What are the five key takeaways from the local and European elections?

'Things are very volatile and nothing is a given'

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Counting continues at the RDS in Dublin for the European election. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/PA Wire
Counting continues at the RDS in Dublin for the European election. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/PA Wire

Five days on from the local and European elections and a number of clear trends are starting to emerge.

Political correspondent Jennifer Bray says she can’t remember a local election with this much expectation and volatility.

“This makes Irish politics very hard to read, which also makes it very, very interesting.”

Sinn Féin suffered what has been described as a “collapse” among Irish voters, with some members now questioning Mary Lou McDonald’s leadership and the party’s election strategy.

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Independent candidates enjoyed considerable success around the country, while Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are celebrating a somewhat unexpected boost to their ratings.

And while candidates running on an anti-immigrant platform did not perform as they hoped in Irish local elections, some have managed to be elected. Meanwhile in Europe, far right parties made significant gains in several countries

But how will these elections actually change Ireland, and what do these trends mean for you?

In The News breaks down the five key takeaways from the local and European elections.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak is an Irish Times reporter specialising in immigration issues and cohost of the In the News podcast