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FG, Labour big winners in local elections

Elections - Overnight count at 12 constituencies
Elections - Overnight count at 12 constituencies

All 883 seats have been filled in the local elections.

For the latest local election results go to the Election Tracker

Fine Gael has won over a third of the vote with 340 seats, while Fianna Fáil has just a quarter on 218.

Labour is the other big winner at 132, Sinn Féin holds 54, the Greens have three. Others are at 136.

Fine Gael gained 32.2% of the vote, Fianna Fáil 25.4%, Labour 14.7%, Sinn Féin 7.4%, the Greens 2.3% and Others 18%.

Maria Murphy (FG) and Noel Leonard (FF) were the last two candidates to be elected in Dunshaughlin for Meath County Council.

However, there are recounts in Belturbet in Cavan and Portlaoise in Laois.

Earlier, Maurice Ahern, the defeated Fianna Fáil candidate in the Dublin Central bye-election, conceded that he has lost his city council seat too.

The brother of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said losing his council seat by 13 votes was disappointing.

Mr Ahern said for Fianna Fáil to get nearly 35% of the vote and only get one seat was really disappointing and that 35% was a huge vote for Fianna Fáil in any constituency this time.

Asked if he would ever run again, he said he doubted it and he would go back to being a supporter.

Sinn Féin's Seamus McGrattan was elected to Dublin City Council in the Cabra/Glasnevin area on the last count, beating Mr Ahern for the last seat.

The 52 seats on Dublin City Council have now been filled, with the final state of the parties: Fianna Fáil - 6, Fine Gael - 12, Labour - 19, Sinn Féin - 7, People Before Profit – 2 and Independents - 6.

Fianna Fáil lost half of its 12 seats. Sinn Féin lost three of its ten seats. Fine Gael gained two, and Labour gained four.

The Taoiseach has said he is unaware of any personal criticism of his leadership of Fianna Fáil from members of the party who have lost their seats.

Speaking in Punchestown last night, Brian Cowen said Fianna Fáil had lost candidates of the highest calibre in the elections but the people have spoken and it was the Government's job to get on with running the country.

He said that the results would influence the revision of the programme for Government, but that decisions would still have to be taken to put Ireland in a position where it could benefit from any economic upturn.

Gilmore calls on Taoiseach to dissolve Govt

Meanwhile, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said he expects a three-way contest in the next General Election in light of the local elections results and an exit poll carried out by RTÉ and the Sunday Independent.

The poll suggests that if a General Election was to be called, Fine Gael would gain 37% of support from voters with Fianna Fáil and Labour each on 21%.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr Gilmore said Labour would build on its success in the local elections.

He called on the Taoiseach to dissolve the Government and call an election in the national interest.

Mr Gilmore also said that Labour would field a candidate should a bye-election be called in Donegal.

Heavy losses for the Greens

The Green Party has lost all its city and county council seats in Dublin where most of its TDs are based.

The party lost four seats in Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown, three in Fingal and two in South Dublin, as well as the single seat it won on Dublin City Council five years ago.

The party also lost its single seat in Carlow and in Galway city.