2019 Irish local elections

{{about|the Republic of Ireland|Northern Ireland|2019 Northern Ireland local elections}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2019 Irish local elections

| country = Republic of Ireland

| type = parliamentary

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2014 Irish local elections

| previous_year = 2014

| next_election = 2024 Irish local elections

| next_year = 2024

| turnout = 50.12% {{decrease}}1.58pp

| seats_for_election = 949 County and City Council Seats

| opinion_polls = 2019 Irish local elections#Opinion polls

| election_date = 24 May 2019

| 1blank = Largest party

| image1 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Micheál Martin TD (cropped).jpg|bSize = 120|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}

| colour1 =

| leader1 = Micheál Martin

| leader_since1 = 26 January 2011

| leaders_seat1 =

| party1 = Fianna Fáil

| last_election1 = 267

| seats1 = 279

| seat_change1 = {{increase}}12

| popular_vote1 = 467,407

| percentage1 = 26.92%

| swing1 = {{Increase}}1.72%

| 1data1 =

| 2data1 =

| 3data1 =

| image2 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Leo Varadkar TD (cropped).jpg|bSize = 125|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}

| colour2 =

| leader2 = Leo Varadkar

| leader_since2 = 2 June 2017

| party2 = Fine Gael

| last_election2 = 235

| seats2 = 255

| seat_change2 = {{increase}}20

| popular_vote2 = 438,494

| percentage2 = 25.26%

| swing2 = {{Increase}}1.34%

| 1data2 =

| 2data2 =

| 3data2 =

| image3 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Mary Lou McDonald, 2018.jpg|bSize = 120|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}

| colour3 =

| leader3 = Mary Lou McDonald

| leader_since3 = 10 February 2018

| leaders_seat3 =

| party3 = Sinn Féin

| last_election3 = 159

| seats3 = 81

| seat_change3 = {{decrease}}78

| popular_vote3 = 164,637

| percentage3 = 9.48%

| swing3 = {{decrease}}5.68%

| 1data3 =

| 2data3 =

| 3data3 =

| image4 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Brendan Howlin (official portrait) 2020 (cropped).jpg|bSize = 140|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 10}}

| colour4 =

| leader4 = Brendan Howlin

| leader_since4 = 20 May 2016

| leaders_seat4 =

| party4 = Labour Party (Ireland)

| last_election4 = 51

| seats4 = 57

| seat_change4 = {{increase}}6

| popular_vote4 = 99,500

| percentage4 = 5.73%

| swing4 = {{decrease}}1.41%

| 1data4 =

| 2data4 =

| 3data4 =

| image5 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Eamon Ryan 2020 (cropped).jpg|bSize = 120|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}

| colour5 =

| leader5 = Eamon Ryan

| leader_since5 = 27 May 2011

| leaders_seat5 =

| party5 = Green Party (Ireland)

| last_election5 = 12

| seats5 = 49

| seat_change5 = {{increase}}37

| popular_vote5 = 96,315

| percentage5 = 5.55%

| swing5 = {{Increase}}3.95%

| 1data5 =

| 2data5 =

| 3data5 =

| image6 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Róisín Shortall TD and Catherine Murphy TD cropped.jpg|bSize = 140|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 17}}

| leader6 = Catherine Murphy
Róisín Shortall

| leader_since6 = 15 July 2015

| party6 = Social Democrats (Ireland)

| leaders_seat6 =

| last_election6 = New party

| seats_before6 =

| seats6 = 19

| seat_change6 = New party

| popular_vote6 = 39,644

| percentage6 = 2.28%

| swing6 = New party

| 1data6 =

| 2data6 =

| 3data6 =

| image7 =

S-PBP

| colour7 =

| leader7 = Collective leadership

| leader_since7 = n/a

| leaders_seat7 =

| party7 = Solidarity–People Before Profit

| last_election7 = 28{{efn|Contested the 2014 election as two separate parties: Anti-Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit. Each won 14 seats.}}

| seats7 = 11 (Sol 4) (PBP 7)

| seat_change7 = {{decrease}}17

| popular_vote7 = 32,883 (Sol 10,911) (PBP 21,972)

