Paul Hosford: Are the Greens chasing voters that are unlikely to come back? 

The party is, rightly or wrongly, perceived to be anti farmer and anti rural

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan spoke about how he believed there was a co-ordinated effort to attack Greens in some quarters. Picture: Evan Treacy/PA Wire

While last Tuesday’s announcement that he would step down as Green Party leader was a shock to most, Eamon Ryan’s inner circle was not surprised.

According to many, Mr Ryan had made his intentions clear over the last few months, having decided he would step down regardless of the outcome of the local and European elections, where his party took just 23 seats on councils across the country.