Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris’s Fine Gael party is locked in a virtual dead heat with Sinn Fein in the general election, suggesting his decision to go to the country early didn’t yield the advantage he predicted.

Ireland's two main governing parties looked on course to return to power as polls opened on Friday, thanks to a giveaway October budget and a loss of momentum by opposition Sinn Fein - a result that would buck a global trend of voters rejecting incumbents.

Promises made by the Sinn Fein pro-Irish unity party to tackle a housing and cost-of-living crisis and stop young people leaving the country have bolstered its popularity ahead of a general election on Friday.

Ireland’s two centre-Right parties have vowed to extend Sinn Fein’s 100-year stint on the political sidelines as they clashed ahead of this week’s closely fought general election.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, former rivals that have, between them, led every government since the foundation of the state almost a century ago, may be able to reach a majority with one other smaller pa

Sinn Fein leader will demand vote on Irish unity if she wins general election Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has told Sky News that Irish unification would be the first thing she talks to Sir Keir Starmer about if she becomes Ireland's new prime minister.