Sinn Féin in the lead! FF & FG surprised?! What do you think? Exciting or scary times?!

[Housiemousie]

I have always been a Fine Gael voter. I'm from a long line of FG voters, many active in the party, who would be horrified by how much I want Mary Lou to succeed.

I really want to like Leo. He looks the part but he's not speaking to me. I am self employed in rural Ireland and neither FF or FG have sounded like they know I or any of my family or friends exist in the 20 years I have lived here (having worked abroad for a decade post uni). I even have a soft spot for Micheál Martin (who can resist a Cork accent) But I am not a farmer so he's not representing me either.

So why is Mary Lou so appealing? I couldn't even listen to Gerry Adams. Is it the fact that because she's not northern I'm not thinking IRA? Or because we really have moved past that , or is it that we are so, so sick of the entrenched fat cats of FF and FG that anything (well, almost, you can keep Aontu) will be better?

I'd love to hear I'm not alone in finding this upcoming election more exciting than previous ones.

Anyone else waiting for the exit polls?

Just seen the IT one. Yikes.

Three way tie percentage wise. FG to lose out and FF to gain. Some craic all right.

Labour are a complete disaster.

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This is really going to be a case in point of how important preference votes are. I wonder how many voted strategically in this regard.

The thing is, if you have moved away from FF because of populism/irresponsibility/brown envelopes/tax dodging/corruption to SF, you're in trouble.

Will FF do a deal with them? John McGuinness is dying for one.

Long term I wonder what will happen.

It's a funny old world.

I just got back to Ireland in time to register to vote. A different political landscape to when I left, to put it mildly.

Wow Jane that's an interesting poll!

Equal billing for the top (ahem) three.

Even through FG didn't get my vote (nor their peers) I'd like to see them get a majority when the chips are down because I believe they have the best potential to recognise their failures and work on them. Leo included (see the OP when I really really want him to be someone I can believe in.

However when all is said and done I would not put my chips on any of them. And that is a sad state of affairs.

Yeah, nobody to vote for really is there. I do have more meas on FG than the other shower. But they could do with a good slap in the face to wake themselves up so I hope they do.

I have fond memories of the rainbow coalition back in the day. I don't think the present FG are the same type at all.

The count should make interesting viewing.

FF&FG coalition with strong left opposition. This could be good.

BUT omg, I do not want sinn fein in power, it is scary how close it is.

Agree with the second poster on this thread, Mary Lou is so close to Gerry Adams.

@DuchessDumbarton that is scary.

I'll be checking the results throughout the day. We're obviously headed for a coalition government of some description.

@Apileofballyhoo Labour have been pretty much non-existent in this election. Someone was talking about the party leaders' debate recently and for the life of me, I couldn't remember and who the LP leader was. And I follow news and current affairs.

@MysweetAudrina I agree. I think the transfers will be more important than ever. I suspect we're in for some long counts in some constituencies.

@Housiemousie Mary Lou (and Sinn Fein) isn't remotely appealing.

But FF have ruled out a coalition with FG as well as SF. Interesting. I've been playing on the 'Coalition Builder' on the online Irish Times, which is quite eye-opening. Looks like someone is going to have to break a pre-election promise.

Delighted for Sinn Fein - it’s time there was a bloody change !! They were the only ones behind us for the gay marriage red and the abortion - that massively helped get the young voters on side

Look at the state of the uk having the Tory gov in for so long / Brexit - they are moving backwards!

Ireland are actually trying to change things for the better and move forward

Let’s see eBay happens after the Count anyway

It looks like from the tallies so far that SF are topping the polls in every area they've put a candidate, it will interesting to see where their transfers go.

Are you joking? They were against repealing the 8th to begin with. They were certainly not the driving force behind repealing the 8th and they only changed sides when they realised that it was a vote killer.

I ran my local TFY group, and SF and PBP were the only parties who helped with canvassing etc from a party level. FG candidate actively avoided us and FF was anti choice. Labour candidate rolled out the day of a photo shoot and shook some hands, we did have some help from a woman who worked for labour but we were made very clear that she was not there representing the party, she was there on a personal level.

Votes have been cast Salmon. Too late now to argue.

Gravy - is there a means to watch it in England? Rte player?

I'm in Ireland, but yes RTE player is doing all day coverage. Rte also tweeted a live link to the broadcast earlier.

Too late now to argue

Never too late to correct misinformation

I surprised at how little canvassing went on this time. The greens called round a few times and labour once. Not whiff of FF and FG.

Look at the state of the uk having the Tory gov in for so long / Brexit - they are moving backwards!

Sitting in NI, the notion of SF as a party to take things forward and away from the past did make me laugh I have to say!

So it seems people can't forgive FF for destroying the economy, FG for not sorting out Health and Housing, but Sinn Fein, whose private army has murdered people in the recent past, and who conducted their own private trials on sex abuse-meh.