Fianna Fáil grassroots members open to Sinn Féin coalition — but with Michelle O'Neill as leader

Members are not supportive of the idea of Mary Lou McDonald leading a Sinn Féin-Fianna Fáil coalition

First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Tanaiste Micheal Martin at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council on Monday, April 8, 2024. Picture: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire

Opinions within Fianna Fáil's grassroots are mixed regarding a coalition with Sinn Féin, but the party membership are much more positive about Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill than leader Mary Lou McDonald.

The party membership gathered on Saturday for the 82nd Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis at Dublin’s Royal Convention Centre, with debates on policy and new party procedure taking place.

Alongside policy debates, there was also discussions on the sidelines about Fianna Fáil’s options going forward, with party members split on entering government with Sinn Féin.

Members of the party were reluctant to speak publicly with the Irish Examiner about Fianna Fáil’s coalition prospects, but did admit they preferred Ms O’Neill to Ms McDonald.

'Irreconcilable differences'

One local election candidate for Fianna Fáil said that she “didn’t like Sinn Féin”, but did like Ms O’Neill for being “very conciliatory”.

Another party member and parliamentary assistant said that there are “irreconcilable differences” between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, all while praising Ms O’Neill.

“Michelle O’Neill would be a much more popular figure within Fianna Fáil than Mary Lou McDonald,” he said.

Corkman Patrick Walsh said that he believed Sinn Féin is “an effective opposition”, praising their TDs for being well educated, while saying members of Fianna Fáil “don’t get” Ms McDonald.

One Ógra Fianna Fáil member from Dublin was also positive, saying that he wouldn’t have a problem signing up to a Fianna Fáil-Sinn Féin coalition.

He said that, in particular, young people in Fianna Fáil are more open to the idea compared to older generations of the party, saying that his party would “moderate” Sinn Féin.

'They don’t have the experience'

One former Ógra member, from Kildare, said Ms O’Neill had been doing a “great job” since the Northern Ireland Executive returned, while saying the DUP’s Emma Little-Pengelly should be held up “as a saint”.

He said that Fianna Fáil could use Sinn Féin’s inexperience in government against them.

“We could go into Government with them [Sinn Féin], they don’t have the experience of being in Government," he said. 

We would be able to strongarm them.”

While Micheál Martin has ruled out going into government with Sinn Féin if it continues to “flip-flop” on issues such as the Middle East, the Kildare Fianna Fáiler believed the Tánaiste’s desire to remain in power would “trump” his concerns about Sinn Féin.

One couple, who have been in Fianna Fáil for 60 years, could not countenance Sinn Féin and described them as a “crowd of gurriers”, adding that there was no appetite to go into Government with them.

One member, from Waterford, said that he has since changed his mind on a coalition with Sinn Féin, having previously been vehemently opposed to governing alongside Fine Gael.

“We should consider Sinn Féin this time around, but the current Government has worked well,” he said.

He was optimistic about Fianna Fáil’s chances at the next election, believing that the party would be able to pick up seats at Fine Gael’s expense due to the number of TDs who are stepping down ahead of polling day.

While the Tánaiste has downplayed chances of entering government with Sinn Féin, he said that there would need to be consultation with the party ahead of any negotiations with the opposition party.