| percentage7 = 1.89% (Sol 0.64%) (PBP 1.29%)

| swing7 = {{decrease}}1.11% (Sol {{decrease}}0.60%) (PBP {{decrease}}0.41%)

| 1data7 =

| 2data7 =

| 3data7 =

| image8 = File:Peadar Tóibín (official portrait) 2020 (cropped).jpg

| colour8 =

| leader8 = Peadar Tóibín

| leader_since8 = 28 January 2019

| leaders_seat8 =

| party8 = Aontú

| last_election8 = New party

| seats8 = 3

| seat_change8 = New party

| popular_vote8 = 25,660

| percentage8 = 1.48%

| swing8 = New party

| 1data8 =

| 2data8 =

| 3data8 =

| image9 =

I4C

| colour9 =

| leader9 = None

| leader_since9 = n/a

| leaders_seat9 =

| party9 = Independents 4 Change

| last_election9 = 0

| seats9 = 3

| seat_change9 = {{increase}}3

| popular_vote9 = 8,626

| percentage9 = 0.5%

| swing9 = {{increase}}0.39%

| 1data9 =

| 2data9 =

| 3data9 =

| map_image = File:Map of 2019 Irish local elections.svg

| map_size = 400px

}}

The 2019 Irish local elections were held in all local authorities in Ireland on Friday, 24 May 2019, on the same day as the 2019 European Parliament election and a referendum easing restrictions on divorce.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/73731f-polling-day-orders-made-for-european-and-local-elections/|title=Polling Day Orders made for European and local elections|publisher=Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government|date=25 March 2019|website=Government of Ireland|access-date=16 June 2019|archive-date=20 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820085753/https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/73731f-polling-day-orders-made-for-european-and-local-elections/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Reidy |first1=Theresa |title=The ins and outs and ups and downs of local elections |url=https://www.rte.ie/eile/brainstorm/2019/0306/1034706-the-ins-and-outs-and-ups-and-downs-of-local-elections/ |publisher=RTÉ |access-date=16 April 2019 |language=en |date=6 March 2019 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416154333/https://www.rte.ie/eile/brainstorm/2019/0306/1034706-the-ins-and-outs-and-ups-and-downs-of-local-elections/ |url-status=live }} Each local government area is divided into local electoral areas (LEAs) where three to seven councillors are elected on the electoral system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/elections_and_referenda/local_elections/local_elections.html|title=Local Elections in Ireland|publisher=Citizens Information Board|access-date=25 January 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012555/http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/elections_and_referenda/local_elections/local_elections.html|url-status=live}}

Administrative boundary changes

There was one change to the local government areas since the 2014 elections, with a transfer of land from County Cork to Cork city under the Local Government Act 2019.{{cite Irish legislation |title=Local Government Act 2019 |year=2019|num=1 |access-date=23 February 2019 |language=en-ie |date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708093029/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2019/act/1/enacted/en/html |url-status=live }}

