Live: Social Democrats' Daniel Ellis leading in Dublin, Fine Gael's Seán Kyne in Galway
James Cox and Eva Osborne
- The Dublin Central by-election now looks to be a two-candidate race between the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin.
- The Social Democrats’ Daniel Ennis is in pole position to win the Dublin Central by-election, with 100 per cent of tallies now complete.
- Ennis is currently on 19.7 per cent of first preferences, narrowly ahead of Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan on 17.7 per cent - a gap of roughly 500 votes.
- In Galway West, Seán Kyne leads the way with 20.3 per cent of the vote.
- Labour leader Ivana Bacik is hopeful transfers from the left will give Helen Ogbu the boost she needs to close the gap in Galway West.
1.30pm
Labour leader Ivana Bacik is hopeful transfers from the left will give Helen Ogbu the boost she needs to close the gap in Galway West.
Galway West, 61% tallied:
Thomas (INDIRL): 20.5%
Kyne (FG): 20.3%
Ogbu (LAB): 12.0%
Welby (IND): 8.2%
Keane (FF): 7.1%See the full LIVE tally as it comes in at https://t.co/6aFNPANUwa#ByElections26 pic.twitter.com/9iNmf8p7EE
— Ireland Votes (@Ireland_Votes) May 23, 2026
If the first count reflects the tally tabulation, on 4.1%, this will be Fianna Fáil's worst ever election performance, beating their record low seen at the Dublin Bay South by-election in 2021.#ByElection26 https://t.co/JgZcJOToPp
— Ireland Votes (@Ireland_Votes) May 23, 2026
1pm
The Dublin Central by-election now looks to be a two-candidate race between the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin.
All of the tallies are now complete, with a first count expected in the early afternoon.
The Social Democrats’ Daniel Ennis is in pole position to win the Dublin Central by-election, with 100 per cent of tallies now complete.
Ennis is currently on 19.7 per cent of first preferences, narrowly ahead of Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan on 17.7 per cent - a gap of roughly 500 votes.
Attention is now turning to transfers, and several experienced tally figures here believe Ennis is best placed to benefit as the count progresses.
Meanwhile, the transfers of Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch will be closely watched, although there’s scepticism among tally teams that they will be strong enough to push the Sinn Féin candidate ahead of the Social Democrats.
While the Social Democrats are confident that Daniel Ennis will benefit from the transfers of the Green Party candidate Janet Horner, who's outperformed expectations and sits on around 11.5 per cent.
12.20pm
Social Democrats candidate Daniel Ennis seems to have a lead over his Sinn Féin rival Janice Boylan for the Dáil seat in Dublin Central.
12pm
It's still early doors in both Dublin Central and Galway West, but we are getting a picture of how these by elections are going to play out, with about 75 per cent of boxes open and tallied in Dublin Central.
It's Sinn Féin's Janice Boylan, who leads on about 19.8 per cent of the vote, followed by Daniel Ennis on 18.3 per cent for the Social Democrats.
11.30am
In Galway West, Seán Kyne of Fine Gael is leading the way, looking for an unlikely win for a Government candidate, he stands on 18.5 per cent.
11am
Janice Boylan of Sinn Féin and Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats are in a tight contest in Dublin Central.
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Ballot boxes are being opened following the Galway West and Dublin Central byelections.
The process of counting votes in two closely-watched byelections begins on Saturday morning.
Two new members of the Dáil will be elected in the process after voters in parts of Galway and Dublin went to the polls on Friday.
They chose from a a range of candidates to fill the seats vacated by Catherine Connolly when she became president, and former minister Paschal Donohoe, who left political life to become the World Bank’s chief knowledge officer.
Dublin Central
Galway West
