They range from declarations of generalised ageism — apparently it is self-evident how every person over a certain age votes — to the varying definitions of victory. 

This party won the election because that party lost it, but the names of the parties involved are interchangeable.

A good deal of the discussion being generated is focused on the composition of the next government.

However, the makeup of the Dáil itself bears some examination first.

Despite the ongoing narrative that young people are not interested in politics, it is encouraging to see that Albert Dolan (Galway East) and Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North) are both only 26 years old. 

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central) is just 24 and is the first TD born in the 21st century.

At the other end of scale, Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher, 76, made a remarkable return to the Dáil over four decades after first winning a seat in Donegal.

It is equally encouraging to see a TD in his late 70s sharing the benefits of the experience gained from 40 years in public life.

Gallagher is not the only former TD to make a victorious return to Leinster House. 

Paul Gogarty, the former Green TD who lost his Dublin Mid-West seat in the 2011 election, has returned to the Dáil representing the same constituency as an Independent. 

Many readers will remember when Mr Gogarty hit the headlines back in 2009 for using unparliamentary language in a 2009 debate in the Dáil chamber.

On a more serious note, however, the lack of female TDs continues to be a concern.

Though Holly Cairns, Ivana Bacik, and Mary Lou McDonald all lead political parties, swathes of the country have no women representing them in Leinster House. 

The reasons for that absence deserve scrutiny and analysis even as commentary about the election is in full flow.

Presidential pardon: Setting a bad precedent

Joe Biden’s sweeping pardon of his son Hunter this week was not the first instance of a US president using those powers for a relative. 

Over 20 years ago, Bill Clinton issued a pardon to his half-brother Roger Clinton, which cleared drug convictions from the latter’s record.

The current political climate in America is very different, of course, but Biden’s sweeping pardon has drawn huge ire, not just on partisan grounds.

In simple terms, he had always said he would not issue a pardon to his son but has now changed his mind completely. 

Little wonder that even members of his own party are expressing their disappointment with his actions, while political opponents are making hay with his reversal.

The obvious retort is that incoming president Donald Trump would have been expected to pursue Hunter Biden once back in office, and that the current president is making a pre-emptive move against politically-motivated retaliation.

Trump has made some questionable decisions himself when it comes to pardons: In 2021, he pardoned his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s father Charles.

Kushner Sr had been convicted of campaign finance violations, tax evasion, and witness tampering in 2005, and served two years in prison, but Trump has said he will name him as US ambassador to France.

Appalling though that decision would be, listing the offences of Trump and his associates does not excuse Biden’s decision.

By pardoning his son in this way, he has undermined the integrity of his office and established a dangerous precedent which allows the families of the powerful to act with impunity.

Perhaps the most damaging result is how this decision can be used to fuel a facile dismissal of politicians as a whole, suggesting a common hypocrisy and selfishness which goes beyond party lines.

There is general trepidation about the damage Trump may do when he returns to office, but Biden cannot be exempt from criticism for his contribution here either.

Carlow funeral: A heartening tale

There was a turnout of about 200 people on Tuesday at the funeral of Mary Regan at the Church of the Holy Family in Askea, Carlow.

The number of mourners present is significant because Ms Regan had no next of kin, and was originally from Adrigole in West Cork.

When she passed away on Friday, director of R Healy & Son Funeral Directors in Rathnapish Rory Healy issued an appeal online, asking people to come to her funeral Mass so that she would not be sent off from Carlow alone.

Locals duly responded, with the officiating priest noting there were more present than would be at an average funeral.

Asked for his view of the response, Mr Healy told this newspaper it would “lift your heart — almost burst your heart with pride for the people of Carlow. [They] turned out on a cold morning and it was an early Mass. It was great to see it.” 

Ms Regan will be laid to rest in her native Adrigole on Wednesday.

This is a story that would lift any heart, and speaks well of the community in Carlow, as Mr Healy said.

Ms Regan was in a nursing home before passing away and did not have many visitors in recent years.

Should we have a system of organised visiting of nursing homes — perhaps involving students — to try to reduce the number of such cases?