Hourigan proved transfer friendly securing crucial transfers, almost 2x her vote to reach the quota.

She got 24% of Costello's eliminating votes, more than anyone else. She took 24% from Brien's eliminating votes.

It ensured that Christy Burke who made a serious charge could not dethrone her.

From there Fitzpatrick could not recover.

Even Burke who got 4.8% of first preference votes to Fitzpatrick's 10.3% pulled ahead on Count 8 eliminating her.

Despite getting a higher tally, the transfer from Mary Lou McDonald put Gannon ahead of Mary Fitzpatrick.

He went from 2912 to 3605, whereas Fitzpatrick went from 3503 to 3530 - a transfer of only 27 votes.

Not very Republican...

On the first count Mary Lou McDonald got 11,223 votes, exceeding the quota of 6,288.

Of her 4,935 surplus, 1,835 (37%) went to Christy Burke, 814 to Gillian Brien (16%) and 693 (14%) to Neasa Hourigan.

Hourigan proved transfer friendly securing crucial transfers, almost 2x her vote to reach the quota.

She got 24% of Costello's eliminating votes, more than anyone else. She took 24% from Brien's eliminating votes.

It ensured that Christy Burke, who made a serious charge could not dethrone her.

From there Fitzpatrick could not recover.

Even Burke who got 4.8% of first preference votes to Fitzpatrick's 10.3% pulled ahead on Count 8 eliminating her.

Despite getting a higher tally, the transfer from Mar Lou McDonald put Gannon ahead of Mary Fitzpatrick.

He went from 2912 to 3605, whereas Fitzpatrick went from 3503 to 3530 — a transfer of only 27 votes. Not very Republican...

On the first count, Mary Lou McDonald got 11,223 first prefeence votes, exceeding the quota of 6,288.

Of her 4,935 surplus, 1,835 (37%) went to Christy Burke - IND, 814 (16%) to Gillian Brien - PBP and 693 (14%) to Neasa Hourigan (GR).

If you enjoyed this thread, check out the excellent @rtedoconone.bsky.social on the 2007 General Election about Dublin Central.

It features some familiar faces...

"Patricia, Mary and Mary-Lou Too"

www.rte.ie/radio/docono...

And so, in 2024 Mary Fitzpatrick runs again.

This time with no running mates or Aherns in site. Can she finally complete the task after 5 attempts of trying?

Or will the Fitzpatrick dynasty also fizzle out—without a bang but a whimper.

Find out on the 30th of November.

Recounts, collapses, and poetic justice. Fitzpatrick’s landslide sent a clear message: loyalty politics has its limits. In Dublin Central, political revenge isn’t just personal—it’s electoral.

The results were historic. Fitzpatrick’s council victory broke the Ahern dynasty’s grip on Dublin Central politics.

On the same day Maurice lost both the by-election and his council seat, Fitzpatrick was hoisted aloft.

Revenge was served.

But there's more. In 2009, Dublin Central’s by-election and city council elections happened on the same day.

Maurice Ahern was humiliated—coming 5th in the by-election.

Fitzpatrick topped the poll in the council elections, claiming victory while Ahern lost his family’s 30-year council seat.

The selection wasn’t just a contest; it was a coronation. Maurice Ahern secured 64 votes to Fitzpatrick’s 17, following a withdrawal by another candidate. But the real meeting happened before the vote at St. Luke’s, Bertie’s HQ. FF bosses gathered and Bertie reportedly made his case for his brother.

Fast-forward to 2009: Dublin Central’s by-election after Tony Gregory’s death became another chapter of chaos.

Fianna Fáil doubled down on the Ahern dynasty, selecting Maurice Ahern—Bertie’s 70-year-old brother—after a contentious internal vote. Fitzpatrick sidelined again. 🗳️

Fitzpatrick didn’t mince words in the aftermath: “They completely undermined me and shafted me.”

She slammed Brady’s lack of grassroots support: “20 years of loyal service and all he could deliver was 900 votes.”

But the Fianna Fáil machine wanted loyalty, not competition, in the ranks.

On results night, Brady started with just 939 votes and ranked ninth.

Yet, Ahern’s giant surplus—transferring 2,403 votes—pushed him past Fitzpatrick.

Brady clinched the final seat by just 169 votes, becoming the first to win a Dáil seat with fewer than 1,000 votes.

This wasn’t some passive reaction. On the eve of polling, Fitzpatrick’s team distributed leaflets asking for #1 votes. Bertie’s agent wasn’t having it. By 4am, 30,000 letters urging voters to back Ahern #1, Brady #2 flooded households. No apologies from Bertie’s camp—just cold, calculated strategy.