Aontú Makes History with First Seanad Seat as Fianna Fáil faces Losses
In a landmark moment for Irish politics,Aontú has secured its first-ever seat in the Seanad,with the election of Sarah O’Reilly on the Agricultural panel. This victory comes at the expense of Fianna Fáil, which lost one of its four seats on the panel. O’Reilly, a Cavan-Monaghan Dáil general election candidate, achieved this milestone through a accomplished voting pact among Autonomous councillors [[1]].
This marks Fianna Fáil’s second seat loss in the Seanad elections, following a defeat on the Cultural and Educational panel. Though, the party has managed to secure a seat on the Labor panel, where outgoing Monaghan Senator Robbie Gallagher exceeded the quota on the first count [[2]].
Simultaneously occurring, the Social Democrats celebrated their first Seanad seat as a party, with Patricia Stephenson, their Carlow-Kilkenny Dáil general election candidate, emerging victorious. Sinn Féin also saw success, with former Dublin Bay South TD Chris Andrews elected on the fourth count, thanks to transfers from eliminated party colleague Daithí Doolan. Another Sinn Féin candidate, Maria McCormack from Co Laois, is also set to join the Seanad [[3]].The Agricultural panel witnessed a dramatic 23rd count, where outgoing Senator Maria Byrne of Fine Gael retained her seat by a razor-thin margin of one-tenth of a vote.This came at the expense of Labour, whose candidate, Cllr Angela Feeney, was excluded after a recount failed to alter the result. Labour has indicated it may pursue a legal challenge to demand a full recount [[4]].
Independent senator Gerard Craughwell was re-elected on the second count, adding to the mix of victories and losses across the panels.
Key Seanad Election Results
| party | Candidate | Panel | Outcome |
|——————–|———————-|——————-|———————————|
| Aontú | sarah O’Reilly | Agricultural | Elected (first seat for Aontú) |
| Fianna Fáil | Robbie Gallagher | Labour | Elected (exceeded quota) |
| Social Democrats | Patricia Stephenson | N/A | First Seanad seat for party |
| Sinn Féin | chris Andrews | N/A | Elected on fourth count |
| Fine Gael | Maria Byrne | Agricultural | Retained seat by 0.1 vote |
The Seanad elections have highlighted shifting political dynamics, with smaller parties like Aontú and the Social Democrats making significant gains. As the counts continue, all eyes remain on the final results and potential legal challenges that could reshape the composition of the Upper House.
For more updates on the Seanad election counts, follow the latest developments here.
seanad election 2025: New Faces, Shifting Alliances, and Legal Challenges
The 2025 seanad elections have brought significant changes to Ireland’s upper House, with new senators elected, alliances tested, and legal challenges looming. The results highlight the complexities of the Seanad electoral system, which has been described as “like the Ballinasloe fair” for its intense horse-trading over votes.
Fine Gael’s Mixed Fortunes
Fine Gael saw both gains and losses in this election.Cork County Councillor Eileen Lynch, Longford’s Cllr Paraic Brady, and Galway County Councillor PJ Murphy secured seats, joining Senator Byrne from Co Limerick in the Upper House. However, the party also faced setbacks. Senators Tim Lombard and Aisling Dolan lost their seats on the Agricultural panel. Lombard, a dairy farmer and outgoing Cork South-West senator, was eliminated on the 17th count. He had previously contested the 2020 and 2024 Dáil general elections in a constituency where Fine Gael has struggled to regain a foothold.
Aisling Dolan, a taoiseach’s nominee from Ballinasloe and a project manager, also lost her seat.She had contested the general elections in 2020 and 2024 in the Roscommon-Galway constituency.
Fianna Fáil’s Reduced Presence
Fianna Fáil returned with three seats, one fewer than in the previous Seanad. The party’s former cathaoirleach, Denis O’Donovan, retired, and Eugene Murphy, who became an Independent, lost his seat.The party’s first success came with the re-election of Westmeath senator Paul daly, a farmer and former secondary school teacher who has been a senator since 2016. Donegal Senator niall Blaney was also re-elected, alongside newcomer Teresa Costello, a Tallaght-based councillor.
Green Party’s Triumph
The Green Party celebrated a significant victory with former minister of State Malcolm Noonan topping the poll. Noonan succeeded outgoing senator Pippa Hackett, exceeding the quota of 95,667 votes with 105 on the first count. This success was attributed to a voting pact between Labour, the Social Democrats, and the Greens, though Labour sources suggested they received 20 fewer votes than agreed.
Legal Challenges and Electoral Reform
The election also saw potential legal challenges. Outgoing Fianna Fáil senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee is reportedly considering legal options after losing her seat by a fraction of a vote on the cultural and educational panel. This narrow defeat underscores the contentious nature of the Seanad electoral system, which has been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability.
