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Fianna Fáil ("Soldiers of Destiny") is one of Ireland's oldest political parties, founded by Éamon de Valera in 1926 from the anti-Treaty side of the Irish Civil War. For most of the 20th century it was the dominant party in Irish politics, governing alone for decades. Today it is a centrist, populist party led by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, currently in government with Fine Gael and Independent TDs. Fianna Fáil appeals particularly to rural Ireland and has a broad-based coalition of support. It secured 48 seats and 21.86% of first-preference votes in the November 2024 general election.

Fine Gael ("Family of the Irish") was founded in 1933 from a merger of parties associated with the pro-Treaty side of the Irish Civil War, including Cumann na nGaedheal. It is a centre-right, pro-European party and a member of the European People's Party. Currently led by Tánaiste Simon Harris, Fine Gael is in government with Fianna Fáil and Independents. The party is traditionally associated with law and order, fiscal responsibility, and European integration. It won 38 seats and 20.80% of first-preference votes in the 2024 general election.

Sinn Féin ("We Ourselves") is Ireland's oldest political party, founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith. It campaigns for Irish unity and takes left-wing economic positions on housing, health, and cost of living. Led by Mary Lou McDonald since 2018, Sinn Féin surged to become the largest party by first-preference votes in the 2020 election and remains the largest opposition party. In 2024 it won 39 seats and 19.01% of the vote. The party also operates in Northern Ireland and is the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Sinn Féin seeks a citizens' assembly on Irish unity and a border poll.

The Social Democrats were founded in 2015 by Róisín Shortall, Stephen Donnelly, and Catherine Murphy as a progressive, centrist alternative. Led by Holly Cairns since 2023, the party focuses on housing rights, universal healthcare (Sláintecare), climate action, and constitutional reform. They are the fastest-growing party in Ireland — polling at record highs of around 12% in 2026, well above their 4.81% in the 2024 election when they won 11 seats. The Social Democrats are in opposition and have ruled out coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael without significant policy commitments.

The Labour Party is Ireland's oldest left-wing party, founded in 1912 by James Connolly and James Larkin. Led by Ivana Bacik since 2022, it advocates for workers' rights, social justice, and gender equality. Labour has served in coalition governments with both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. After a near-wipeout in 2011 (due to austerity measures in coalition), it has been slowly rebuilding — winning 11 seats and 4.65% in 2024. The party is currently in opposition.

The Green Party Ireland was founded in 1981 as the Ecology Party of Ireland. Led by Roderic O'Gorman since 2024, the party focuses on climate action, biodiversity, public transport, and environmental taxation. The Greens were in coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael from 2020–2024, during which they secured significant climate legislation including the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act. They were reduced to 8 seats and 3.04% in the 2024 election after the coalition performed poorly on housing. They are currently in opposition.

Aontú ("Unity" in Irish) was founded in January 2019 by Peadar Tóibín after he left Sinn Féin over the party's stance on abortion. Aontú combines a socially conservative position (opposing abortion) with left-wing economic policies including nationalisation of housing and public services. The party operates both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and advocates for Irish unity. It won 3 seats and 3.91% of first-preference votes in the 2024 general election. Polling shows Aontú at around 6% in mid-2026.

Independent Ireland was founded in 2023 by Michael Collins and Seán Canney as a party to represent rural Ireland, farmers, and communities left behind by mainstream politics. It holds right-of-centre positions on immigration, national sovereignty, and rural services, while advocating for agricultural communities. The party won 6 seats in the 2024 general election and has grown strongly in polling, reaching 7–9% in some 2026 polls. Independent Ireland is in opposition.

People Before Profit – Solidarity is an alliance of two left-wing organisations: People Before Profit (founded 2005) and Solidarity (formerly the Anti-Austerity Alliance). The alliance advocates for radical left-wing economic policies including nationalisation of key industries, universal public housing, and a wealth tax. It has TDs in several Dublin constituencies and Cork. Key figures include Richard Boyd Barrett, Paul Murphy, and Bríd Smith. The alliance won 3 seats and 2.84% of first-preference votes in the 2024 general election.