Reviews of the county boundaries near Drogheda,{{cite news|url=http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/03/01/4135832-no-changes-for-meath-boundaries/|title=No changes for Meath boundaries|last=Casey|first=Ann|date=1 March 2017|work=Meath Chronicle|access-date=25 January 2018|archive-date=25 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125193656/http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/03/01/4135832-no-changes-for-meath-boundaries/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/drogheda_report_final_16022017.pdf|title=Report of the Drogheda Boundary Review Committee|date=16 February 2017|access-date=23 February 2019|publisher=Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022050324/https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/drogheda_report_final_16022017.pdf|url-status=live}} Athlone,{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/roscommon-safe-as-boundary-review-recommends-no-change-1.2880620|title=Roscommon safe as boundary review recommends no change|last=McGarry|first=Patsy|date=24 Nov 2016|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=25 January 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126014135/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/roscommon-safe-as-boundary-review-recommends-no-change-1.2880620|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/athlone_boundary_committee_report_final_3_nov_2016.pdf|title=Report of the Athlone Boundary Review Committee|date=3 November 2016|access-date=23 February 2019|publisher=Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022202627/https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/athlone_boundary_committee_report_final_3_nov_2016.pdf|url-status=live}} and Carlow (Graiguecullen){{cite web|url=https://www.laoistoday.ie/2017/02/08/breaking-graiguecullen-to-stay-in-laois-proposes-boundary-committee/|title=Graiguecullen to stay in Laois, proposes Boundary Committee|last=Miller|first=Steven|date=8 February 2017|work=Laois Today|access-date=25 January 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070747/https://www.laoistoday.ie/2017/02/08/breaking-graiguecullen-to-stay-in-laois-proposes-boundary-committee/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/report_of_the_carlow_boundary_review_committee.pdf|title=Report of the Carlow Boundary Review Committee|date=December 2016|access-date=23 February 2019|publisher=Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022050349/https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/report_of_the_carlow_boundary_review_committee.pdf|url-status=live}} recommended no change. A review recommending transfer of Ferrybank from Kilkenny County Council to Waterford City and County Council was rejected by minister Simon Coveney after objections from Kilkenny.{{cite web|url=https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/report_of_the_waterford_boundary_review_committee.pdf|title=Report of the Waterford Boundary Review Committee|date=December 2016|access-date=23 February 2019|publisher=Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022050336/https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/report_of_the_waterford_boundary_review_committee.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite press release|url=http://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/reform/boundaries/coveney-issues-statement-recommendations-waterford-boundary|title=Coveney issues statement on the recommendations of the Waterford Boundary Committee|date=3 Apr 2017|publisher=Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government|access-date=25 January 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070710/http://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/reform/boundaries/coveney-issues-statement-recommendations-waterford-boundary|url-status=live}}

Two Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees were established in 2017 under the Local Government Reform Act 2014 and reported on 13 June 2018.{{Cite web|url=http://boundarycommittee.ie/|title=Local Electoral Area Boundary Committees 2017 - Home Page|website=Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee|access-date=2018-06-18|archive-date=2018-06-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617212211/http://www.boundarycommittee.ie/|url-status=live}}; {{cite book |title=Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee No. 1 Report 2018 |date=13 June 2018 |publisher=Government Publications |location=Dublin |isbn=978-1-4064-2990-9 |url=http://boundarycommittee.ie/reports/Local%20Electoral%20Area%20Boundary%20Committee%20No.1%20Report%20-%202018.pdf |access-date=19 October 2018 |archive-date=20 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020011556/http://boundarycommittee.ie/reports/Local%20Electoral%20Area%20Boundary%20Committee%20No.1%20Report%20-%202018.pdf |url-status=live }}; {{cite book |title=Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee No. 2 Report 2018 |date=13 June 2018 |publisher=Government Publications |location=Dublin |isbn=978-1-4064-2991-6 |url=http://boundarycommittee.ie/reports/Local%20Electoral%20Area%20Boundary%20Committee%20No.%202%20Report%20-%202018.pdf |access-date=19 October 2018 |archive-date=20 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020011644/http://boundarycommittee.ie/reports/Local%20Electoral%20Area%20Boundary%20Committee%20No.%202%20Report%20-%202018.pdf |url-status=live }} The government accepted all recommendations and the boundaries of municipal districts and LEAs were consequently revised by statutory instruments signed on 19 December 2018 by John Paul Phelan, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.{{cite web |title=Local Authority Boundaries |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2019-03-26/speech/319/ |website=Oireachtas |access-date=13 March 2023 |date=26 Mar 2019 |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313133313/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2019-03-26/28/ |url-status=live }}; {{cite web |title=2018 Statutory Instruments |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/si |website=electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) |access-date=16 April 2019 |language=en |no-pp=y |page=SI nos 610 to 638 |archive-date=1 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501233840/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/si |url-status=live }} In 2014, most districts had a single LEA and all LEAs (except for Cork city) had between 6 and 10 councillors, whereas from 2019 LEAs had between 3 and 7 councillors and some large municipal districts on the west coast had two LEAs to account for the greater distances involved for elected representatives.