The electorate, comprising TDs, Senators, and councillors, votes on all five vocational panels, with trade agreements between parties frequently enough influencing outcomes. However, the secret ballot means there are no direct sanctions for breaking agreements, leading to accusations of betrayal and mistrust.
Key Takeaways
| Party | Seats Won | Notable Winners | Notable Losses |
|——————|—————|———————————–|———————————–|
| Fine Gael | 4 | Eileen Lynch, Paraic Brady, PJ Murphy | Tim Lombard, Aisling Dolan |
| Fianna Fáil | 3 | Paul Daly, Niall Blaney, Teresa Costello | Denis O’donovan, Eugene Murphy |
| Green Party | 1 | Malcolm Noonan | Pippa Hackett |
Calls for Reform
The 2025 Seanad elections have reignited calls for electoral reform. Critics argue that the current system,with its opaque vote-trading and limited electorate,is indefensible. As Ireland’s political landscape continues to evolve, the need for a more transparent and inclusive seanad electoral process becomes increasingly urgent.
For more insights into the debate on Seanad reform, read The Irish Times view on Seanad electoral reform.
The 2025 Seanad elections have reshaped Ireland’s Upper house,but the controversies and challenges they have highlighted suggest that further changes may be on the horizon.
Seanad Éireann Election Results: Key Winners and Panels
The recent Seanad Éireann elections have concluded, with several notable candidates securing their seats across various panels and university constituencies. The election process, which involves a unique voting system where votes are multiplied by 1,000 to avoid fractions, saw a diverse group of individuals elected to represent Ireland’s upper house of parliament.
Cultural and Educational Panel
The Cultural and educational Panel was the first to complete its elections, with five Senators elected:
- Pauline Tully (Sinn Féin)
- Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)
- Shane Curley (Fianna Fáil)
- Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
- Joe Conway (Independent)
This panel focuses on issues related to culture, education, and the arts, ensuring that these critical areas are represented in the legislative process.
Agricultural Panel
The Agricultural Panel, which comprises 11 Senators, saw a mix of returning and new faces. Among the elected were:
- Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)
- joanna Collins (Sinn Féin)
- Victor Boyhan (Independent)
- Paul Daly (Fianna Fáil)
- Niall Blaney (Fianna Fáil)
- Teresa Costello (Fine Gael)
- Eileen Lynch (Fine Gael)
- Sarah O’Reilly (aontú)
- Paraic Brady (Fine Gael)
- Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
- PJ Murphy (Fine Gael)
Joanna Collins, a newcomer from Limerick, expressed her enthusiasm for representing rural Ireland, stating, “I will relish working on behalf of rural Ireland and in particular having the backs of section 39 workers in our community and voluntary workers.”
Labour Panel
the Labour Panel, which also has 11 seats, saw Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fáil) and Gerard Craughwell (Independent) among the elected. This panel focuses on labour and employment issues, ensuring that workers’ rights and interests are represented in the Seanad.
University Constituencies
The university constituencies, which have six seats, concluded their counts with the following elected:
- Michael McDowell (National University of Ireland)
- Rónán Mullen (National University of Ireland)
- alice-Mary Higgins (National University of Ireland)
- Lynn Ruane (university of Dublin, TCD)
- Tom Clonan (University of Dublin, TCD)
- Aubrey McCarthy (University of dublin, TCD)
The race in the university constituencies was notably tight, with just 31 votes separating Aubrey McCarthy and Hazel Chu of the Green Party. McCarthy was ultimately deemed elected after a revised final count.
Key Takeaways
The Seanad elections highlight the diversity of depiction across Ireland’s political landscape. from agricultural advocates to labor representatives and university senators, the newly elected members bring a wealth of experience and perspectives to the upper house.
| Panel/Constituency | Elected Senators |
|——————————-|————————————————————————————-|
| Cultural and Educational | Pauline Tully, Cathal Byrne, Shane Curley, Seán Kyne, Joe Conway |
| Agricultural | Malcolm Noonan, Joanna Collins, Victor Boyhan, Paul Daly, Niall Blaney, Teresa Costello, Eileen Lynch, Sarah O’Reilly, Paraic Brady, Maria Byrne, PJ Murphy |
| Labour | Robbie Gallagher, Gerard Craughwell |
| University Constituencies | Michael McDowell, Rónán Mullen, Alice-Mary Higgins, Lynn Ruane, Tom Clonan, Aubrey McCarthy |
As the newly elected Senators prepare to take their seats, their work will be crucial in shaping Ireland’s legislative agenda.Stay tuned for updates on their contributions and the impact of their policies on the nation.
For more information on the Seanad Éireann and its role in Irish politics, visit the official Oireachtas website.
