Ireland's two main governing parties looked on course to return to power in an election on Friday thanks to a giveaway October budget and a loss of momentum by opposition Sinn Fein, a result that would buck a global trend of voters rejecting incumbents.

Promises made by the Sinn Fein pro-Irish unity party to tackle a housing and cost-of-living crisis and stop young people leaving the country have bolstered its popularity ahead of a general election on Friday.

Sinn Fein leader will demand vote on Irish unity if she wins general election Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has told Sky News that Irish unification would be the first thing she talks to Sir Keir Starmer about if she becomes Ireland's new prime minister.

Sinn Fein's polling collapse from government-in-waiting to likely also-rans at an Irish election next week looks set to rob Irish nationalists of a potentially transformative moment in their pursuit of a united Ireland.

Ireland’s two centre-Right parties have vowed to extend Sinn Fein’s 100-year stint on the political sidelines as they clashed ahead of this week’s closely fought general election.