List of political parties in the Republic of Ireland
Updated: 11/4/2025, 4:31:18 PM Wikipedia source
There are a number of political parties in Ireland, and coalition governments are common. The two historically largest parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, arose from a split in the original Sinn Féin. Fine Gael is the successor of Cumann na nGaedheal, the faction that supported the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty, while Fianna Fáil arose from members of the anti-Treaty faction who opposed Sinn Féin's abstensionism. The division on the Treaty had also caused the Irish Civil War (1922–1923), leading to the difference between the parties being described as "Civil War politics", to distinguish it from a more common left-right political divide. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael together are sometimes pejoratively referred to as "FFG". As of 2024, Fianna Fáil is the largest party in Dáil Éireann, followed by Sinn Féin in second, and closely by Fine Gael in third position. The Labour Party was formed in 1912, and it had usually been the third party in parliamentary strength, though it is currently the fourth largest party in the Dáil, followed closely by the Social Democrats in fifth. The Electoral Commission maintains a Register of Political Parties under the Electoral Reform Act 2022. Before the establishment of the Commission 2023, the register was maintained by the Houses of the Oireachtas. To register to contest national elections a party must have either at least one member in Dáil Éireann or the European Parliament, or 300 recorded members aged 18 or over. Parties that register only to contest elections in part of the state or in local elections need only 100 recorded members aged 18 or over. In either case, at least half of the recorded members must be on the register of electors.
Infobox
Local
201420192024
General
201620202024
European
201420192024
Presidential
201120182025
Tables
· Political parties with representation at a local, national or European level › Party details
| Party | Current leader(s) | Founded | Inauguralleader(s) | Position | Internationalaffiliation | EP group | |
| Fianna Fáil | Micheál Martin | 1926 | Éamon de Valera | Centre to centre-right | LI | Renew | |
| Sinn Féin | Mary Lou McDonald | 1905 | Arthur Griffith | Centre-left to left-wing | None | The Left | |
| Fine Gael | Simon Harris | 1933 | Eoin O'Duffy | Centre to centre-right | CDI | EPP | |
| GreenComhaontas Glas | Roderic O'Gorman | 1981 | None | Centre-left | GG | Greens/EFA | |
| Labour | Ivana Bacik | 1912 | James ConnollyJames LarkinWilliam O'Brien | Centre-left | PASI | S&D | |
| Social Democrats | Holly Cairns | 2015 | Catherine MurphyRóisín ShortallStephen Donnelly | Centre-left | None | None | |
| PBP–Solidarity | Collective leadership | 2015 | None | Left-wing to far-left | None | None | |
| Independent Ireland | Michael Collins | 2023 | Michael Collins | Centre-right to right-wing | None | Renew | |
| Aontú | Peadar Tóibín | 2019 | Peadar Tóibín | None | None | ||
| 100% Redress | Tomás Seán Devine | 2023 | Tomás Seán Devine | Single-issue politics | None | None | |
| Human Dignity Alliance | Rónán Mullen | 2018 | Rónán Mullen | Right-wing | None | None | |
| Right to Change | Joan Collins | 2020 | Joan Collins | Left-wing | None | None | |
| Inds. 4 Change | None | 2014 | None | Left-wing | None | The Left | |
| Workers and Unemployed | Séamus Healy | 1985 | Séamus Healy | Left-wing | None | None | |
| Workers' Party | Michael McCorry | 1970 | Arthur Griffith | Far-left | IMCWP | None | |
| National Party | Patrick Quinlan | 2016 | Justin Barrett | Far-right | None | None | |
| Republican Sinn Féin | Seosamh Ó Maoileoin | 1986 | Ruairí Ó Brádaigh | Left-wing | None | None | |
| Independent Left | None | 2019 | None | Left-wing | None | None | |
· Political parties with representation at a local, national or European level › Party representation
Oireachtas
Oireachtas
Party
Oireachtas
Party
European Parliament
Representation (as of July 2025)
Local councils
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Party
Dáil Éireann
Party
Seanad Éireann
| Party | Representation (as of July 2025) | |||||
| Oireachtas | European Parliament | Local councils | ||||
| Dáil Éireann | Seanad Éireann | |||||
| Fianna Fáil | 48 / 174 | 19 / 60 | 4 / 14 | 246 / 949 | ||
| Sinn Féin | 39 / 174 | 6 / 60 | 2 / 14 | 99 / 949 | ||
| Fine Gael | 38 / 174 | 17 / 60 | 4 / 14 | 246 / 949 | ||
| Labour | 11 / 174 | 2 / 60 | 1 / 14 | 56 / 949 | ||
| Social Democrats | 11 / 174 | 1 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 33 / 949 | ||
| Independent Ireland | 4 / 174 | 0 / 60 | 1 / 14 | 23 / 949 | ||
| PBP–Solidarity | 3 / 174 | 0 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 13 / 949 | ||
| Aontú | 2 / 174 | 1 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 8 / 949 | ||
| Green | 1 / 174 | 1 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 23 / 949 | ||
| 100% Redress | 1 / 174 | 0 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 4 / 949 | ||
| Right to Change | 0 / 174 | 0 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 1 / 949 | ||
| Inds. 4 Change | 0 / 174 | 0 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 1 / 949 | ||
| Kerry Ind. Alliance | 0 / 174 | 0 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 1 / 949 | ||
| National Party | 0 / 174 | 0 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 1 / 949 | ||
| Workers and Unemployed | 0 / 174 | 0 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 1 / 949 | ||
| Republican Sinn Féin | 0 / 174 | 0 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 1 / 949 | ||
| Independent Left | 0 / 174 | 0 / 60 | 0 / 14 | 1 / 949 | ||
· Parties with no elected representation
| Party | Leader | Ideology | Position | |
| Centre Party (formerly Renua) | Andrew Kelly | Anti-abortion | Right-wing to far-right | |
