Disappointment for Sinn Féin as Irish local elections bolster coalition

Fine Gael and Fianna Fail each win 23% of first preference vote, with Sinn Fein on just 12% after expected landslide

Voters in Ireland have bolstered the centrist government, chastened Sinn Fein and elected a handful of far-right candidates in local elections.

The ruling coalition hoped also to perform well in the European elections, with preliminary results on Monday suggesting Ireland had, like other European countries, shored up pro-EU mainstream parties.