Daniel McConnell: Did Fine Gael lose its identity chasing 'woke millennials'?

Dublin was the fifth by-election loss under Varadkar and some of its big names may not stand again, writes Political Editor Daniel McConnell

The party’s identity has become confused, with some insiders blaming the unsuccessful chasing of so-called “woke millennials” at the expense of the Fine Gael traditional base. File photo: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

The fall-out of the Dublin Bay South by-election has been dominated by the infighting within Fianna Fáil, but the result has far-reaching ramifications for Fine Gael and its leader Leo Varadkar.

While James Geoghegan’s 26% share of the vote was not in the car crash category, the failure of Fine Gael to hold the seat vacated by Mr Varadkar’s former campaign manager and close ally Eoghan Murphy has been the source of some internal angst within the party.