Under the 2014 Act, the municipal districts containing the area of the former borough councils of Clonmel, Drogheda, Sligo and Wexford are designated as borough districts.{{cite Irish legislation|year=2014|number=1|section=19|name=Local Government Reform Act 2014|stitle=Municipal districts|date=27 January 2014|access-date=5 September 2020|archive-date=15 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215171029/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/act/1/section/19/enacted/en/html}} The Boundary Committee proposed also designating census towns over 30,000 as borough districts, which would include the towns of Bray, Navan and Dundalk. A change to this designation was made by statutory instrument but was later reversed as incompatible with the 2014 Act.{{cite web |title=Other Questions: Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2019-01-15/45/ |website=Oireachtas |access-date=16 April 2019 |date=15 January 2019 |archive-date=25 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025071852/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2019-01-15/45/ |url-status=live }}; {{cite web |title=2019 Statutory Instruments |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2019/si |website=electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) |access-date=16 April 2019 |language=en |no-pp=y |page=SI nos 6 to 8 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416152658/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2019/si |url-status=live }}

Mayoral plebiscites

Plebiscites took place in Cork City Council, Limerick City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council on whether to create the office of directly elected mayors with executive functions who will act as an {{lang|la|ex officio}} member and chair of the council.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/db1327-ministers-murphy-and-phelan-announce-further-details-of-the-plebisci/|title=Ministers Murphy and Phelan announce further details of the plebiscites that will take place in Cork City, Limerick and Waterford|date=21 March 2019|publisher=Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government|access-date=16 June 2023|archive-date=11 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511114750/https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/db1327-ministers-murphy-and-phelan-announce-further-details-of-the-plebisci/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2019-01-24/32/|title=Directly Elected Mayors: Statements – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil) – Vol. 978 No. 4|date=24 January 2019|website=Oireachtas|access-date=13 March 2023|archive-date=22 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222235332/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2019-01-24/32/|url-status=live}} These plebiscites were held under Part 6 of the Local Government Act 2019. The proposal was approved in Limerick City and County and rejected in both Cork City and Waterford City and County.{{Cite news|title=Cork, Waterford reject, Limerick backs plan for directly elected mayor|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/elections-2019/2019/0527/1051955-mayoral-plebiscites/|last=Miley|first=Ingrid|date=27 May 2019|work=RTÉ News|access-date=30 May 2019|archive-date=1 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601175145/https://www.rte.ie/news/elections-2019/2019/0527/1051955-mayoral-plebiscites/|url-status=live}}

Election timetable

The elections were held in accordance with the Local Elections Regulations 1995 as amended.{{cite web |title=Local Elections 2019 |url=http://www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-your-council/local-elections-2019 |publisher=Dublin City Council |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331010644/http://www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-your-council/local-elections-2019 |archive-date=31 March 2019 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=[Amendments to] S.I. No. 297/1995 - Local Elections Regulations, 1995 |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/isbc/si1995_251-300.html#a297_1995 |website=Irish Statute Book |access-date=16 April 2019 |language=en |date=4 April 2019 |archive-date=18 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118140853/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/isbc/si1995_251-300.html#a297_1995 |url-status=live }} Relevant dates are as follows:

