Maeve McTaggart

You know, a lot of the conversation is around how people really can predict where this is going to go with any real election.

You know, just before we came in, I was checking really who's on the ballast in each of the constituencies.

And it does seem to be as we expected.

And there's potentially going to be a couple of more unknowns in the kind of to the public.

Not yet.

Not yet.

We still have a few hours to go, but not yet.

You know, particularly in Dublin Central, it kind of seems to be this kind of blockbuster.

But similarly in Galway West, I think it's not making as much headlines because it is a lot more uncertain, particularly in the space that Catherine Connolly left where there's space for this independent left wing type of candidates.

we have quite a few who would fit that bill, particularly quite a few left-wing candidates in the opposition parties that would fit that bill.

And it really remains to be seen where things go, how things really shape up, because particularly, normally when you have a general election,

you have the scrutiny is really spread out.

Now, as you look at these by-elections, we might have maybe 20 people, if even, where, you know, the eyes of the nation and the eyes of the nation's political correspondents are also on just these 15 to 20 people.

And I imagine it really might ramp up the pressure.

No, definitely not.

I think...

No, I think the real surprise in this election, I think, unfortunately for the government candidates, but it would be the real surprise would be if a government candidate does win these by-elections.

Yes, definitely.

It really comes down to...

you know, what it means maybe for Sinn Féin, particularly if Janice Boylan doesn't win in Dublin Central.