Why has Sinn Féin’s Support Collapsed?

[@ElysiumCreator]

It’s because they have two bases, the progressive young left and the anti-migration rural bloc. The anti-migration bloc saw Sinn Fein support two unpopular government referendums. They started to leave Sinn Fein, then Sinn Fein tried to win them back, this led to the progressive bloc feeling disillusioned too.

[@fabianpatrizio2865]

Sounds like typical Left wing nonsense and hypocrisy...they're all the same (like here in Australia with the 'Greens' and Labor) just bloody awful

[@CrasterFamily]

Young Irish are also anti immigration. SF betrayed everyone

[@shutup2751]

i would also add a lot of working class areas alongside the rural bloc

[@andybrice2711]

I suspect that most people in most European countries actually have quite moderate ideas about immigration. I reckon there would be minimal complaints if net migration were kept below 0.5% of the population. If we prioritized people who have useful skills and integrate well. If asylum seekers were screened thoroughly. If dangerous criminals were deported. And if we were able to discuss the pros and cons sensibly. I'm not sure why we're being forced into this false dichotomy of "pro-immigration" vs "anti-immigration" by radicals on either side.

[@casslane3932]

infairness the referendum wasnt realy progressive it was poorly planned and poorly executed virtual signaling im neither far left or right and i can safely say they lost many peoples confidence as they showed how they were just as out of touch as the current goverment they lost there support among anyone paying the slightest bit of attention who wants change in favour of the majority of ireland and not just the elite.

[@damienmoylesyt6992]

As a young person I have noticed peoples’ souring position on Sinn Féin due to what they see as ‘incompetence’ and Sinn Féin ‘talking out of both sides of their mouth’ -trying to appeal to everybody and subsequently appealing to nobody. I also notice an increase in support for coalition parties as people are beginning to engage more with politics before the upcoming election and the sort of anti-establishment vote which Sinn Féin had enjoyed the support of fizzles out as people realise that their vote has to count.

[@xr2kid]

Brilliant analysis

[@anamdiolta]

both sides, as in the radical left and the extreme left

[@eddy66t6]

​@@anamdioltait's literally the right wing nuts burning down reception centres

[@liamhenry3025]

As a fellow young person, I am glad. I told everyone their populist nonsense was a ploy to convince us they weren’t what they are. But now we all see through them. They masqueraded as a left party because it was popular with the youth. In reality, whatever gets a United ireland is whatever they follow.

[@liamturner4851]

Totally agree with this!

[@RedJadeArt]

2:52 the fact that the two other major parties went into coalition with each other is also key here. Sinn Fein is still untainted by any failures in government- every failure in terms housing and healthcare can now credibly be blamed on *both* main parties, and Sinn Fein gets to be the only credible opposition party. It’s kind of like how Labour are doing so well in the U.K. at the moment - they’ve had 14 years in opposition, there’s nothing that the Tories can really blame them for that will really stick, because they’ve had the reigns of power for so long. It’s the same with Sinn Fein.

[@PeterFlanagan0987]

Literally of the parties that existed and had seats when I was born sf are the only ones that have never been in govt. PBP, soc Dems and Aontú didn’t exist then.

[@rogink]

I don't think Sir Keir would be happy for his party to be compared to the Shinners! Even the Daily Mail wouldn't sink that low :)

[@RedJadeArt]

@@rogink ah sure I don’t mean in terms of policy - I mean in terms of strategic position relative to their rivals

[@icemanire5467]

They are much tainted by their failures in opposition and support of major govt polices the past 3 years. They are currently trying to backtrack since the referendum

[@rogink]

@@RedJadeArt Of course I know exactly what you meant. But in the world of politics you can twist words to mean the reverse of what the speaker intended.

[@Xanderbelle]

Sinn Fein promise anything and everything. Rainbows and lollipops for everyone.

[@zeppirl]

Earned there badge as politicians so.

[@DavinaOConnor-r4j]

​​​​​​​​​@@zeppirlWolfgang Priklopils for all Natasha kampushs too...and the whole silience of lambs movies carachters...wow aren't them lollipops and sparkles great..huck too Sinn Fein🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮.. bringing in all them crows too..like what cookoos do to everyone else's nests...and vultures and piranhas

[@zeppirl]

@user-np6iy3lq1h Where you drunk replying to this ?. You ok huh?.

