Elaine Loughlin: Three-party deadlock means it'll be a long road to forming a government

Andrew Moloney and Aisling O’Leary stopped into Inchigeela National School between their wedding ceremony and the reception to cast their ballots in the Cork North-West constituency during Ireland's General Election 2024. Picture: Chani Anderson
Deadlock only means one thing: A long, protracted and possibly painful lead into the next government.
With Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Sinn Féin coming out of this general election on almost identical support, the make-up of the next coalition could be determined by the lengthy battles for the final seats that will ensue in the coming days.