It seems so. The otherwise excellent @mcculld.bsky.social interrupted his guest Holly Cairns mid-sentence to tell us about a new count result - not a time-sensitive detail - then for the broadcast to switch to his colleague in Dublin Castle to frantically fill the dead time.

As I wrote my post, I momentarily paused - it is very easy to find fault and much harder to be constructive. But for me, it reflects the breathless rush in media to be quick rather than correct.

No, I don't believe that explains the discrepancies. Look at the Sligo/Leitrim graph. HH is on 28% v Invalid on 11% but the relative column heights are reversed.

Finally, a sincere word of thanks to President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina for their hugely successful two terms.

As Emoter-in-Chief, personification of our national conscience and collective values, we have been well served by the fearless lyrical MDH.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh

So this is truly a landslide win. And it is a win for her positive campaigning and respectful vision of the office.
It isn't a united left alliance win or an anti-government protest. It isn't the sign of widespread disillusionment. It is a win for democracy, decency and hope.
Comhghairdeas!

designed to - keep unpopular but naive people of the ballot paper.

With JG ceasing his campaigning, our PR-STV system has been reduced this election to a first-past-the-post contest. In such systems, you only need the most votes not the majority. Nonetheless CC will reach the quota on 1st count.

I have some begrudging respect for these people. But this is tempered by the thought that many appear influenced by US-based 'write-in' strategies. I have no respect for either Bob Geldoff or Maria Steen's sense of last minute entitlement.

The candidate nomination process worked exactly as it was

3. Spoiled votes are NOT the story currently being spun. Just as there are many interpretations of the low turnout (confidence in the outcome, disenfranchisement, etc), there are many reasons why someone goes to the bother of voting a null vote.

-necking far more egregious scandals. Had they continued campaigning, it is entirely possible that there would have been a closer contest although probably not a different outcome.

Desperately scrambling to find anyone not called Bertie to stand, it is difficult to see their eventual candidate as anything but 7th or 8th choice. Jim G seems a decent skin with a strong sense of civic duty. His campaign implosion seems like another misstep by a party with experience of brass-

HH was a perfectly harmless and inoffensive candidate albeit one not known for strong debating skills. Inevitably tied to 14yrs of FG government, the candidate became a prisoner of a negative sneering / smearing campaign.
FF's campaign was similarly haunted by ghosts of would-be candidates past.

2. For different reasons, both FG & FF campaigns were complete disasters. For many years, it has been presented that Mairead McG was merely marking time in Europe before her automatic inevitable installation in the Áras. After her unfortunate withdrawal, anyone taking up the mantle was 2nd choice.

Great work @nialler9.com and @andreacleary.bsky.social. Thanks for doing what you both did and do. Best wishes for the PhD.
Music and cultures loss is academia's gain.

The critique of Ms Swift's 12th studio album is a thing of beauty. So comprehensive is the review that I have absolutely no desire or need to ever listen to this record.
By contrast, I feel urgently compelled to listen (again) to CMAT's Euro-Country, such is Ms Cleary's joy & eloquent appreciation.

Unfortunately we seem to have a low enough view of politicians (because of their evasion, not answering questions?) Do we need to devalue the office of President too?
The President is supposed to represent all people. Why ask them to defend the policies of parties that captured 20% votes (at most)?

Maybe it would be better to have a series of 1-to-1 fireside chats where each candidate gets to outline their priorities and approaches without the haranguing from an interviewed determined to get their gotcha moment.
Would put distance between Presidential and TD elections.