Most recent elections around the West have seen voters punish incumbents for rising inflation and the end of pandemic-era support programs. Ireland’s election last Friday was thus something of a relief for ruling parties Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

At one level, the vote was an endorsement of continuity, but the stability in Ireland’s political center ground masked volatility on the fringes.

The horrifying toll exacted by the Irish election process was shockingly visible over the last stretch in the heavily-lined face of 37 year old Taoiseach Simon Harris, who was swept into office last April on a wave of enthusiasm to replace Leo Varadkar as leader of Fine Gael when he unexpectedly resigned.