For a demoralised political party hope springs eternal

OPPOSITION is not new for Fianna Fáil but electoral decimation and reputational destruction are.

1996 was the last time Fianna Fáil spent a full year in opposition. Now it faces a life sentence out of office.

Yet surprisingly, the mood inside that party varies from relief to cautious optimism. The relief is that the party is not finished. If most of its parliamentary party was thrown overboard, the vessel has limped back to harbour. Slight opinion poll rises indicate it may have a future.