Few political parties have seen their fortunes swing as dramatically as the Green Party in Ireland over the past year. This article compares the Green Party’s leadership and parliamentary strength in Ireland versus England and Wales, drawing on verified election results and official party records.
Green Party (Ireland) founded: 1981 ·
Current Green Party leader (Ireland): Roderic O’Gorman ·
Green Party TDs in Ireland (2020): 12 ·
Green Party MPs in England/Wales (2024): 4 ·
Number of former Green Party leaders (Ireland): 4
Quick snapshot
- Roderic O’Gorman became Green Party leader in Ireland in July 2024 (Taylor & Francis (peer-reviewed journal))
- The Green Party in Ireland was founded in 1981 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
- Green Party of England and Wales won 4 MPs in the 2024 UK general election (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia))
- Exact number of Green Party councillors in Ireland as of 2025 is not publicly aggregated
- Detailed biographical information for all former leaders is limited in accessible sources
- 2024: Roderic O’Gorman takes over as Green Party leader in Ireland after Eamon Ryan resigns (Taylor & Francis)
- 2024: Green Party of England and Wales elects co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay (Wikipedia)
- Ireland’s Green Party must rebuild from one TD seat after the 2024 general election defeat (Wikipedia – 2024 Irish general election)
- England/Wales Greens aim to grow their 4 MP presence and influence climate policy (Wikipedia – 2024 UK general election)
Five key facts, one pattern: Green parties in both countries saw leadership turnover in 2024, yet their parliamentary fortunes diverged sharply.
| Attribute | Ireland | England & Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Current leader | Roderic O’Gorman | Zack Polanski (since Sept 2025) |
| Previous leaders (2024) | Eamon Ryan (resigned July 2024) | Carla Denyer & Adrian Ramsay (co-leaders, elected Oct 2024) |
| Founded | 1981 | 1990 (as separate entity) |
| Parliamentary seats (most recent election) | 1 TD (2024 general election) | 5 MPs (2024 UK general election) |
| Percentage of national vote (2024) | ~3% | ~6.4% |
The implication: Ireland’s Green Party suffered a historic electoral wipeout, while its UK counterpart made modest gains — a contrast driven by coalition fatigue in Ireland and a protest vote dynamic in England.
Green Party Leader in Ireland
Current leader: Roderic O’Gorman
Roderic O’Gorman became leader of the Green Party in Ireland in early July 2024, succeeding Eamon Ryan after the party’s poor performance in local and European elections. O’Gorman was the only Green Party TD to retain his seat in the November 2024 Irish general election, winning Dublin West. He previously served as Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth from 2020 to 2025 (Taylor & Francis, peer-reviewed journal).
Party history and foundation
The Green Party in Ireland was founded in 1981 and operates across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (Wikipedia, open encyclopedia). It entered government for the first time in 2007 as a junior coalition partner, and again from 2020 to 2024. The party’s deputy leader is Hazel Chu and the cathaoirleach (chair) is Janet Horner (Wikipedia).
Role in Irish politics
The Greens’ influence peaked during the 2020–2024 coalition, when they held key ministries including climate, transport, and children’s affairs. However, voter backlash over coalition compromises led to the devastating 2024 result: the party won about 3% of the vote and lost 11 of its 12 TDs (Taylor & Francis). This was the party’s worst showing since 2011.
Roderic O’Gorman now leads a party that went from 12 TDs to 1 in a single election. His challenge: rebuild credibility with Irish voters who punished the Greens for coalition trade-offs.
Why this matters: Without a critical mass of TDs, the Green Party in Ireland loses speaking time, committee seats, and policy influence — making the leader’s role more about survival than strategy.
Green Party Leader in England
Current leadership: Zack Polanski
The Green Party of England and Wales has undergone a leadership change since the 2024 general election. According to Wikipedia (open encyclopedia), Zack Polanski has served as leader since September 2025. Prior to that, Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay were elected as co-leaders in October 2024 after a leadership contest (Wikipedia). The party describes itself as a green and left-wing political party focused on climate justice and social equality.
Electoral performance in 2024
In the July 2024 UK general election, the Green Party of England and Wales won 4 MPs — their best ever result, quadrupling their previous single seat. As of 2025, they hold 5 MPs after a by-election gain, plus two members of the House of Lords (Wikipedia). They received about 6.4% of the national vote, overtaking the Liberal Democrats in some areas.
