Who are the parties behind Irish politics?

Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and Fine Gael are the three big parties in Dáil Éireann (Irish parliament)

Voters in the Republic of Ireland went to the polls on Friday to elect a record number of Teachtaí Dála (TDs) to the 34th Dáil (Irish parliament).

Politics in Ireland has traditionally been dominated by two parties - Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Both parties emerged following a split in nationalist opinion over the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty.

Sinn Féin has become the main opposition party after making significant gains in 2020 and topping the popular vote, winning 37 seats.

Fine Gael

Simon Harris became the "baby of the Dáil" in 2011 at age 24, and became the youngest ever taoiseach at 37

Translated to 'Family of the Irish', Fine Gael is a centre-right party.

It has its origins in the Irish Civil War and in the pro-Anglo-Irish Treaty party, Cumann na nGaedheal (Society of the Gaels).

Michael Collins, who supported the 1921 Treaty that led to the partition of the island and created the Irish Free State, is a Fine Gael hero.

The party has been in power since 2011, when Ireland was in economic crisis and in the early stages of an international bailout arrangement.

The country's move from bust to boom was overseen by Fine Gael under the leadership of former taoiseach Enda Kenny and his successor, Leo Varadkar.

A rapid recovery may have led to strong economic growth figures and near full employment, but it brought its own problems, including a shortage of housing, homelessness, high rents, and congestion, particularly in Dublin.

They were dubbed "the problems of success" by former Finance Minister Michael Noonan as far back as 2015 and have dogged the party that has traditionally seen itself as a steward of the economy.

The party was led by Leo Varadkar from 2017-2024, when he stood down, citing "personal and political reasons".

Simon Harris was confirmed as the new party leader in March.

Fianna Fáil

Micheál Martin has been Leader of Fianna Fáil since 2011

Meaning 'Soldiers of Destiny', Fianna Fáil was formed by the state's founding father, the anti-Treaty Éamon de Valera, in 1926.

It was once seen as more centrist but is now seen as more centre-right.

Historically, Fianna Fáil has appealed across all social divides.

It dominated Irish politics for much of the post-World War Two period.

But the party suffered a catastrophic defeat in 2011, after many voters blamed it for its management of the economy both before and during the early years of the economic crisis.

In the 2016 election, it formed a confidence-and-supply arrangement, along with independents, to prop up a Fine Gael-led government.

Four years ago, Fianna Fáil won 38 seats, and a coalition government was formed between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party.

Sinn Féin

Mary Lou McDonald has led the party since 2018, succeeding Gerry Adams who was the Sinn Féin president for 34 years

An Irish republican and democratic socialist party, Sinn Féin is the main opposition party.

The party has been led by Mary Lou McDonald since 2018, who succeeded long-serving leader Gerry Adams.

Since then, the Dublin politician has sought to distance her party from criticism about its historic links to IRA violence.

In 2020 her party made significant gains and topped the popular vote, winning 37 seats.

It has become the largest party across Northern Ireland's councils, as well as in its assembly and at Westminster.

However, in the republic, the party suffered in the local elections, winning 102 council seats when they were hoping for 200.

Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have ruled out entering government with Sinn Féin.

Labour Party

Ivana Bacik has led the party since 2022

The Irish Labour Party is a centre-left social democratic party, founded in 1912 as part of the trade union movement, with which it maintains organisational links.

In 2011, it became the second largest party in the Dáil but slipped to fourth in 2016.

It suffered a brutal defeat in that year's general election after serving as the junior coalition party with Fine Gael. Its seat count in the Dáil fell from 37 to seven.

Ivana Bacik has led the party since 2022.

The Green Party

Roderic O'Gorman took over the leadership of the Green Party in July

The Green Party advocates for environmental protection, sustainability, and green politics.

It was founded as the Ecology Party of Ireland in 1981, becoming the Green Alliance in 1983, and adopted its current name in 1987.

The Green Party first entered the Dáil in 1989.

It has participated in the Irish government twice, from 2007 to 2011 as a junior partner in a coalition with Fianna Fáil and since June 2020 in a coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Its leader since 2011, Eamon Ryan stepped down in June after the local and European elections, which saw the Green Party lose both of its MEP seats and its number of local councillors halve.

Roderic O'Gorman took over in July.

Social Democrats

Party leader Holly Cairns gave birth to her baby girl on polling day

The Social Democrats were launched in 2015 by three Independent TDs.

In May 2016, the party formed a technical group within the Dáil with the Green Party.

Holly Cairns has been the sole leader of the party since 2023.

She has said its priority is to invest in public services and "lift people out of poverty".

The Social Democrats are known to be prolific on social media sites, using TikTok and Instagram to get their messages across.

Aontú

Peadar Tóibín formed Aontú after resigning from Sinn Féin due to its stance on abortion

Aontú has been led by Peadar Tóibín since its foundation in January 2019.

He resigned from Sinn Féin in 2018 due to his anti-abortion views after opposing the party whip on the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.

The party also runs candidates in Northern Ireland.

Outside of the abortion issue, Aontú has also outlined its stance on immigration and what the party calls "gender ideology".

It wants a 4,000-staff-strong Irish border agency to oversee border control, applications, and the enforcement of rules and says it is the "only" party in the Dail which agrees with the view that a woman is a female adult or that a man cannot become pregnant or give birth.

People Before Profit–Solidarity

Richard Boyd Barrett became leader of People Before Profit in October

An alliance between People Before Profit and Solidarity, it is a left-wing electoral alliance and advocates for social justice, wealth redistribution, and workers' rights.

The alliance was created with the intent to obtain more speaking rights for its constituent members in Dáil Éireann after the 2016 Irish general election.

The party describes itself as anti-capitalist.

PBP also retains its own registration in Northern Ireland.

Independent Ireland

Leader of Independent Ireland Michael Collins which was formed in 2023

The newly-formed Independent Ireland is described as right-wing, critical of immigration, and opposed to "open borders".

It was formed in 2023 by former independent TDs Michael Collins and Richard O'Donoghue.

Collins has said that the party seeks to provide "a comfortable alternative" to voters unhappy with the Fianna Fáil–Fine Gael–Green Party coalition but unwilling to vote for Sinn Féin.