Adams urges alliance of the left as SF falters in Dublin

SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams has said his party can still be a force in national politics despite its failure to make inroads in turbulent local and European elections.

Mr Adams said he did not believe the party’s inability to make capital at a time of enormous economic unrest had undermined its status as an alternative party.

“The party will continue and the party has made gains. This [election] was about change. The two big stories [of the election] are Maureen O’Sullivan... and, of course, George Lee.

“But anyone who wants social change will not get it from Fine Gael. We are not going to see real change, except in the significance of the votes for the parties of the left and the independents,” he said.

In Dublin, Sinn Féin suffered the high-profile loss of its standard-bearer councillor, Daithí Doolan, and saw its support in other areas of the city fall.

Five years ago it was the success story of the election, bringing home new councillors, increasing its vote and sending Mary Lou McDonald to Europe as an MEP.

This time its share of the vote nationally dropped slightly and, while it made gains in some areas, its support is more fragmented than ever. This will create difficulties when it tries to contest Dáil elections.

However, Mr Adams said it is part of a broader picture and there was a need for the left-wing groups who had made gains in the election to pool resources to form a more powerful unit.

“I have been arguing for some time there is need for a broad alliance for change, and I think it is time for all of those people elected as independents and campaigners, and for the other parties of the left to form an alliance for real change on this part of the island,” he said.

While the party struggled in the capital city, outside of Dublin Sinn Féin did make gains.

In Cork city it doubled its seats to four.

In Limerick City Council it at last made a breakthrough with the election of Maurice Quinlivan.

Dundalk-based Edel Corrigan was elected to Louth County Council.

Seamus Morris was elevated from Nenagh Town Council to Tipperary North Riding council.

Meanwhile, Sean Crowe, who sensationally lost his Dáil seat in 2007, was elected to South Dublin County Council from Tallaght Central and Cathal King performed even better in Tallaght South.

In the European elections it was boosted by a split in the unionist vote north of the border and Bairbre de Brún looks likely to top the poll for the first time.

Toireasa Ferris performed better than expected in the Ireland South constituency but the party was squeezed in Ireland North West.

Mr Adams said he remained upbeat and his primary objective going into the election was to hold two European seats.