Sinn Féin Dublin Galway By-elections brought a loss in Dublin Central, where the Social Democrats’ Daniel Ennis defeated Janice Boylan on Friday. Sinn Féin also suffered a heavier setback in Galway West, leaving the party with two bruising results in one weekend.
The Dublin Central result mattered because the seat sits in Mary Lou McDonald’s parliamentary power base and had been held by former Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe until he quit last year for the World Bank. Ennis, described as a political newcomer, said: “We believe in the politics of decency, hope and inclusion” and “People want change, but they want positive change.”
Dublin Central seat shifts
Boylan finished second in Dublin Central, while Gerry Hutch came fourth after campaigning on a call for Somali immigrants to be interned without trial in a former army base. Ennis’s win also gave the Social Democrats more ground in the opposition benches, where they moved ahead of Labour in parliamentary numbers and became second only to Sinn Féin.
McDonald, who has led Sinn Féin since 2018, moved quickly to reject any leadership speculation after the by-election losses. In Galway, she said, “There is no question on the leadership. I am the leader of Sinn Féin,” and added, “I lead it on days when we’re on a winning streak. I lead us on the days when we’re not lifting the cup.”
Galway West counting
Galway West was still being counted on Saturday under Ireland’s preferential system, and Sinn Féin’s candidate faced certain elimination. The outcome there was expected on Sunday, keeping the second contest open while Dublin Central had already delivered a clear result.
For Sinn Féin, the immediate test is whether the Dublin Central loss becomes a one-seat setback or the start of a wider parliamentary retreat. McDonald has answered the first leadership challenge; the remaining issue is whether the party can stop the count in Galway West from adding another loss to the weekend.
