Elaine Loughlin: The Sinn Féin rollercoaster ride lurches from high to low

If Mary Lou McDonald is to get her party into power at the next general election, which after Friday's votes could be sooner rather than later, she must prove that Sinn Féin is a political entity worth sticking with

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald at the RDS for Sunday's count. Picture: Damien Storan/PA

In contrast to the stability put forward by the main Government parties, Sinn Féin is now becoming a rollercoaster ride that voters hop on and off every few years.

It doesn't bode well for Mary Lou McDonald's ambitions of becoming the first female Taoiseach.