Dublin Bay South: Fourth time’s the charm for Bacik as FF and FG lick their wounds

After falling short in the 2004 European elections, a 2009 by-election and the 2011 general election, the longtime Labour senator savoured her moment of triumph in Dublin Bay South this weekend – but it was a bad day for Fine Gael and an infinitely worse one for Fianna Fáil

Alan Kelly (left), the Labour leader, celebrates with Ivana Bacik outside the RDS count centre in Dublin 4. Picture: Fergal Phillips

There was no shoulder-hoisting of the winning candidate at the Dublin Bay South by-election pandemic special on Friday, but that didn’t take away from the obvious elation of Labour’s Ivana Bacik as she unexpectedly topped the poll.

“I’m overwhelmed. I’m over the moon,” the long-time Labour senator and now first-time TD said at the RDS count centre on Friday.

“I have been a Labour member since I was a student. I think people knew my ...