[@Toirneachta]

Examples please.

[@roymunson1]

Hijabs too

[@editorrbr2107]

Spoiler: It’s **not** Ukrainian war refugees that are the issue. I do not understand why TLDR just flat-out refuses to say what is plainly in front of their face…or even listen to the people out in the streets - the Irish people’s problem with immigration is largely not temporary war refugees from a Christian nation in central Europe. And you damned well know it.

[@johndorney7812]

bingo

[@adityaxt]

Dude this is ridiculous. Hundered thousand refugees in a country of 5 million is absolutely the issue. Are you American or British? The amount of propaganda is ridiculous in this comment section

[@ThomasPatrick-mg3wl]

Exactly the middle east and Africa illegal immigrants are the problem

[@zoltan-zq3xe]

100%

[@manifestman132]

Yep its those damn Canadians coming here taking our women and our jobs.

[@comradedawid5292]

I'm saying this as Polish immigrant from 2007, Ireland needs to stop with the mass immigration.

[@derekmcmanus8615]

Please form a sentence containing the words pot kettle and black

[@barryahern6645]

Well said

[@raykennedy-k8o]

This crowd want you out too. You do realise that? They are not your friends.

[@comradedawid5292]

@@raykennedy-k8o I do not care because i've seen how mass migration has made Ireland a much shittier country to live in. I don't give a fuck about how they whine and complain, i work pay my taxes and plan on moving back to Poland (and most Polis ppl do, because we migrate for work not welfare) anyway since Ireland ruined it's self, and it continuing to do so

[@ilovefacebookandebay]

You can make a start then by going home.

[@TheSayk]

Guys i love the videos, but the intro sound tracks are WAYYYYYYYYY too loud (0:45). This has been going on for a long time. Pls fix it and make it just slightly louder than the rest of the video and if u can't do that reliably, just make it the same volume with the rest. Pls.

[@benjaminsciberras111]

I second this motion

[@JasonAtlas]

I disagree. I think it's hilarious.

[@gregvanpaassen]

The sound is off generally. The voice sounds a lot better during the ad for Brilliant than in the main piece.

[@dubliam8064]

Local and EU politics is more of a popularity contest for candidates. Midlands Northwest literally elected a jockey who had no campaign just because people knew her name. We haven't seen any national polls since this but I do imagine there will be a dent

[@cal1787]

Exactly, some people in my family voted a woman simply for the county she was from

[@Pancakelover969]

Aren’t all elections not just a popularity contest 🤦‍♂️

[@stasikapetanos1395]

​@Pancakelover969 yeah but they are not usually personal popularity contests that's the difference between local and national politics

[@stasikapetanos1395]

This happened last time to where SF went down after the Euros because they don't have a clear position on it but surged for the national election. The same will likely happen again with the economy and housing front and centre but from a stronger starting base. Compared to the rest of the left in Ireland SF is doing far better and is more dominant than ever. Fianna Fail could be a bit of a challenge to them if Michael Martin is shipped off to Europe tho.

[@TheLoughDuck55]

@@dubliam8064 SF needs to get cuter about running celebrity candidates in the EU elections. They probably could have gotten a seat in MNW if they were smarter about it and ran someone who actually lives in the EU.

[@Ceiteach.O.Duibhir]

The last year SF have shown to be no different than the FFG pact

[@annagilda1]

If successive governments here in Ireland had actually cared about housing and the worsening crisis in the past, immigration would be a way smaller issue than it has become.

[@oldsenpai4337]

Perhaps your right but housing an issue around the world and any immigration is viewed as "oh more people coming here to take what little housing our country has at the moment". Housing cost too much and renting feels like your paying for a house but owning nothing.

[@daraorourke5798]

This is true. But they feed off division even as they wring their hands....

[@partlyawesome]

@@oldsenpai4337 It's not an issue everywhere though, only places that have made it basically policy to stop building houses.

[@annagilda1]

@@daraorourke5798 yep.

