A new opinion poll covering the Donegal constituency shows Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty as likely to top the poll in next month's general election.
The TG4/Ipsos MRBI TG4 Ipsos MRBI Donegal constituency poll was conducted on Monday and Tuesday of this week (20th and 21st January), among 550 people.
It has a margin of error of up to plus or minus 4%.
According to the poll, Mr Doherty is currently polling at 27% of first preference votes - ten percentage points ahead of the second-placed candidate, Fine Gael Joe McHugh (who is also the current Education Minister).
Both Fianna Fáil's Charlie McConalogue and Sinn Féin's Pádraig Mac Lochlainn are on 12%, while Fianna Fáil's Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher is on 10%.
Independent Thomas Pringle, meanwhile, is polling on 6%.
The poll shows independent candidate Peter Casey on 2%, with polling conducted before the businessman announced his intention to also run in Dublin West.
In a statement, TG4 said: "Two seats for Fianna Fáil is a real possibility, if there is a sizeable gap between the lowest polling Fianna Fáil candidate and the highest polling independent candidate, and if the trailing Fianna Fail candidate proves reasonably transfer friendly.
"As the smaller parties and Independents are eliminated, Thomas Pringle could benefit from his independent status, although he may have quite a bit of ground to make up if he is to overtake either the second Sinn Féin or second Fianna Fáil candidate."
You can see the full results below:
- Pearse Doherty - Sinn Féin 27%
- Joe McHugh - Fine Gael 17%
- Charlie McConalogue - Fianna Fáil 12%
- Pádraig Mac Lochlainn - Sinn Féin 12%
- Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher - Fianna Fáil 10%
- Thomas Pringle - Independent 6%
- John O’Donnell - Independent 4%
- Michael White – The Green Party 4%
- Mary T Sweeney - Aontú 3%
- Martin Harley - Fine Gael 3%
- Peter Casey - Independent 2%
- Niall McConnell - Independent 1%
