Counting resumes in Galway as Cairns hails ‘stunning’ Ennis result in Dublin

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association

The counting of votes has resumed in Galway West as Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns hailed a “stunning” result for her party in Dublin Central.

Football coach and father of two Daniel Ennis took a second seat for the party in the four-seater constituency of Dublin Central.

Ennis hugged supporters as they chanted “Danny” after the result was declared after midnight in the RDS.

Dublin Central is the home constituency of Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and their candidate Janice Boylan came second in what McDonald said was a “tight” race.

On Sunday, Cairns hailed the “stunning” result by Mr Ennis on behalf of the Social Democrats and said that voters “know where they stand” with the Social Democrats.

“Daniel’s election victory today shows that people who want an alternative to the government are increasingly choosing the Social Democrats,” she said.

“Key to that is that people know where they stand with the Social Democrats.

“They know the positive vision we have for this country, and they are voting for that.”

The counting of votes at the count centre at Galway Lawn Tennis Club finished at around 9.30pm on Saturday after the fourth count.

Independent Ireland councillor Noel Thomas topped the poll in the Galway West byelection but the overall result remained unclear ahead of what is expected to be a lengthy count.

The former Fianna Fáil representative, who left the party in 2024 after stating that Ireland should stop accepting asylum seekers because “the inn is full”, got 10,007 first preference votes.

He was followed by Fine Gael senator Seán Kyne on 9,647 votes and Labour councillor Helen Ogbu on 5,462.

Constituents cast their votes on Friday to fill seats vacated by Catherine Connolly in Galway West when she became president and former minister Paschal Donohoe, who stopped representing Dublin Central to become the World Bank’s chief knowledge officer.