[@rod9829]

No lol

[@shaneryan7622]

I come from quite a liberal background when it comes to immigration, however through my family and friends it’s completely switched. I would’ve never even considered immigration a problem a few years back, now it’s up there with housing. It’s sad really, all we as Irish people want is honesty from our government, they are divisive and secretive because they know the Irish people are still susceptible to generational trauma in regard to these issues. That also won’t change is Sinn Féin go into government and I believe that’s why the % has fallen too. It’s become a populist party. we have 100k Ukrainians in Ireland, they get 800 euro rent allowance, medical cards and now free university from our government, which the Irish public now have to pay for. While everyone else (Irish or not) have to pay the highest fees in the EU. It’s unfair and divisive which has turned Irish people quite aggressive and hostile especially in working class/middle income areas. Irish people want equality for all, and it stems from British rule and generational trauma from years of occupation and oppression. It’s a very touchy subject. Ireland is still 90% Irish but we look at Britain, France, Sweden, Netherlands and we just believe our culture and language has already been decimated from the get go, we just don’t want to lose anymore of that.

[@greyfells2829]

The Ukrainians are at least European and Christian.

[@shaneryan7622]

@@greyfells2829 we’ve noticed, when the polish came they intergrated so well, we really thought it would be similar..no hahahaha

[@maureenurquhart]

👏👏👏👏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@Prodrive1]

Well said but one correction, the native Irish are now only 76% of the population as IRL now has 1.1 million non nationals. Massive problem.

[@predabot__6778]

@@shaneryan7622 Why would you say the Ukrainians are not integrating, if I may ask? On paper, the cultural differences are less dramatic than from non-European countries -- they can even relate to your struggle for independence from a larger, imperialist neighbour -- hell, even the MASSIVE FAMINE that still mars the Irish soul was even more recently recreated in Ukraine, by the Russians.

[@charlesdion1756]

That joke at the end was killer well done!

[@paddyjoe1884]

What about rishi moving to California? Whatever gave u that idea ? 😂

[@Androrac]

She looks so cute with those glasses

[@danieldeburgh8437]

At 3:23 you could’ve just said ‘opposition’. There is no official opposition or lead of the opposition in Ireland.

[@bigbear5844]

Omg TL:DR finally mentioned immigration. Great job guys!

[@beanz6228]

They have done a hell of a lot of videos on immigration and mention it in most videos lmao. What are you talking about

[@tiglishnobody8750]

@@beanz6228 He must be under the rock

[@yarpen26]

When you push out about a fifty new videos on "Why [insert European nation's citizens] are shifting to the right?" and "The rise of the far fight in [insert European nation] EXPLAINED" videos every week, it's kind of hard to keep silent on immigration, no?

[@krispyier]

Please move the microphone. It's very distracting. Even tilting it so it's more perpendicular would take up less visual space without moving it away from the speaker.

[@Ludraman_]

Everyone in Ireland either votes for the worst party or doesn't vote at all

[@cruzgomes5660]

😂

[@tiglishnobody8750]

@@cruzgomes5660 What so funny?

[@travisdejong2354]

Sounds like the US

[@jacobite2353]

@@tiglishnobody8750 I think the joke is how similar and dominant Fine Gael and Fianna Fail were.

[@tiglishnobody8750]

@@jacobite2353 i see

[@noeldoyle4501]

Thanks for your helpful information.

[@jonavonyeo5744]

Hi, excellent video!

[@frankcarty]

SF have learned that when you are a populist party, it just takes one highly devisive issue to split your vote.

[@marcusmaher-triskellionfil5158]

They have simply dropped the ball, they didn't read the room, they didn't see the majority of working class people don't want undocumeted migration, their silence at the 90k Ukranians came in, plus thousands of others and their silence on these very relevant issues has caused a backlash, the referendum was the cherry on top.

[@madgavin7568]

Its the biggest problem with the political Left these days; they are utterly silent on the issues of immigration. They chose to pretend the issue doesn't exist.

[@editorrbr2107]

The Ukrainians aren’t spiking crime - 63.9% of violent offenses from 2016-present have been committed by non-Irish foreign nationals. This effect began almost as soon as Merkel destabilized the continent, and ramped up after Sinn Fein took power.

