With a handful of recounts continuing on Monday, Fianna Fail has won 80 of the 166 seats in the lower house of parliament, just shy of the 83 needed to form a majority government.

The results also show big gains for Sinn Fein, with the party capturing a seat held for more than 20 years by former Irish foreign minister Dick Spring, of the Labour Party.

The main opposition party, Fine Gael, turned in its worst performance since 1948, losing more than a third of its seats.

What do you think of the results of the election? Did you cast your vote electronically?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

Your reaction

The only way forward is to reform as a liberal party with a sharp urban focus

Lawrence, USA/ Ireland

As a former Fine Gael member I despair at the party's heavy losses especially leading performers such as Brian Hayes and Francis Fitzgerald in the capital. FG must now radicalise or become redundant. The only way forward is to reform as a liberal party with a sharp urban focus. The alternative is perpetual Fianna Fail led administrations.
Lawrence, USA/ ex. Ireland

I am originally from one of the constituencies where Sinn Fein was voted in. Both Dublin South West and North Kerry are regions plagued by drugs and crime. What the media have failed to recognise is that SF are popular here because people see them as being tough on crime. The drug dealers are afraid of their lives of crossing the party because of their militant connections. SF have been active in the communities 'dealing' with dealers for the past few years. I'd like to assure the British people that the increase in SF support is not condoning their past atrocities.
Michael Maher, Australia

I am amazed that the Irish people, even with a strong economy, did not hold FF more accountable for the outrageous corruption, "jobs for the boys" mentality and lack of ethics of that party. As for FG, they have some serious thinking to do - a lot of young voters, looking for a credible alternative to FF and finding none, seem to have moved away from FG. Appealing to this sector would be a good place for them to begin rebuilding."
Brian Owens, UK (Irish Citizen)

So Mary Smith is disgusted that the people of Ireland voted for Sinn Fein? I would imagine that she is also disgusted by the 6 million people who voted for Le Pen in France. However in democratic societies such a s Ireland and France disgust at opposing views isn't enough. The people voted for Sinn Fein for specific reasons (just as they voted for Le Pen) and these reasons need to be addressed rather than ignored. Which is why, thankfully, we live in a democratic society.
James Foran, Mykonos, Greece

I am disgusted that people in Ireland voted for Sinn Fein. These are the type of people we don't need in our society. Ireland should ashamed of the results.
Mary Smith, Ireland

Ireland is now one of the most prosperous countries in Europe and FF has played a major part in that

Mary, USA/Ireland

For many reasons I think it is a great result for Ireland. No, FF is not a perfect governmental party, but then again who would be? Ireland is now one of the most prosperous countries in Europe and FF has played a major part in that. They don't always make things easy for people but they at least look ahead. I do have some reservations though, I would prefer to see FF with an overall majority rather than having to go into coalition with the PDs again. I am also sorry to see some people losing their seats such as Mary O'Rourke who gave many years of valuable service to the country. As for FG, they need to have a serious look at where they are planning on taking the country if they are elected into government at some point in the future.
Mary, USA/Ireland

It's good to see the Fianna Fail party under Mr Ahern's leadership returned to power in Ireland. Over the last five years the country has prospered and the GDP per capita has increased by a substantial amount. Ireland freely and willingly integrated into the euro currency with no adverse effects which was quite a landmark really during the last term. The country is riding high as far as investment and infrastructure and has been a good model of political economics. But there are other issues on housing estates for example that Sinn Fein are likely to capitalise on in the future.

