Fine Gael loss a wake-up call for leader Varadkar

A seat previously held by a young, high-profile ally of the leader is now held by the opposition

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee with her baby Michael Shane, meeting with Fine Gael candidate Cllr James Geoghegan with his son Harry, one.

With an hour to go in polling on Thursday night, the official Fine Gael Twitter account shared a post complete with sirens urging members "not to let Sinn Féin in".

It warned of higher than expected turnout in "Sinn Féin areas" and pushed supporters in Dublin Bay South to get to their polling stations.