Paul Hosford: Brushing off its blunders, Sinn Féin’s poll rise speaks volumes

Mary Lou McDonald’s party has shown its experience as others on the left see support top out, writes Political Correspondent Paul Hosford

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald celebrates with her supporters after being elected at the RDS Count centre on February 9, 2020 in Dublin. Picture: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

In the days after the election in February last year, the watchword was "change".

The Irish people had, it was claimed, voted for a transformative, sweeping change in how we do business. But, while Sinn Féin's TDs and activists talked up how it had "won" the election with 24.5% of first-preference votes, the seat numbers told a different story.