The decline of SF?

Problem with that is that SFs base and the wider working class were all deeply opposed to those radical free market positions and expected SF to be as well, they didn't expect them to be lock step with the Govt because it was on trend in leafy south Dublin.

The attitude to the base, lifelong activists who even expressed concern about these issues or questioned it, was absolutely shocking.

You can't have some snooty activist or wannabe cllr screaming at someone that they are a "fash" etc for wondering about an approach being correct and that was all too common.

On Twitter Sarah Holland was describing the Irish times political journalist, Lithuanian name, as a "trad Cath fash", she was saying McDonald had only bad elections.

Disagree with her, but that journalist isnt a traditional Catholic fascist ffs. Then she is tweeting Eco's 14 characteristics of fascism, what about SF cllrs being rarer than a Corncrake south of the Liffey and people who put in years of work getting 2% in places they were once cllrs and serious contenders for TD.

What the f789 in Umberto Eco's musings on that.

Another of her normal ultra nutjob tweets is pointing out a tricolour on a Simon Harris poster, that FG will try absorb the far right and the flag being the sign of it. Mind blowing Lunacy, so it's raving about trad Catholics and the Irish flag, she isnt in the DUP ffs

That's Blanch15* and Clo Cl* levels of obsession and delusion.

*To protect posters anonymity.

11% is shocking, but I'm so happy. I **** don't want to see SF near the cabinet table.

How will they almost certainly be the biggest party after the next General Election?

They only got 11% of the vote!!

That's the only certainty in politics.

Not that long ago that FG were in coalition with a who's who of the Official IRA and their hands still stained from printer ink off the 5 pound notes.

Auld lads who made a name for themselves as men behind the wire or on the blanket simply do not have the ability to understand the realities of operating a modern political party across two jurisdictions. It might be proving fruitful in the 6 (I’d very much question that long term), but it isn’t working down here.

The reality is that a lot of people who vote for SF aren’t into immigration and massive societal change. They don’t even know what No Pasarán means, and have more beliefs that align to Gript than The Ditch.

only reason Mary lou is still in charge Sinn Fein hope the electorate will elect a first woman Taoiseach. Same reason Democrats had Hillary.

Based on recent policy decisions, SF may not be seen as left by the time of the GE.

This sort of illuminati type controlling groups posting.

You on about chemtrails again.

There needs to be heave made against Mary Lou for the good of SF. I know this never happens in SF but it needs to now so the party can move forward

They are but FF always out perform in locals.

They also have serious long term problems as a party and will continue to decline as an electoral force, where that stops is the question.

I wouldn't read too much into this local election.

The Greens did well even though I think they won't in the GE.

FOT annoys me at times but I think he is bang on the money here. I can remember years ago David Cullinane opened a flashy new constituency office and SF shop in manor street in Waterford. My older brother was walking past it one day and one of the SF hangers on was at the door and did a dirty big phlegm at my brothers feet. My brother not being a shrinking violet got into some pushing and shoving with the piece of sh:t who spat at his feet before David Cullinane came out apologised and calmed things down. The thing is my brother left school at 15 and has had periods where he found it difficult to find work. All of his jobs have been low paid. He is the type of person who SF should appeal to and did until then. We both know David Cullinane and grew up around the corner from him. But here is the thing! An awful lot of the people that were suddenly sporting "IRA undefeated army" stickers on their cars were the local bogies and were undesirables even in there own estates. I can't imagine this type of person being a long term home for a party whose leader thinks some women can have penises and who appear to be pro immigration. There is another type that I think SF will lose. These are older voters again I am think of neighbors of David Cullinane when he was growing up. These were Workers Party supporters in the 80s who migrated back to SF when they had nowhere to go. They may have canvassed for the WP but they are socially conservative. They held their nose and canvassed for John Hearne at the previous local elections. They were very worried about the abortion repeal referendum because they had a disabled adult son. So I think there is a lot of people sticking with SF because they haven't figured out where to go. And there is a lot of people who didn't vote for the same reason. Fintan O'Toole smashed it I think. Its early days but when the numbers are crunched I think you will find that the Social Democrats and Labour probably took votes from SF's woke wing while their anti immigration followers maybe went to Independents.