[@donfalcon1495]

They haven’t changed. Bizarrely many Sinn Fein supporters assumed Sinn Fein were anti immigration. When Sinn Fein made it clear that they’re not blindly anti immigration many supporters deserted them. The blindly anti-immigration cohort is relatively small in the real world while somehow dominant online!

[@internethardcase]

@@donfalcon1495 just wrong. most people do not want to be replaced in their own nations. its a natural and just feeling

[@donfalcon1495]

@@internethardcase the replacement thing is just a conspiracy theory. Nobody is replacing anyone!

[@casinodelonge]

Very good summary of the position here as I see it. They are likely to poll better at a general election though, if they sort out their strategy.

[@Gallalad1]

Alongside all the other points mentioned in the comments its also worth noting there's a group of voters who just jump from party to party. From the PDs to PBP to SF. There's always a new hot thing to vote for every cycle.

[@fintonmainz7845]

People jumped from PD to SF. Sure...

[@Gallalad1]

@@fintonmainz7845 moreso there's always been people who jump to a protest party. Not everyone who went to the PDs went to the PBP and not everyone who went to the SF. But I have seen several people who follow this same old trend.

[@fintonmainz7845]

@@Gallalad1 who went from PD to SF? You're living in a dream world

[@Gallalad1]

@@fintonmainz7845 not directly no. But yes, I saw several people go from the PDs to independents and PBP/AAA. Later there was a jump from the PBP to SF. That's the facts lad, if you dont like that I dont know what to tell you.

[@fintonmainz7845]

@@Gallalad1 What a load of drivel. You stated that people went from PD to SF. That did not happen. Your ego won't allow you to admit your mistake.

[@mikeokeeffe6644]

To reach the conclusion that the recent local and European election results in Ireland, show an accurate picture of the support for any one of the main political parties shows a lack of understanding for how local politics actually works in Ireland, where voting generally will not follow along party lines but rather on parochial lines i.e. voting for your local councillor irrespective of what party they represent. When it will get to the forthcoming general election it may well be a completely different story

[@paddyddrunkpoet7967]

Sinn Féin INCREASED has their support in all four of the last elections, north and south.

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

You got a like straight away for the headline.

[@rod9829]

Sinn Fein is a “left wing” anti imperialism party, so it was left flat footed when its grass roots working class base developed right wing views on immigration

[@geraldneary]

True.

[@AlfieDavie]

You got that wrong

[@ctid107]

Definitely think McDonald is part of the problem. Michelle ONeill, the leader here in the North, is polling as more popular in the South than Mary Lou.

[@shutup2751]

Mary Lou is a privately educated woman from posh South Dublin, not sure how they though appointing her president of a party that calls itself party of the working class was a good idea

[@shaneryan7622]

I won’t lie I’d rather see her as the republics leader than MLMCD. O’Neill seems like a real person who really came from nothing

[@eddy66t6]

Mary Lou is a former FF'er who realised she was going nowhere with them...just another drop in the toilet bowl with them. She was selected purely on gender when they had Pearse and Eoin right there.

[@holdenennis]

Maybe they should make Gerry Adams leader again.

[@gerrytyrrell1507]

Eeeeehhhh you mean Miss Piggy

[@micktorrans8123]

They have also the unfortunate unintended consequences of getting them selves government ready, and promising change for a few years, which has made people see them as another establishment party who havent delivered.

[@BatTaz19]

You betray your base, you pay the price.

[@tantraman93]

Thanks!

[@daraorourke5798]

Oh . Sinn Féins vote share is up 2.3% on the last European election. They have gained seats in locals and European elections. Not a stellar performance but hardly a melt down. The Greens and other government parties are in more trouble. But don't let the facts etc...

[@user-pu4ro7hm6p]

Oh dome on man 2 years ago SF was polling as high as FG and FF combined! In these elextions they got 1/4 of that, only how half as big as them individually

[@rod9829]

This is silly, the government has maintained their majority, the video is not about the greens. The video is about how SF were polling very highly to then losing this advantage. Which was explained reasonably well in the video!