25 March: Ministerial order fixing the election date was made by Eoghan Murphy, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.{{cite journal |journal=Iris Oifigiúil |title=Local Elections Order 2019 |date=29 March 2019 |volume=2019 |page=537 |issue=26 |url=https://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2019/march/Ir290319.pdf |access-date=13 March 2023 |archive-date=18 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118065059/http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2019/march/Ir290319.pdf |url-status=live }}
30 March: Election spending audit period begins.
24 April: Posters may be put up in public.
27 April: Opening (10am) of period of formal nomination of candidates to returning officer of each local authority. Political parties will in general have selected candidates for nomination in advance of this date.
28 April: Last date for addition to the postal and special voters lists.
4 May: Nominations close (midday).
7 May: Last date for addition to the supplementary electoral register.
23 May: Polling day on offshore islands.{{cite news |last1=Cunningham |first1=Paul |title=Voting begins on islands for Local, European Elections |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/0523/1051150-elections-euros-locals-campaign/ |access-date=23 May 2019 |work=RTÉ News |date=23 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=23 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523055652/https://www.rte.ie/news/2019/0523/1051150-elections-euros-locals-campaign/ |url-status=live }} Broadcasting Authority of Ireland moratorium on campaign coverage starts at 2pm.{{cite news |last1=Brophy |first1=Daragh |title=Candidates are out making their last pitches for your vote before the broadcast ban kicks in |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/elections-last-day-of-campaigning-4647808-May2019/ |access-date=23 May 2019 |work=TheJournal.ie |date=23 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=23 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523084252/https://www.thejournal.ie/elections-last-day-of-campaigning-4647808-May2019/ |url-status=live }}
24 May: Polling day (7 a.m. – 10 p.m.{{cite press release |last1=Thornton |first1=Gareth |title=Polling Day Orders made for European and local elections |url=https://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/voting/local-elections/polling-day-orders-made-european-and-local-elections |publisher=Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government |access-date=16 April 2019 |language=en |date=25 March 2019 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327094335/https://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/voting/local-elections/polling-day-orders-made-european-and-local-elections |url-status=live }}). Election spending audit period ends.
25 May: Counting of votes begins.
31 May: Newly elected councillors take office. Posters must be removed by this date to avoid constituting an offence of littering.
7 June: First meeting of the new councils.

Campaign

Fine Gael head office issued a pre-election circular to its candidates on strategy for negotiating post-election power-sharing deals with other parties or groups.{{cite news |last1=Doyle |first1=Kevin |title=Fine Gael ban incoming councillors from 'power-sharing' agreements with Sinn Féin on councils |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fine-gael-ban-incoming-councillors-from-powersharing-agreements-with-sinn-fin-on-councils-38135216.html |access-date=22 May 2019 |work=Irish Independent |date=21 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=23 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523183724/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fine-gael-ban-incoming-councillors-from-powersharing-agreements-with-sinn-fin-on-councils-38135216.html |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Fiach |title=Fine Gael orders councillors not to work with Sinn Féin after elections |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fine-gael-orders-councillors-not-to-work-with-sinn-f%C3%A9in-after-elections-1.3899902 |access-date=22 May 2019 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=21 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525163637/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/fine-gael-orders-councillors-not-to-work-with-sinn-f%C3%A9in-after-elections-1.3899902 |url-status=live }} It prohibits deals with Sinn Féin, except where a council shares power across all groups (typically via D'Hondt method allocation of posts).

Garda inquiries were launched in relation to an unusually large number of postal vote applications in the Ballymote–Tubbercurry LEA,{{cite news |last1=Magnier |first1=Eileen |title=Complaint received over postal votes in Sligo |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2019/0522/1051039-voting-sligo/ |access-date=22 May 2019 |work=RTÉ News |date=22 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=22 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522160951/https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2019/0522/1051039-voting-sligo/ |url-status=live }} and alleged irregularities around 200 names added to the supplementary electoral register in the Killarney LEA.{{cite news |title=Full garda inquiry into Kerry electoral register claims |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2019/0522/1050994-kerry-electoral-register/ |access-date=22 May 2019 |work=RTÉ News |date=22 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=22 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522134856/https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2019/0522/1050994-kerry-electoral-register/ |url-status=live }}

Ellie Kisyombe, a Malawi-born refugee running for the Social Democrats in Dublin's North Inner City LEA, was retained after a review of inconsistencies in her account of her asylum history and time in direct provision, which caused several party members to resign in protest.{{cite news |last1=Bray |first1=Jennifer |title=Ellie Kisyombe to run in elections after correcting backstory, party says |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/local-elections/ellie-kisyombe-to-run-in-elections-after-correcting-backstory-party-says-1.3881481 |access-date=22 May 2019 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=4 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=20 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120044927/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/local-elections/ellie-kisyombe-to-run-in-elections-after-correcting-backstory-party-says-1.3881481 |url-status=live }} The principal of Cadamstown national school in County Kildare was criticised for a letter to parents praising Fianna Fáil councillors over those of Fine Gael in dealing with the school.{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Carl |title=Principal defends sending letter to parents praising Fianna Fáil |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/local-elections/principal-defends-sending-letter-to-parents-praising-fianna-f%C3%A1il-1.3900529 |access-date=22 May 2019 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en |archive-date=2 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902075812/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/local-elections/principal-defends-sending-letter-to-parents-praising-fianna-f%C3%A1il-1.3900529 |url-status=live }}