Comparison with Irish structure
Unlike Ireland’s single leader model, the English and Welsh Greens have historically favoured co-leadership to balance internal factions. The party is also federally structured, with semi-autonomous regional parties. This decentralisation contrasts with Ireland’s more centralised leadership under a single TD leader.
The Green Party in England/Wales is growing while Ireland’s shrinks. Different electoral systems (STV in Ireland vs FPTP in the UK) partly explain the disparity, but coalition strategy is the bigger driver.
The pattern: English Greens capitalised on voter dissatisfaction with the two main parties, while Irish Greens were punished for governing alongside them.
Previous Green Party Leaders in Ireland
Eamon Ryan (2011–2024)
Eamon Ryan served as leader from 2011 until his resignation in July 2024. Under his leadership, the party entered coalition government in 2020 and achieved its highest number of TDs (12). Ryan was Minister for Transport, Environment and Climate for most of that period. He stepped down after the Greens lost almost all their council seats in the 2024 local elections (Taylor & Francis, peer-reviewed journal). He remains the longest-serving leader in the party’s history.
John Gormley (2007–2011)
John Gormley led the Greens from 2007 to 2011, a period that included the party’s first time in government as a junior coalition partner. He served as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The party lost all but one of its TDs in the 2011 general election after the financial crisis, leading to his resignation (Wikipedia).
Trevor Sargent (2001–2007)
Trevor Sargent was the first leader of the Green Party in Ireland, serving from 2001 to 2007. He grew the party’s TD count and led them into coalition negotiations after the 2007 election. He later served as Minister of State for Food and Horticulture (Wikipedia).
The trade-off: Each former leader faced a similar cycle — coalition entry, electoral losses, and exit. O’Gorman inherits the lowest parliamentary base since 2011.
How Many Green Party TDs Are There?
Current number: 1 TD
As a result of the November 2024 Irish general election, the Green Party holds exactly one seat in Dáil Éireann — held by leader Roderic O’Gorman in Dublin West (Taylor & Francis). This is down from 12 after the 2020 election, which had been the party’s largest ever haul.
Historical highs and lows
The Greens have experienced volatility: 6 TDs in 2002, 2 in 2007, 0 in 2011, 2 in 2016, 12 in 2020, and now 1 in 2024. The 2020 peak was driven by a surge in climate concern among younger voters and a favourable transfer system. The 2024 collapse reflects coalition punishment and a swing back to main parties (Taylor & Francis).
List of current Green Party TDs
As of 2025, only Roderic O’Gorman, TD for Dublin West, serves as a Green Party TD. All other Green TDs from the 2020–2024 term lost their seats, including former ministers Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown) and Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South).
The catch: Without a pipeline of candidates, the party risks remaining marginalised for a full electoral cycle.
List of Green Party TDs
Alphabetical list of TDs (2020–2024 term)
- Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown) – lost seat 2024
- Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South) – lost seat 2024
- Roderic O’Gorman (Dublin West) – retained seat 2024
- Others: 9 additional TDs including Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central), Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire), and Joe O’Brien (Dublin Fingal) all lost their seats.
Constituencies represented (2020–2024)
In the 2020–2024 Dáil, Green TDs represented 10 different constituencies, mostly urban districts in and around Dublin, plus Cork and Galway. The 2024 wipeout concentrated representation solely in Dublin West.
Notable former TDs
Catherine Martin served as Deputy Leader and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Neasa Hourigan was a prominent voice on health and housing. Both lost in 2024. The party now has no female TDs (Wikipedia).
The implication: The loss of experienced TDs leaves a significant knowledge gap inside the Oireachtas, reducing the party’s ability to influence legislation.
Timeline
Green Party founded in Ireland (Wikipedia).
Green Party of England and Wales established as a separate entity (Wikipedia).
Trevor Sargent serves as first Green Party leader in Ireland (Wikipedia).
John Gormley leads the Green Party in Ireland, enters government (Wikipedia).
Eamon Ryan leads the Green Party in Ireland (Taylor & Francis).
Roderic O’Gorman becomes Green Party leader in Ireland after Eamon Ryan resigns (Taylor & Francis).
Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay elected co-leaders of Green Party of England and Wales (Wikipedia).
Irish general election: Green Party reduced from 12 TDs to 1 (Taylor & Francis).
Zack Polanski becomes leader of Green Party of England and Wales (Wikipedia).
The pattern: Leadership turnover in both parties during 2024 – 2025, but at opposite ends of the electoral spectrum.
Clarity Section
Confirmed facts
- Roderic O’Gorman is the current Green Party leader in Ireland (verified via Green Party Ireland official website).
- Green Party of Ireland founded in 1981 (Wikipedia).
- Green Party of England and Wales has co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay (elected 2024) and a new sole leader in 2025 (Zack Polanski) (Wikipedia).
- Green Party in Ireland had 12 TDs after the 2020 general election (Taylor & Francis).
- Green Party of England and Wales won 4 MPs in the July 2024 general election (now 5) (Wikipedia).
What’s unclear
- Exact number of Green Party councillors in Ireland as of 2025 — no consolidated list available.
- Detailed biographical data for some former leaders (e.g., exact dates of birth, education).
- Full details of the internal process that made Zack Polanski leader in September 2025 — limited public reporting.
The upshot: While core leadership facts are firm, granular local data and internal party mechanics remain opaque.
“I joined the Green Party more than twenty years ago because I believed in protecting our environment, achieving sustainable communities, and a fairer, more equal Ireland.”
Roderic O’Gorman, Green Party leader (Ireland) – from official party profile, Green Party Ireland (official website)
“We are building a movement that can transform our country for the better.”
Carla Denyer, former co-leader Green Party of England and Wales – Green Party UK (official website)
“The 2024 general election result was devastating, but it also offers a chance to reset and reconnect with voters.”
Analyst comment adapted from Taylor & Francis (Irish election analysis)
Summary
The Green Party in Ireland enters 2025 as a shell of its former self — one TD, no ministerial positions, and an electorate that punished it for coalition compromise. In contrast, the Green Party of England and Wales has momentum, with five MPs and growing public support. For the Irish party, the path forward depends on whether Roderic O’Gorman can rebuild local bases and reclaim a credible voice on climate. Without a clear strategy for the next local elections, the Greens risk becoming a fringe player in Irish politics for years to come.
Related reading: State Pension Increase 2024: Ireland Rates & Changes · Free Childcare for Working Parents: UK & Ireland Guide
För en mer detaljerad redogörelse över de nuvarande ledarna, jämför partiledarna här där du kan se hur deras politiska karriärer utvecklas på respektive sida av Irländska sjön.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Green Party leader do?
The leader sets the party’s political direction, represents it in parliament, leads election campaigns, and oversees party organisation. In both Ireland and England/Wales, the leader also negotiates coalition deals and policy positions.
How is the Green Party leader elected?
In Ireland, party members vote in a secret ballot. In England and Wales, the leader is elected by all party members under an instant-runoff system. Recent elections in both countries were triggered by resignations after election losses.
Who was the first Green Party leader in Ireland?
Trevor Sargent served as the first leader from 2001 to 2007. The party was founded earlier in 1981 but initially operated without a single leader — decisions were made collectively.
Who is the longest-serving Green Party leader in Ireland?
Eamon Ryan, who led from 2011 to 2024, holds that record at 13 years. He served through the party’s peak in 2020 and its collapse in 2024.
Are the Green Party leaders in Ireland and England the same person?
No. The Green Party in Ireland and the Green Party of England and Wales are separate entities with distinct leadership structures, though they cooperate on some European issues. The Irish leader is Roderic O’Gorman; the English/Welsh leader is Zack Polanski (since September 2025).
What is the current Green Party leader’s stance on climate policy?
Roderic O’Gorman has emphasised a just transition and community-level climate action. Under his leadership, the party continues to advocate for faster emissions reductions, but now with less parliamentary leverage.
How many Green Party leaders have there been in Ireland?
Four: Trevor Sargent (2001–2007), John Gormley (2007–2011), Eamon Ryan (2011–2024), and Roderic O’Gorman (2024–present).
In short: The FAQ covers the essentials of leadership selection, tenure, and cross-border differences.
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George Pemberton is Consumer & Gaming Correspondent at ScopePress.uk, covering gaming, smart home and connectivity.