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SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has said that it is “obvious” that her party ran too many candidates in the local elections, but said that she is still of the belief that people want change.
Sinn Féin under performed in this year’s local elections, retaining some seats and losing others, and, according to early tally figures, there is a possibility that the party might not retain their Midlands-North-West seat in the European Parliament either.
Speaking to reporters, a day after the majority of local election results came in, McDonald said that last Friday was “not our day” and admitted that the party ran too many candidates.
She said: “You go into electoral contests you have some great days out, you have disappointing days out, and Friday was a disappointing day for us. But we’ll regroup and we’ll be back out at it again.”
After 24 hours to reflect, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says:
— Muiris O’Cearbhaill (@muirisoc) June 10, 2024
“To answer your question directly, yes, it is obvious that now that we ran too many candidates.”
She says the Party needs to be “clear” on their stances in the future. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/RGQUKM6PIf
“For perspective, it was not the day that I had hoped for, but we did make gains – we have new councillors up and down the country – and we will have a better a day out, I believe, in the general election.”
Asked if she believed voters were apprehensive to vote for Sinn Féin over continued allegations of “flip-flopping” on their policy stances, McDonald said she believed the terms and accusations were Government “attack lines”.
“Where there has been any level of confusion, we need now just to be clear on all of our positions,” she said. She added that her party’s position, particularly on immigration, has been consistent for as long as she has been a member of the party.
A big question for Government has been whether or not Taoiseach Simon Harris will call an election in the short-term now, as the results of the local elections put the coalition parties, particularly Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, in a in a stronger position than they may have envisaged.
Harris has so far ruled out going to the public any time soon but McDonald said her party would welcome a general election “at the earliest possible date”, and is still of the belief that there must be a change of Government.
“When the Taoiseach calls the election is anybody’s guess. He seems to be indicating that it might go to next spring, I rather suspect that it will happen in the autumn. But that’s my speculation,” she said.
“We’ll be ready whenever it happens. Bring it on.”
She told reporters: “We need to come back at this again with vigor and with energy, because whatever happens at this stage, we’re not too far off a general election and that’s the big contest for us. And I’m very determined that we will be ready for it.”
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So ‘obvious’ that’s she only noticed now. Honest to god, I don’t know what to make of her.
@Alan: SF ran 1 candidate in my LEA-He was well beaten
@Jimmy Wallace: grow up and move on.
@Jimmy Wallace: Give it a rest for gods sake. Anything to say about FFG following orders from Brussels?
@Lilian Daly: we got a new SF candidate elected to our LEA.
I think SF will perform better under Pearse Doherty.
@Andrew Kenny: You’ll have to convince the good people of BT12 first.
@Jimmy Wallace: I’d say you’re 100% right.
@Andrew Kenny: she’ll resign for health reasons. Pearse doesn’t have enough variation in his speaking tone to keep your attention. He speaks like Kevin macaleer
@Jimmy Wallace: Wasn’t Simon Harris appointed unopposed?
@Andrew Kenny: correct sir. They will also perform better when they stop using the word change!!! Ffs the electorate got sick of hearing that word when they knew that their policies are pro euro – left…
SF doesn’t represent people who work.
They tell us that people who do work need to shoulder more of the burden.
That is why they got their lazy asses handed to them.
She can’t blame it on the number of candidates. SF as a party only attracted half the percentage of the vote as either FF or FG. SF 11.8% vs FF 22.9% and FG 23%. The numbers don’t lie.
Feck off to Palestine so.
Far right headbangers like Eoghan Agusta just can’t help bit spread theory lies and hate. It is so sweet to see them so bitter. Less than 1% of the total vote. Ireland issues a resounding no to their hatred.
@Sun Rise:
To answer an earlier comment on the issue of a roof over the heads of the electorate to keep the atmosphere out and the problems faced by children and grandchildren in future. There are also a group where their savings will vanish amid overreaching greed.
There are people who are wealthy based on their own endeavour and then there are those who stuff their pockets on the backs of others, especially young people entering careers. The difference is wealth accumulation through mediocrity and those who just happened to be born when Ireland was fairer to its working people.
The mania that a roof represents an asset to be exploited is gruesome. It is a sleepwalking society.
Mary Lou, smell the roses.
Is there anywhere to get reliable information these days… ( not x or tick tock or Facebook ) . Not sure government departments want to allow it out but some say up to 10k Ukrainians have left the country.
@Jp Cleary: #0.9%
Just as an exercise, could anyone name Six members of Sinn Féin who could sit on a front bench without being a Puppet. It appears that they are all joined at the hip and nod in unison to the Command of the Appointed One !
@vxQ6cYzh: as do all the others. Hon the party whips!
Is it too early to say “sandwich” for the bus incident. SF like the bus, seats not filled
You are deluded, Marie Lou !
It’s your fault, your positions in the media, your will to ally with FF and FG to have power that destroy it. There was 1 big enough party who old have stand up against the 2 mainstream parties, and you flicked it up !
You need to review your copy, and stop dreaming!!!
I’d say they so miss the good old days of the armalite and the ballot box. If the ballot didn’t work, they could always resort to the other without any mandate. Ahh, simpler days.
Poor old mick nuggent in cork city north west, gould pushed his wife in, and he lost his seat
Would ya go a chicken supper bobby sands lol
have your say