Fine Gael Struggles as Irish Seanad Election Enters Weekend Count
In a significant turn of events, a second Fine Gael Senator has lost their seat in the Seanad general election count. The counting process, which has already spanned three days, is continuing over the bank holiday weekend.
Tim Lombard and Aisling Dolan Face Defeats
Cork South-West outgoing Senator Tim Lombard was eliminated on the 17th count for the Agricultural panel. Lombard, a dairy farmer, served two terms in the Seanad and had previously run unsuccessfully in the 2020 and 2024 Dáil elections.
Earlier, Outgoing Senator Aisling Dolan—a project manager from Ballinasloe—had lost her seat. Dolan had also contested the 2020 and 2024 Dáil elections, this time in the Roscommon-Galway constituency.
Fine Gael’s Resilience
Despite these losses, Fine Gael is expected to return at least the same number of Senators to the Agricultural panel as it did in the last Seanad, securing three seats.
Fianna Fáil Claims First Victory
Fianna Fáil made a notable comeback with the election of outgoing Westmeath Senator Paul Daly. Daly, a former secondary schoolteacher and farmer, secured his seat on the 14th count, marking Fianna Fáil’s first success on this panel.
Green Party’s Top Performer
Malcolm Noonan, a former Minister of State, topped the polls on the first count with 107,000 votes, surpassing the 95,667 quota. Noonan, who served as a Carlow-Kilkenny TD, was the Green Party’s sole candidate for the vocational panels.
Newcomers Secure Seats
Joanne Collins from Limerick, a qualified special needs assistant, was also elected on the first count with 106,000 votes. Collins, who narrowly missed out in the Dáil election in Limerick County, expressed enthusiasm for representing rural Ireland and advocating for section 39 workers.
Victor Boyhan, an Independent Senator from Dún Laoghaire, begins his third term following his election on the first count with 105,000 votes.
Independents and Former Senators
Eugene Murphy, a former Fianna Fáil senator and Independent, lost his seat on the Agricultural panel amidst a row over candidate selection for the Dáil general election.
University Constituencies
Counting in the University constituencies, which elect six Senators, concluded after a revised final count. Aubrey McCarthy, a businessman, edged out Green Party councillor Hazel Chu by just 31 votes. McCarthy was declared elected with a slight increase in his tally.
Lynn Ruane and Tom Clonan were also re-elected in earlier counts.
National University of Ireland
All three outgoing Senators at the National University of Ireland (NUI) were re-elected. Michael McDowell led the poll and secured his seat on the first count. Rónán Mullen and Alice Mary Higgins were elected on the ninth and final count.
Current Standing
A total of 15 Senators have been elected among the 49 members selected via the electoral process. The Taoiseach will later nominate 11 additional Senators, completing the Upper House.
Cultural and Educational Panel
The Cultural and Educational Panel was the first vocational panel to finalize its election. Five Senators were elected:
- Pauline Tully (Sinn Féin)
- Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
- Shane Curley (Fianna Fáil)
- Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
- Joe Conway (Independent)
Agricultural Panel
Four out of 11 seats on the Agricultural Panel have been decided:
- Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)
- Joanna Collins (Sinn Féin)
- Victor Boyhan (Independent)
- Paul Daly (Fianna Fáil)
Counting on this panel continues.
University of Dublin (TCD)
Lynn Ruane, Tom Clonan, and Aubrey McCarthy were elected from the University of Dublin (TCD).
Conclusion
As the Election progresses, Fine Gael faces significant challenges, while Fianna Fáil and the Green Party secure key victories. The agricultural panel remains competitive, and more outcomes are expected over the coming days.
Stay tuned for more updates as the counting unravel over the bank holiday weekend.
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