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stated after the poll that news of a personal injury claim taken by Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey in the week preceding the elections had caused reputational damage to Fine Gael.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/maria-baileys-personal-injury-claim-caused-reputational-damage-for-fine-gael-varadkar-38149820.html|title=Maria Bailey's personal injury claim caused 'reputational damage' for Fine Gael - Varadkar|last=Lavery|first=Callum|work=Irish Independent|date=26 May 2019|access-date=26 May 2019|archive-date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526163507/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/maria-baileys-personal-injury-claim-caused-reputational-damage-for-fine-gael-varadkar-38149820.html|url-status=live}}

Opinion polls

class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="text-align:center;font-size:95%;"
style="height:42px;" ! style="width:110px;" rowspan="2"\| Last date of polling ! style="width:300px;" rowspan="2"\| Polling firm / Commissioner ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" rowspan="2"\| Sample size ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"\| FG ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"\| FF ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"\| SF ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"\| Lab ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"\| S–PBP ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"\| SD ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"\| GP ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"\| RI ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"\| Aon ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"\| IA ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" rowspan="2"\| {{abbr\|O/I\|Others/Independents}}
style="color:inherit;background:{{party color\|Fine Gael}};"\| ! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color\|Fianna Fáil}};"\| ! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color\|Sinn Féin}};"\| ! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color\|Labour Party (Ireland)}};"\| ! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color\|Solidarity–People Before Profit}};"\| ! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color\|Social Democrats (Ireland)}};"\| ! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color\|Green Party (Ireland)}};"\| ! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color\|Renua Ireland}};"\| ! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color\|Aontú}};"\| ! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color\|Independent politician}};"\|
17 April 2019 \| data-sort-value="RedC31" \|Red C/The Sunday Business Post{{Cite news\|url=https://www.redcresearch.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SBP-April-2019-Poll-Report-GE16.pdf\|title=RED C 2019 Irish Local Elections Poll\|date=17 April 2019\|work=RED C Research\|access-date=17 April 2019\|archive-date=26 April 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426193732/https://www.redcresearch.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SBP-April-2019-Poll-Report-GE16.pdf\|url-status=live}} \|1,000 \|style="background:#D9E9F4" \|27 \|20 \|15 \|5 \|<1 \|1 \|5 \|<1 \|<1 \|4 \|23{{efn\|name="OIcalc"\|A figure for 'Others/Independents' is not mentioned in the cited source, but has been calculated by subtracting the other parties from 100%, so the figure shown may be slightly inaccurate due to rounding effects.}}

class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="text-align:center;font-size:95%;"

style="height:42px;"

! style="width:110px;" rowspan="2"| Last date
of polling

! style="width:300px;" rowspan="2"| Polling firm / Commissioner

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" rowspan="2"| Sample
size

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| FG

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| FF

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| SF

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| Lab

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| S–PBP

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| SD

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| GP

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| RI

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| Aon

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"| IA

! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" rowspan="2"| {{abbr|O/I|Others/Independents}}

style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Fine Gael}};"|

! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Fianna Fáil}};"|

! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Sinn Féin}};"|

! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (Ireland)}};"|

! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Solidarity–People Before Profit}};"|

! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Social Democrats (Ireland)}};"|

! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Green Party (Ireland)}};"|

! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Renua Ireland}};"|

! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Aontú}};"|

! style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Independent politician}};"|

17 April 2019

| data-sort-value="RedC31" |Red C/The Sunday Business Post{{Cite news|url=https://www.redcresearch.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SBP-April-2019-Poll-Report-GE16.pdf|title=RED C 2019 Irish Local Elections Poll|date=17 April 2019|work=RED C Research|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426193732/https://www.redcresearch.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/SBP-April-2019-Poll-Report-GE16.pdf|url-status=live}}

|1,000

|style="background:#D9E9F4" |27

|20

|15

|5

|<1

|1

|5

|<1

|4

|23{{efn|name="OIcalc"|A figure for 'Others/Independents' is not mentioned in the cited source, but has been calculated by subtracting the other parties from 100%, so the figure shown may be slightly inaccurate due to rounding effects.}}

Results by party

Republican Sinn Féin and Independent Left are not registered parties; therefore their candidates appear on the ballot as Non-Party.

