WE have just had the most spectacular, groundbreaking election in modern Irish history.

DURING our last general election in 2007, my occupation was bookmaking. Our firm pioneered betting markets for every candidate and constituency.

IT WAS not quite a Barack Obama moment but when, almost a quarter of a century ago, Des O’Malley, Mary Harney, Michael McDowell, Bobby Molloy and others established the Progressive Democrats they gave rise to a huge sense of relief and optimism among a considerable number of people.