Sinn Fein has won Ireland’s election, according to exit polls on Friday night, but looks certain to be shut out of power by its rivals after failing to get enough votes to enter government for the first time.

Mary Lou McDonald’s party was predicted to get 21.1 per cent in an election that hangs on a knife-edge, with its nearest rival just 0.1 per cent behind and all three main parties separated by just 1.6 per cent.

The exit polls point to the renewal of the coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, the two centre-Right parties that have dominated Irish politics for more than 100 years of the Republic’s history.

“We will always work to make life better for workers, families and communities. To unite Ireland. To build a brighter future for all,” said Ms McDonald, 55, who led her party to victory despite a string of scandals.

If the exit polls are borne out, it will be a blow to Sinn Fein’s hopes of forcing a united Ireland referendum by 2030, which were raised by the party winning a hat trick of election victories in Northern Ireland.

Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail see Irish unity as a long-term aspiration, rather than short-term policy goal like Sinn Fein.