People Before Profit and Solidarity candidates ran under the electoral alliance Solidarity–People Before Profit.

class= "wikitable sortable"

! colspan=2 align=center|Party

! Seats

! ±

! {{abbr|1st pref|First preference votes}}

! {{abbr|FPv%|First preference votes percentage}}

! ±%

| align=right|279

| align=right|{{Increase}}12

| align=right|467,736

| align=right|26.92

| align=right|{{Increase}}1.72

| align=right|255

| align=right|{{Increase}}20

| align=right|439,317

| align=right|25.29

| align=right|{{Increase}}1.34

| align=right|81

| align=right|{{decrease}}78

| align=right|164,307

| align=right|9.46

| align=right|{{decrease}}5.68

| align=right|57

| align=right|{{Increase}}6

| align=right|99,502

| align=right|5.73

| align=right|{{decrease}}1.41

| align=right|49

| align=right|{{Increase}}37

| align=right|96,313

| align=right|5.54

| align=right|{{Increase}}3.95

| align=right|19

| align=right|New

| align=right|39,642

| align=right|2.28

| align=right|New

| align=right|7

| align=right|{{decrease}}7

| align=right|21,972

| align=right|1.29

| align=right|{{decrease}}0.41

| align=right|4

| align=right|{{decrease}}10

| align=right|10,911

| align=right|0.64

| align=right|{{decrease}}0.60

| align=right|3

| align=right|New

| align=right|25,662

| align=right|1.48

| align=right|New

| align=right|3

| align=right|{{Increase}}3

| align=right|9,055

| align=right|0.52

| align=right|{{increase}}0.39

| align=right|1

| align=right|New

| align=right|10,115

| align=right|0.58

| align=right|New

| align=right|1

| align=right|{{steady}}

| align=right|2,621

| align=right|0.15

| align=right|{{increase}}0.04

| align=right|1

| align=right|{{steady}}

| align=right|2,620

| align=right|0.15

| align=right|{{decrease}}0.03

| align=right|1

| align=right|{{steady}}

| align=right|1,983

| align=right|0.11

| align=right|{{decrease}}0.01

| align=right|1

| align=right|New

| align=right|1,808

| align=right|0.10

| align=right|New

| align=right|1

| align=right|New

| align=right|1,054

| align=right|0.06

| align=right|New

| align=right|1

| align=right|{{steady}}

| align=right|971

| align=right|0.06

| align=right|{{decrease}}0.03

| align=right|0

| align=right|{{steady}}

| align=right|1,547

| align=right|0.09

| align=right|{{decrease}}0.09

| align=right|0

| align=right|{{steady}}

| align=right|1,462

| align=right|0.08

| align=right|{{increase}}0.08

| align=right|0

| align=right|{{steady}}

| align=right|585

| align=right|0.03

| align=right|{{decrease}}0.18

| align=right|0

| align=right|{{steady}}

| align=right|134

| align=right|0.01

| align=right|{{increase}}0.01

| align=right|185

| align=right|{{decrease}}7

| align=right|338,091

| align=right|19.56

| align=right|{{decrease}}3.24

class="sortbottom" style="font-weight:bold; background:rgb(232,232,232);"

| colspan=2 align=center|Totals

| align=right|949

| align=center| —

| align=right|1,737,408

| align=right|100.00

| align=center| —

class="sortbottom" style="background:rgb(232,232,232);"

| colspan=7|Electorate: 3,535,450 Total votes: 1,772,026 Spoilt votes: 34,618 (1.95%) Turnout: 50.12%

colspan="7" style="text-align:left;"|Source: [https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/121786/a5e8ee3e-e733-4d39-b87e-a36016a07dd5.pdf Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government]