FF and FG to slug it out for top spot in local elections

When counting is eventually complete, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will remain the dominant parties in local government.

With a first count returned from all but one of the 166 local electoral areas around the country, both parties have 22.9% of first preference votes.

Ballina is the only local electoral area not to return a first count as of yet.

At 4am, with more than 800 seats filled nationwide, Fine Gael was in the lead with 213 councillors, just ahead of 202 for Fianna Fáil.

Independents have performed well in the election with more than 162 so far.

Sinn Féin has more than 91 councillors returned as they pull well clear of Labour, with 52, to be the third largest party in local government.

Sinn Féin is likely to finish with more councillors than in 2019 – but with fewer than the party envisioned at the start of campaigning this time around.

Speaking at the RDS count centre yesterday, Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald said the party will reflect, learn, and regroup.

The Social Democrats meanwhile have seen more than 30 of their candidates elected, the bulk of which have won seats in the east of the country.

20 members of Independent Ireland have been elected so far.

For the other Government party, the Green Party, it appears likely to hold relatively steady with 20 candidates elected.

Twelve local authorities have completed counting, including the largest one – Dublin City Council.

Cork City Council along with the City and County Councils of Waterford and Limerick have finished their counts.

Clare, Cavan, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo, Tipperary and Wicklow County Councils are all also finished.