[@Nameymcnamename]

Sinn Féins vote share in the locals is still down from 2014 lol

[@PeterFlanagan0987]

Ah here they obviously were going to have a harder time making gains at local level but they got ten percent less than they even got in 2020 if you added the three percent swing or so they recieved vs 2019 (also then considered a terrible election for them) they’d get a measly 27% nowhere near close to getting in govt

[@Penfold-8521]

Very diplomatic of you when covering immigration to mention the 100,000 Ukrainians and not the all the others that are causing most of the problems.

[@bishopbrennan3558]

Pronunciation of 'Taoiseach' was quite good, which is refreshing to see in non-Irish media.

[@forgetful9845]

This commentator has good pronunciation

[@casinodelonge]

Ah, Irelands Tea Shop (its Bewleys on Grafton St)

[@brianmurphy2004]

Very attractive presentation. We'll done! In the Irish Parliament the Dail, we effectively have a UNI-PARTY. Sinn Fein's position on all the key issues is 'they would be more efficient' in implementing policy, housing immigration etc. and not opposition to the policies themselves which amount to full-on Globalist Structures ASAP .... effectively dissolving the Nation State.

[@TheGreatSteve]

I like this presenter.

[@nautilusshell4969]

"Can't please all its voters" and not "can't please all it's voters".

[@gottmituns813]

Next year we will see it, I don't see the decline anywhere.

[@baldcuts5977]

then you are blind, party of traitors

[@adriancurtin6012]

Very informative.

[@bikkiikun]

I wouldn't call it a decline, but simply consolidation.

[@ridingin7856]

I only clicked this to find out if I've been pronouncing Sinn Fein correctly

[@thetreelander7378]

and was you?

[@Ghiyggnutredgjoo]

I always called it "Sin Finn"

[@MrManBuzz]

Two phonetically similar English words would be "Shin feign" . That's the way you pronounce it.

[@ridingin7856]

@@thetreelander7378 I pronounced as Shin Fine, close enough

[@shaneryan7622]

@@ridingin7856níl sé ceart :/

[@stephenclark9917]

"political wing" not "Public wing".

[@eddy66t6]

Its almost as if you cant keep telling people what they want to hear and expect no one to realise some of it is mutually exclusive.

[@senwal422]

I really don't think immigration is above housing,I think maybe they're both linked but most people are worried they'll be homeless at the end of the year

[@TheLoughDuck55]

@@senwal422 among young people housing is absolutely above immigration but among middle aged-older voters, immigration is the issue right now

[@InaEsin]

Compulsory "sales" to house them, it will be a problem that definitely mingles the two.

[@captainshakesbeard2453]

@@TheLoughDuck55 Leftists tend to believe that immigrants don't take up housing.

[@amh9494]

They're linked.

[@amh9494]

​@@InaEsinalong with supply and demand of course

[@ShaneGannon55555]

Irish voter here there's a few things untouched on here. 1. In the last year SF have increasingly supported issues in line with the incumbent government and then subsequently backtracked and done a 180 when their polling numbers went down. (Hate speech bill, migration policies, the mentioned referenda). This has led to voters seeing them as shills who will say whatever they need to, in order to retain / gain more power. 2. The party had it's roots in Nationalism and the idea of an independant Ireland, but increasingly post-covid they have started to seem more globalist / pro-EU, leading to a lot of their grassroots voters abandoning them. 3. Sinn Feinn post 2008 have receiced many votes as an alternative to the stagnant status quo as more of a vote against the incumbent parties instead of a vote for SF. However as they've shifted further left their stance on many policies are virtually the same as FG, the main center left party. 4. Over the last decade they've moved increasingly away from the working class and completely abandoned them in favor of younger left wing voters. This has left working class people & conservatives without a party to vote for, leading to a huge increase in grassroots independants and several new conservative parties being founded in the last decade (Aontu, IFP, Independant Ireland & the National Party).

[@dr.zoidberg8666]

Being pro-working class & anti-capitalist class is the definition of "leftwing." It seems like this was a long way to say SF has become more rightwing & people feel frustrated that there is no electoral escape from the grip of neoliberal capitalism.

[@ShaneGannon55555]

@@dr.zoidberg8666 Don't know where all the capitalist stuff came from but no SF have moved further and further left on every issue since 08. Used to be anti austerity nationalist, now they're just another left wing globalist party.

