While the result of the byelections is not yet complete, with the count resuming in Galway West at 9am, what is emerging is a clear picture of the winners and losers. As Political Editor Pat Leahy notes, it has been a very good day for the Social Democrats, “confirming that the party has generated real momentum since the last election”, following Daniel Ennis’s election shortly after midnight on the 9th count. [ Galway West Live Coverage: Follow all the counts here Opens in new window ]While Leahy says it is hard to see the party holding two seats in Dublin Central in the next general election, this could open the possibility of a European run for Gary Gannon. Success opens opportunities. Leahy says a political party that catches the voters’ imaginations can enjoy an electoral wave.“If that is going to happen at the next general election (2029, barring events), then the Social Democrats right now stand a better chance than anyone else of catching it.” Somewhat surprisingly, given the generally poor record of government parties in byelections, it was also a good day for Fine Gael, and its leader Simon Harris. It’s candidate Seán Kyne is battling Noel Thomas for the seat in Galway West, where he has outperformed pre-election expectations and given Harris a boost. In Dublin, Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam’s vote was behind expectations but did “well enough to be in the frame for seat at the next general election”. Which was the aim. The good news extends to Labour and their candidate Helen Ogbu in Galway West and also Janet Horner of the Green Party in Dublin, who was the final candidate eliminated there with 5,452 votes. Independent Ireland are surely pleased too with the strong showing by Noel Thomas in Galway – even if he does not win the seat. This confirms that in many places there will be a viable option to the right of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.In terms of the losers, the party leader with most to ponder this morning is Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald. She conceded it had not been Sinn Féin’s day and dismissed suggestions of pressure on her leadership, remarking that “pressure is for tyres”. Leahy applauds the good line but adds that pressure is “also for party leaders who don’t deliver election victories”.Leahy says the Dublin Central loss – in McDonald’s constituency – shows Sinn Féin being squeezed by the soft left in the Social Democrats and on the other side by a rising new right in Malachy Steenson and Gerry Hutch. “It is not clear that McDonald has an answer to this,” he writes. The other unhappy party leader this morning is Micheál Martin. Leahy describes Fianna Fáil’s performance in Dublin Central (John Stephen’s secured just 4.2 per cent of first preferences as “abysmal, probably ending up as its worst ever byelection result”.We value your views. Please feel free to send comments, feedback or suggestions for topics you would like to see covered to feedback@irishtimes.com.