Sinn Féin still believe they have a chance of being in the next Government, TD Mairéad Farrell has said. 

The party has gained seats and insiders insist they are happy with the election result - despite having won fewer first preferences than in 2020.

In four-years, Sinn Féin’s vote has dropped 5.5% – the largest decline in vote share for a main opposition party since 1943.

The party is currently on 36 and is expected to win 39, according to Newstalk's Political Correspondant Seán Defoe.

'A mould has been broken'

Sinn Féin TD for Galway West Mairéad Farrell told Newstalk Breakfast she does not agree with the narrative that Sinn Féin did not have a good election day.

“I think it’s quite clear that that’s not the case – but look for us today, it’s very clear to us that there has been a mould broken in Irish politics,” she said.

“There are clearly now three main parties – and even more than that, it’s delivered quite a strong mandate for parties that aren’t Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

“I think today is about speaking to those other parties to speak about that mandate.”

Coalition

Ms Farrell said that Sinn Féin will try to form its own coalition as it is ‘extremely clear’ that people ‘cannot afford another five years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’.

“We've seen expansion of other parties of the left,” she said.

“It's quite clear that we would have the mandate to go speak to those parties about an alternative.”

According to Ms Farrell, gains made by other left-leaning parties would make this possible.

'Historic gains'

The Social Democrats have made 'historic gains' across the country according to party leader Holly Cairns, taking 11 seats across the country so far - up from 7 in the previous General Election.

Meanwhile, Labour are on 9 seats, People Before Profit have currently taken 3 and the Greens' Roderic O'Gorman is now the only sitting TD for his party.

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