former minister Paschal Donohoe, who left political life to become the World Bank’s chief knowledge officer.
Social Democrats candidate Daniel Ennis secured the most first preferences in the Dublin Central by-election, according to an unofficial tally of the ballots.
With 100 per cent of boxes open, the tally put Ennis on 19.6 per cent of first preferences, followed by Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan on 17.7 per cent.
Ennis and Boylan were followed by Green Party’s Janet Horner (11.5 per cent) and Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam (10.7 per cent).
Gerard “The Monk” Hutch, who has been described in court by a judge as the patriarchal figurehead of the Hutch criminal organisation, polled at 11.4 per cent.
Next in the running are Independent Malachy Steenson (9.5 per cent), People Before Profit-Solidarity’s Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin (6.7 per cent), Labour’s Ruth O’Dea (5.8 per cent), Fianna Fáil’s John Stephens (4.2 per cent), and Aontú’s Ian Noel Smyth (2 per cent).
With more than 95 per cent of boxes opened in Galway West, the tally put Independent Ireland and former Fianna Fáil representative Noel Thomas on 20.2 per cent, Fine Gael’s Sean Kyne on 19.9 per cent and Labour’s Helen Ogbu on 11.8 per cent.
Fianna Fáil’s candidate Cillian Keane is on 9.1 per cent, the Social Democrats’ Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich on 6.8 per cent, Galway mayor Mike Cubbard is on 7 per cent, and Sinn Féin’s candidate Mark Lohan is on 6.5 per cent.
Cillian Sherlock and Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association
1.30pm
Labour leader Ivana Bacik is hopeful transfers from the left will give Helen Ogbu the boost she needs to close the gap in Galway West.
Galway West, 61% tallied:
Thomas (INDIRL): 20.5%
Kyne (FG): 20.3%
Ogbu (LAB): 12.0%
Welby (IND): 8.2%
Keane (FF): 7.1%See the full LIVE tally as it comes in at https://t.co/6aFNPANUwa#ByElections26 pic.twitter.com/9iNmf8p7EE
— Ireland Votes (@Ireland_Votes) May 23, 2026
If the first count reflects the tally tabulation, on 4.1%, this will be Fianna Fáil's worst ever election performance, beating their record low seen at the Dublin Bay South by-election in 2021.#ByElection26 https://t.co/JgZcJOToPp
— Ireland Votes (@Ireland_Votes) May 23, 2026
1pm
The Dublin Central by-election now looks to be a two-candidate race between the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin.
All of the tallies are now complete, with a first count expected in the early afternoon.
The Social Democrats’ Daniel Ennis is in pole position to win the Dublin Central by-election, with 100 per cent of tallies now complete.
Ennis is currently on 19.7 per cent of first preferences, narrowly ahead of Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan on 17.7 per cent - a gap of roughly 500 votes.
Attention is now turning to transfers, and several experienced tally figures here believe Ennis is best placed to benefit as the count progresses.
Meanwhile, the transfers of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch will be closely watched, although there’s scepticism among tally teams that they will be strong enough to push the Sinn Féin candidate ahead of the Social Democrats.
While the Social Democrats are confident that Daniel Ennis will benefit from the transfers of the Green Party candidate Janet Horner, who's outperformed expectations and sits on around 11.5 per cent.
12.20pm
Social Democrats candidate Daniel Ennis seems to have a lead over his Sinn Féin rival Janice Boylan for the Dáil seat in Dublin Central.
12pm
It's still early doors in both Dublin Central and Galway West, but we are getting a picture of how these by elections are going to play out, with about 75 per cent of boxes open and tallied in Dublin Central.
It's Sinn Féin's Janice Boylan, who leads on about 19.8 per cent of the vote, followed by Daniel Ennis on 18.3 per cent for the Social Democrats.
11.30am
In Galway West, Seán Kyne of Fine Gael is leading the way, looking for an unlikely win for a Government candidate, he stands on 18.5 per cent.
11am
Janice Boylan of Sinn Féin and Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats are in a tight contest in Dublin Central.
_________________________________________________________
Ballot boxes are being opened following the Galway West and Dublin Central byelections.
The process of counting votes in two closely-watched byelections begins on Saturday morning.
Two new members of the Dáil will be elected in the process after voters in parts of Galway and Dublin went to the polls on Friday.
They chose from a a range of candidates to fill the seats vacated by Catherine Connolly when she became president, and former minister Paschal Donohoe, who left political life to become the World Bank’s chief knowledge officer.
Dublin Central
Galway West
