New poll sees Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin in confident mood
Leader Photo: Canvassing In Lusk Talking Lazarov/rollingnews Sasko Martin Hands While Micheál A In Mcilittrice To Valerie Shop Fianna Shakes While Ie Fáil
Fianna Fáil is setting its sights on winning three seats in Micheál Martin's constituency of Cork South Central, with Sinn Féin also eyeing up additional seats.
Sources within both parties said that the "mood had changed" over the weekend following two polls that showed a decline in support for Fine Gael.
The Irish Times/IPSOS B&A poll shows Fianna Fáil in the lead on 21%, up two points, with Sinn Féin up one to 20% and Fine Gael down six in just two weeks to 19%.
Now, senior sources in the Fianna Fáil party say they are confident that both Mr Martin and fellow candidate Seamus McGrath will comfortably be elected in what is a tightly contested electoral area. However, senior members now believe that "on a good day", the party can take an extra seat in the five-seater constituency and is hopeful that transfers will bring Bishopstown-based businesswoman Margaret Kenneally across the line.
The party last held three seats in the constituency in 2002, when former lord mayor of Cork John Dennehy served alongside Batt O’Keeffe and Mr Martin. Fianna Fáil is also hoping to make gains in Carlow-Kilkenny by adding the two elected TDs it already has in that constituency.
Sinn Féin now believes that a third seat is possible in Cavan-Monaghan if sitting TD Pauline Tully gets elected on her vote from Cavan alone, which would see Cathy Bennett elected.
Likewise, some within the party believe that Joe Lynch could be elected in Cork North-Central. The belief within most parties now is that there will be one seat in the constituency decided by the Ballincollig end, the area having been brought into Cork North-Central in last year's boundary redraw. Sources in multiple parties believe Mr Lynch or Fine Gael's Garret Kelleher would be the beneficiary.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou MacDonald has backed calls for a left-wing transfer pact in Friday's election.
Ms McDonald said recent polls show her party is in a position to lead a government without Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael. However, Ms McDonald accepted that doing so will require other parties, and urged the public to vote for Sinn Féin and to continue their preference for left-wing parties if they want to see a change of government.
Ms McDonald was speaking in Cabra on Monday, and reacting to an poll which shows that her party is now in second place with just days to go before the election.
The poll shows that support for Fine Gael has dropped by six points in just two weeks in a campaign littered with missteps. Simon Harris's party sits third on 19% of support, with Fianna Fáil up two points to 21%, and Sinn Fein up a point to 20%. Asked if she believes her party now has momentum, Ms McDonald said she would continue canvassing for every vote.
"It's very clear to us that there is momentum now in the campaign," she said. "It's clear now that there can be a government led by Sinn Féin. We believe that that momentum will intensify in the coming days. Meanwhile, Micheál Martin seems to be intent on putting Fine Gael back in government — that would make their term in government 19 years long.
"Firstly, if you want a change in government, Sinn Féin can lead an alternative government. We're asking people to vote for us on that basis, we are also saying to people to transfer their votes thereafter to others who similarly want to see that change."
The Sinn Féin leader also hit out at Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for putting forward "doomsday scenarios" in relation to the Irish economy in light of the election of Donald Trump in the US.