| Communist | Ciara Ní Mhaoilfhinn | Communism | Far-left | |
| Éirígí | Brian Leeson | Irish republicanism | Far-left | |
| Farmers' Alliance | Liam McLaughlin | Agrarianism | ||
| Fís Nua | None | Green politics | Left-wing | |
| Glór | Diarmaid Ó Cadhla | N/A | ||
| Ireland First | Disputed | Anti-immigration | Far-right | |
| Irish Freedom | Disputed | Hard Euroscepticism | Right-wing to far-right | |
| The Irish People | AJ Cahill | Anti-immigration | Far-right | |
| Irish Republican Socialist | Ard chomhairle | Irish republicanism | Far-left | |
| Liberty Republic | Ben Gilroy | Anti-immigration | Far-right | |
| Party for Animal Welfare | Carol Johnson | Animal welfare | N/A | |
| Rabharta | Lorna Bogue | Eco-socialism | Left-wing | |
| Saoradh | Brian Kenna | Irish republicanism | Far-left | |
| United People | Jeffrey Rudd | N/A | ||
| Workers' Party | Michael McCorry | Marxism–Leninism | Far-left | |
References
- The original Sinn Féin party split in 1970, with the majority faction becoming Official Sinn Féin (later renamed to the
- For the first twenty years of its existence, the Green Party did not have a national leader. Trevor Sargent was elected
- The Workers' Party emerged as the majority faction from a split in Sinn Féin in 1970, becoming known as Official Sinn Fé
- Republican Sinn Féin split from Sinn Féin in 1986 over the policy of abstentionism.
- Sinn Féin also has 7 members of the UK House of Commons, 27 members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, 144 local councill
- People Before Profit also has 1 member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and 2 local councillors in Northern Ireland
- The Green Party also has 5 local councillors in Northern Ireland
- Unregistered party
- Originally registered as the Housing Rights and Reform Alliance; renamed the Reform Alliance in November 2021; renamed G
- Member party of National Alliance
- Member party of National Alliance
- Split from Direct Democracy Ireland in 2015
- "Wipeout on the cards for Fine Gael and contagion will impact Fianna Fail"https://www.racingpost.com/sport/wipeout-on-the-cards-for-fine-gael-and-contagion-will-impact-fianna-fail/421642
- "The war is over between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail"https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/the-war-is-over-between-fine-gael-and-fianna-fail-tsckcb8c5
- Electoral Commissionhttps://www.electoralcommission.ie/registration-of-political-parties/
- Houses of the Oireachtashttps://www.oireachtas.ie/en/publications/?q=register%20of%20political%20parties
- "Registering a political party in Ireland"http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/government_in_ireland/national_government/houses_of_the_oireachtas/registering_a_political_party.html?printpreview=1
- Irish Communications Reviewhttp://www.dit.ie/icr/media/diticr/documents/2%20Curran%20ICR%20Vol%206.pdf
- The Europeanization of Party Politics in Ireland, North and South
- Saotharhttps://www.jstor.org/stable/23196031
- The Irish Timeshttp://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0228/1224291011728.html
- Irish Examinerhttps://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40235627.html
- The Irish Timeshttp://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/aaa-and-pbp-join-to-form-new-left-of-labour-party-1.2383848
- The Corkmanhttps://www.independent.ie/regionals/cork/news/people-before-profit-to-launch-political-party-in-duhallow/a1770753300.html
- The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/11/10/new-independent-ireland-party-registered-with-electoral-commission/
- The Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/09/15/new-political-party-established-by-mica-campaigners-gains-approval-to-fight-local-and-european-elections/
- "New Political Party Registered to Stand Candidates"https://www.electoralcommission.ie/media-release/new-political-party-registered-to-stand-candidates/
- independent.iehttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/local-election/local-elections-2024-donegal-the-work-starts-now-the-100-redress-party-gear-up-for-action/a745540010.html
- The Timeshttps://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/dublin-td-joan-collins-leaves-i4c-to-found-new-party-right-to-change-8cf70tw9b
- independent.iehttps://www.independent.ie/irish-news/elections-2024/local-election/local-elections-2024-who-now-holds-the-cards-in-the-councils-of-ireland/a970734540.html
- The Irish Timeshttp://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0228/1224291015357.html
- "Seamus Healy withdraws from United Left Alliance over Wallace frustrations"https://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1002/healy-ula-dail.html
- CAINhttp://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/abstentionism/source.htm
- "Independent Left"https://independentleft.ie/
- Irish Timeshttps://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/06/08/local-elections-2024-fingal-county-council-results/
- "Register of Political Parties"https://ec-cdn-live.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/app/uploads/2024/02/08173255/Register-of-Political-Parties-08-February-2024-ACT-Short.pdf
- Iris Oifigiúilhttp://irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2021/november/Ir231121.pdf
- Iris Oifigiúilhttps://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2023/november/IR101123.pdf
- TheJournal.iehttps://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-anti-immigrant-far-right-parties-elections-2024-6281821-Jan2024/
- The Phoenix Magazinehttps://www.thephoenix.ie/article/right-wing-split/
- Connacht Tribune - Galway City Tribunehttps://connachttribune.ie/higgins-closes-in-on-seat-as-people-party-leader-is-out-487/
- TheJournal.iehttps://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-anti-immigrant-far-right-parties-elections-2024-6281821-Jan2024/