The lower end of the scale deserves some recognition in being more represented and I would feel this is the main contributory factor in allowing Sinn Fein to hold five seats in the Dail. The appeasement of terror by the IRA in the north of Ireland has allowed a far more democratic vote to operate and if this continues to be the case I would foresee more seats being won by Sinn Fein in the future. This should not be a threat but an opportunity to seize political decision-making through the Irish Parliament.
Mark Dowe, Scotland

We need an opposition to Fianna Fail but not one whose roots are still firmly in gun and bomb tactics

Cormac Molloy, Dublin, Ireland

I have to say that I am gutted at Sinn Fein winning five seats in our parliament. I live in the constituency of Dublin South-Central and last night we were treated to typical Sinn Fein grandstanding as they drove up our road hooting horns and playing Irish reels as they held tricolours out the windows celebrating taking a seat in our area. It makes me sick to see them take over and abuse our flag. It also more disturbingly reminds me of the scenes you see in Belfast. We need an opposition to Fianna Fail but not one from the extreme left whose roots are still firmly in the gun and bomb tactics that has caused so much heartache in these islands.
Cormac Molloy, Dublin, Ireland

I'm happy to see Bertie back in for a second term, but he now needs to have a good reshuffle and remove a lot of ministers that think they are untouchable. On the matter of Sinn Fein's success, this is partly due to a change within our country and it's up to Bertie to ensure that they don't gain any further foothold, thus ensuring they have no say in the day to day government of the country. The government has to perform well and show the people that just because you move from terrorism you should not be rewarded or fit to sit in government without first removing the treat of terrorism. Bertie should take note of right wing politic parties, the likes of which are now raising their heads across Europe and ensure he does not lead Ireland into the same situation as the UK or the Netherlands.
Alan, Holland

There was no clear alternative government on offer

John O'Byrne, Dublin, Ireland

There was no clear alternative government on offer. Bertie Ahern has pop idol popularity and the Labour Party should have lined up with Fine Gael on a common platform to offer the electorate a clear alternative. It was the opposition's total failure rather than Fianna Fail's success that is reflected in the result.
John O'Byrne, Dublin

I am sorry to see SF make gains in the south. FG used to be where FF are now and have been made redundant. The Greens and SF are replacing the Labour Party and becoming a harder version of the left. I will always be worried as long as the IRA and SF are linked. This business in Columbia, IRA-trained terrorists all over the world and the IRA being caught buying weapons in Russia makes me wonder if the "peace process" is for real.
Andrew Stack, USA (formerly Ireland)

I think it's both a good and bad day for Irish politics. It's good to see Sinn Fein shaking up the political system a bit, especially at the expense of Fine Gael. As a nationalist, a more 'green' tinge to the Dail can only be good.
Gary, UK (Irish citizen)

If all your correspondents cared so much about Irish politics they'd be in Ireland voting instead of pontificating from afar. I'm personaly delighted at Sinn Fein's success, and hope your readers realise that they are the most progressive force in European politics today, and a bulwark against a rising tide of intolerance and materialism.
Emmet Mordaunt, Tasmania

If I was Irish I would be gutted that Sinn Fein had made such gains.
Phil, UK

What ridiculous, uninformed comments regarding Sinn Fein. Firstly, the elected SF members are from the Republic. Secondly, they have very little direct involvement in 'the North'; instead concentrating on local politics, and working very hard in their communities.
John, Dublin, Ireland

I am ashamed as an Irishman to see such gains for Sinn Fein (the only party in Western Europe with a private army behind them). When will we ever learn to put such flamboyant militant politics to one side? We have one of the most progressive police forces in Europe and we could do without these northern bigots imposing their views on southern politics!
Paul, Ireland

Fine Gael are going to have to do some hard thinking. This is looking like a disaster for them. They do seem to have lost their way in recent years. It's very hard to see what they stand for and in what way they would be different form FF. As such, as the second party it makes them a lousy opposition, justifiably they are being punished by the electorate.
Ben, UK

It is a very sad refelction on modern Ireland that FF are doing so well at polls. Modern Ireland is as rooted in the past as it always has been. As WB Yeats put it: "Romantic Ireland is dead and gone". Alas that is so very true, if it ever existed in the first place.
Garry, Germany (Irish Citizen)

The centre ground seems to be disappearing

Mark Buckley, UK

It appears to me the population is splitting in two. Either you are very conservative both socially and economically, or you are very liberal. The centre ground seems to be disappearing as in other countries recently.
Mark Buckley, UK (Irish citizen)

I voted the traditional way and I voted for the present government.
John, Ireland