These will keep you up to date.
Now that we know the General Election is taking place on February 26, the immediate focus has shifted to the campaign trail and a series of public debates.
Whatever way you decide to vote – or abstain from doing so – it’s important to know who’s going to get your vote and why. With this in mind, we’ve drawn up a list of just some of the political parties, leaders, journalists and colour commentators on Twitter that are well worth a follow over the coming weeks.
Yes, there’s going to be a lot of mud-slinging and shouting matches taking place but here’s hoping that some of these accounts can help clarify the important issues.
Starting with the obvious, here are the political parties themselves in no particular order.
The political parties.
Fine Gael
https://twitter.com/FineGael/status/696982682933198848
Fianna Fáil
Varadkar reckons doctors & nurses would slow down with more beds and resources in hospitals: https://t.co/9gUjLrLOsb pic.twitter.com/wSvVyZbbQA
— Fianna Fáil (@fiannafailparty) February 8, 2016
Labour
Plenty of reasons we can't trust Fianna Fáil with the economy, we've compiled the top ten. #morningireland #GE16 pic.twitter.com/Kmmzy3D2vB
— The Labour Party (@labour) February 9, 2016
Sinn Féin
Fianna Fáil saying the same thing as Fine Gael. We will bring a fair recovery #GE16 #CBLive #BetterWithSF pic.twitter.com/C8rL3bp8sR
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) February 8, 2016
Green Party
Flooding isn't inevitable if we have the right strategy #VoteGreen2016 #StormImogen #galway https://t.co/hixZjf38ii pic.twitter.com/2VV3NvHdGA
— Green Party Ireland (@greenparty_ie) February 8, 2016
RENUA Ireland
Better economics. New opportunities. A real break.#RENUARising pic.twitter.com/ijM671cGDJ
— The Centre Party of Ireland (@CentrePartyIre) February 2, 2016
Social Democrats
There IS a fairer way of putting money back in people's pockets. #socdems #ge16 pic.twitter.com/aHfOjGlSJS
— Social Democrats (@SocDems) February 5, 2016
People Before Profit
.@RBoydBarrett speaking about the decision facing people in the general election #GE16 pic.twitter.com/Pd0XdqHIA2
— People Before Profit (@pb4p) February 3, 2016
The Workers and Unemployed Action
Pictured with fellow Workers and Unemployed Action members at our General Election selection evening. pic.twitter.com/RRxzXPGKDg
— Séamus Healy (@SeamusHealyTipp) October 21, 2014
The Workers Party
60 second video by Cllr Éilis Ryan on why she is running for election in Dublin Centralhttps://t.co/pp034UX1K2 #ge16 @eilistweets
— The Workers' Party (@workersparty) February 7, 2016
Journalists and funny commentators.
Vincent Browne
We wish him the best of health during the campaign trail and hope to see him on our screens as much as possible in the coming weeks.
Vincent is back tomorrow evening to chair the #PeoplesDebate from Cork South Central @TV3Ireland at 10pm #vinb
— TonightVMTV (@TonightVMTV) February 8, 2016
David McWilliams
Election economics is all smoke and mirrorshttps://t.co/ZfvCSu3VFu
— David McWilliams (@davidmcw) February 8, 2016
Gavan Reilly of Today FM
Further to @BillyKelleherTD/@campaignforleo spat, FF now claims Frances Fitzgerald has pulled out of a justice debate with Niall Collins
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) February 8, 2016
Páraic Gallagher of Newstalk
https://twitter.com/paraicgallagher/status/696733239914930176
Richard Chambers of Newstalk
It's a big night in Nenagh. Alan Kelly launching his campaign in #tipp. #ge16 https://t.co/vGkuTTfMRa
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) February 6, 2016
Oireachtas Retort
https://twitter.com/Oireachtas_RX/status/696820962638036992
Jim Sheridan
https://twitter.com/Jim_Sheridan/status/695245832174620673
Alan Kinsella (great coverage of manifestos, posters and election literature)
Saw some Enda FG posters got an extra sticker pic.twitter.com/gAefvZFHJu
— Alan Kinsella (@electionlit) February 8, 2016
Sharon Tobin of RTÉ (trailing Joan Burton on the campaign)
This is how much @labour says it'll put in your pocket a month #GE16 pic.twitter.com/jCDS6SW7n8
— Sharon Tobin (@sharontobin) February 8, 2016
Samantha Libreri of RTÉ (trailing Gerry Adams on the campaign)
Sinn Fein leader @GerryAdamsSF has condemned latest shooting in Dublin saying it has brought further fear and intimidation to the capital
— Samantha Libreri (@SamanthaLibreri) February 8, 2016
Pat McGrath (trailing Enda Kenny on the campaign)
Enda Kenny tells FG members to bring the party's message to each and every voter. #GE16 pic.twitter.com/xzwKTv240U
— Pat McGrath (@patmcgrath) February 8, 2016
Politwoops Ireland (re-publishes those tweets that politicians tried to delete)
DT Pearse Doherty: RT Conor McCabe: AIB's Dermot Gleeson's contemporaneous note showing influence … https://t.co/HpBMlHgCd9
— Politwoops Ireland (@deletedbyTDs) February 9, 2016
The leaders themselves.
Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin
Those behind latest fatal shooting must be taken off our streets.https://t.co/kREG61nhpi
— Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) February 8, 2016
Enda Kenny of Fine Gael
Fine Gael will abolish the USC by 2020 as part of our Long Term Economic Plan to keep the recovery going #cblive
— Enda Kenny (@EndaKennyTD) February 8, 2016
Joan Burton of Labour
Great group of Labour women out with me in Dublin West this afternoon. #dubw pic.twitter.com/6dIcpMocrC
— Joan Burton (@joanburton) February 6, 2016
Micheál Martin of Fianna Fáil
Warm reception in Thurles with @jackiecahillff despite the weather! We met Tipp hurlers Ronan Maher & Michael Cahill pic.twitter.com/lHxOSQnbDp
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 6, 2016
Eamon Ryan of the Green Party
College Green could be an amazing civic space. Let's take back the House of Lords. To make it happen #VoteGreen2016 pic.twitter.com/qdstJjSE89
— Eamon Ryan (@EamonRyan) February 8, 2016
Lucinda Creighton of RENUA Ireland
Better economics.
New opportunities.
A real break.https://t.co/KyDI39JFyr#RENUARising
— Lucinda Creighton (@LCreighton) February 2, 2016
Roisin Shortall (Stephen Donnelly and Catherine Murphy are also co-leaders of Social Democrats)
Absolutely shocking that no Fine Gael or Labour reps at @AgeAction and @activeirl Dublin hustings. An insult to older people & to democracy
— Róisín Shortall (@RoisinShortall) February 8, 2016
Seamus Healy of Workers and Unemployed Action
Doorsteps Cry Out Against Broken Promises – Healy
The most consistent and angriest complaint on the door steps… https://t.co/m79jd1i0PZ
— Séamus Healy (@SeamusHealyTipp) February 8, 2016
Michael Donnelly of Workers’ Party isn’t on Twitter.
As mentioned before, regardless of whether or not you’re voting, try and also keep an active interest in the local candidates that are running in your own constituency.
It’s going to be interesting.