As a new era of optimism dawns in politics, dare we take a leap of faith?

Our politicians face a very daunting task, which from some angles looks nigh on impossible, writes Alison O’Connor

SO exactly a week after we all went to the polls we are looking forward to a bright new dawn in Irish politics. Hey, you crowd down the back, stop sniggering. It’s true, or more accurately it could be true, if things work out.

Followers of Irish politics are in a quandary at present. Do we embrace this optimism and take the politicians at face value, or do we revert to our traditional realism? safe in the knowledge that we will once again be let down. It’s a bit like the serially philandering spouse, after years of playing fast and loose with the marriage vows, promising they’ve had a road to Damascus-like conversion, and all will be different from now on. Are we stupid to trust, or do we take a leap of faith?