Irish Times

[anton pulisov]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

All the FG and FF talking heads are going on about how coalition talks would be very difficult.

What the fuck is there to negotiate? Parking spaces at Leinster House?

[John Godot]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

antoine polus wrote: where is cashel then, north or south of the border. i heard lowry was cleaning up in cashel

South Tipp is code for "Clonmel".

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Tubby Isaacs wrote:

George Galloway (@georgegalloway)
February 27, 2016

The miscalled Irish Labour Party has been wiped out by the people. An ignominious end. These are the wages of sin #IrishElection

Galloway would have kicked out the Troika, printed his own currency and kick started an autarkic economy.

RBB is basically an upmarket Gorgeous George. Getting to the business-end now, with Shortall, Martin and McGrath all elected in the last five minutes.

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

For nominative determinists, it seems Michael Collins could be elected in Cork SW.

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Murphy and Donnelly also returned. Meanwhile, it seems the Greens' Catherine Martin could depose Shatter.

[Borracho]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Diable Rouge wrote: RBB is basically an upmarket Gorgeous George

WTF

[DCI Harry Batt]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

antoine polus wrote:

A grand coalition would be great for SF, no? *The* opposition party.

If they weren't gunrunners they would have walked this election. They need to disband.

All parties with their roots in the independence movement and ensuing civil war need to go.

So...the Greens would be in power alone?

[DCI Harry Batt]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Will RBB be keeping his seat?

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Just been re-elected this minute - AAA/PBP could get six if a few bounces go their way. Unfortunately, Lowry has met the quota on the first count.

[anton pulisov]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

He's been elected already, by quite some margin.

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

On a brighter FF note - Hanafin's comeback failed miserably.

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

The first Green (Catherine Martin) elected in Rathdown.

[DCI Harry Batt]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

So do they actually recount the votes by hand each round?

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Absolutely - the sorted bundles are then placed in the "pigeon-holes" for each candidate. Some of the tighter constituencies probably won't be settled until Monday.

[DCI Harry Batt]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Bugger, only just found this on BBC Parliament. And it's about to finish.

[The Awesome Berbaslug!!!]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

they only recount a small number of votes at each count.

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Irish Left league table so far:

SF 5
SD 3
AAA-PBP 1
Green 1
Lab 0

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

The 41-seat total:

FF 15
FG 12
SF 5
Ind 4
SD, AAA, Green as above.

[DCI Harry Batt]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Do you have any TV without adverts?

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

No - both RTE and TG4 are funded by both the licence fee and ads.

[DCI Harry Batt]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Ta.

I was just reading about Lowry. Blimey eh?

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Burton survives without reaching the quota.

[Diable Rouge]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

RTE suggesting Labour could finish up with five seats.

[DCI Harry Batt]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

Renua still in contention anywhere?

[Outside Agent]

The 2016 Irish election is over!

antoine polus wrote: It's not even the resurgance of a 'new' Fianna Fail, it's the same fuckers who were thrown out in 2011 being re-elected.

Ireland truly deserves a Fine Fail coalition.

I saw a couple of interviews with victorious FF candidates - Dara Calleary in Mayo and Shane Cassells in Meath West. Both referred to the electorate punishing the party, and how this represented a grand return. Cassells was in fighting form, clearly believing that scores have been settled, and ventured into "they wrote us off but we showed them" territory.

This is why the Fianna Fail return is so depressing. At no point during their spell in opposition did they undergo a serious change, which many felt the party needed. They knew best. They just sat on the sidelines knowing they'd get another shot. But then, why would they change? Their support comes from blind loyalty, not from belief in policies. It's not a new Fianna Fail. It's the same old shower.

Then you look at the names - Cowen, McSharry - and it's hard to not deduce that Fianna Fail will always be around.