The Indo Daily: Election disaster for Mary Lou, the Harris ‘energy’ effect and what happened to the ‘far-right'?

A Sinn Féin shocker in the locals, a strong show of support for the ‘new look’ Fine Gael, and the not-quite rise of the far right. Friday's elections have left many talking points, as the country looks ahead to a possible Autumn general election, despite what Taoiseach Simon Harris has to say.

Mary Lou McDonald is facing serious questions after a lacklustre campaign where Simon Harris and Micheál Martin left her in their shade. Sinn Féin activists have long believed that it would only be a matter of time before McDonald became Ireland’s first female Taoiseach – but that dream is as far away as ever after these election results.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has dismissed calls to call a general election after the Coalition’s success in the local elections.

Speaking in the RDS Simmonscourt, the Fine Gael leader ruled out a formal vote pact with Fianna Fáil or the Green Party when the country next goes to the polls.

“The people of Ireland have just gone out and voted in local elections and European elections, and I think what the people right across the country want me to do is my job,” he said.

“I'm 61 days as a Taoiseach of this country. People want me to bring energy not just to the campaign trail, but also to solving some issues, including ones that have seemed intractable in the past, and that's my absolute determination.

On this bonus episode of The Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Philip Ryan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent and Gabija Gataveckaite, Political Correspondent with the Irish Independent, to examine the clear winners and losers of a very impactful election campaign.