Election 2016: Kenny in the firing line as voters deliver earthquake

Pressure builds for FF-FG grand coalition; FF to demand Taoiseach’s office in any deal; Labour decimated as independents and SF surge

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny, pictured in Castlebar last night, said he was disappointed by Fine Gael's loss of seats and that he had a duty to see ‘how we can put together a government’ Barry Cronin

Voters have this weekend delivered a comprehensive rejection of the Fine Gael-Labour coalition, and abruptly rearranged the Irish political landscape in a manner more dramatic than any election in the history of the state.

Although counts were continuing across the country last night, and the exact shape of the new Dáil will be unclear until at least later today, it was clear that Fine Gael and Labour had suffered unprecedented losses; and that ...