[@geraldneary]

Good.

[@fitzstv8506]

None of the parties mentioned in the latter part of your comment have made any serious traction with the Irish electorate!. Sinn Fein have moderated their narrative because they had to other wise they would be completely unelectable, most voters are not dumb they are not going to vote for a party that could make them poorer or introduce legislation that would be to their detriment. When Sinn Fein decided to be a main stream political party they had to adopt policy that suited majority main stream Irish society which is essentially the hard working mortgage or rent paying people of Ireland.

[@fishyq5077]

"In order to retain / gain more power." - They are not in power, and have never been in power in the 26 counties. Just saying 'in order to gain power' would have been accurate.

[@tayztor]

This aged well

[@cormacmacdonncha1052]

Good analysis - well done!

[@samuela-aegisdottir]

Looking at the graph at 3:34, its seems to me that the support that Sinn Féin lost did not go to the governing parties but to the grey "Ind.+others" cathegory, which would be the third strongest party if it was a party, surrpasing FF and getting close to FG and SF. A new video with a deep dive into where this quickly rising group of independent candidates' popularity comes from would be interesting.

[@beaglaoich4418]

Our independents are usually ex larger parties and usually always anti establishment types. Yet often they’ll trade their votes for at best the odd backscratcher of money etc for their constituency so that they can say they went to Dublin and won. If you imagine the DUP’s relationship with Westminster with them asking for money for votes and constantly railing against the government that’s pretty much what most of these are like. They usually are either a strong personal brand long established like a family of politicians in Kerry where pretty much the family name gets them elected or they’re opportunistic protest votes when people are pissed off at the main parties but don’t like the alternatives.

[@eoinharrington2692]

The main cause of Sinn Fein's seemingly bad results were low turnout, particularly in urban areas and among younger voters (i.e. SF's main support bases) so the people who actually turned up to vote in the local and European elections were older, rural and wealthier voters who generally favour the right anyway. In the immigration issues, it probably won't hurt the party too much in a general election, as housing becomes the main focus during the campaign. Local government isn't really responsible for housing, so that issue wasn't really on the ballot, and the nature of European elections means that immigration is naturally more in focus, your own graph in the video shows that the importance of the issue declined hugely a few months after the riots in Dublin and it was really the election that brought it back into focus. Also worth noting that a lot of Irish people vote on personality over parties or issues (especially in second order elections) the coalition parties had more incumbent councillors who largely got reelected off their own personal popularity in their local areas, which SF didn't have. Alongside that in the EP election fg and ff ran several celebrities as candidates which attracted votes from people who just know/like the candidate rather than the party. Even with all of those things though, the coalition parties have their worst combined results ever, and fg didn't even over perform the polls despite shifted turnout demographics, so if anything that's a bad sign for them.

[@amh9494]

😂 you ignore why they didn't turnout I live the cope.

[@od9694]

I agree but voters who only show up every second election aren't good voters, I reckon there is a good chance the next election will be electric picnic weekend and sf could be badly hurt by young people not showing up

[@eoinharrington2692]

@@amh9494 they didn't turn out because it's a second order election, and young people in particular don't show up to those normally?

[@eoinharrington2692]

@@od9694 I didn't say they only show up every second election, I said they don't show up for second order elections (as in not main general elections), these things generally have lower turnout because they have less power and therefore voting in them doesn't do much, there are large segments of voters who consistently vote in general elections (first order elections) and so are reliable in this area, but also don't vote in local elections. Even if you map the local election results directly onto a general election, what you get is ff and fg falling short of a majority and probably having to rely on independents to govern, which would be incredibly unstable and unpopular with many of their own voters, while also providing the opposition with the opportunity to form some sort of alliance as it may be seen as the only way to actually finally get a left wing government.

[@daraorourke5798]

Good post. In the General election it will be the government versus Sinn Féin. A lot of the cranks and single issue candidates will be squeezed out

[@BernadetteCassidy-e8o]

i believe that the sinn fein vote was up 2.3 per cent while fg and ff where down about the same how is a rise a collaspe?

[@eointarps]

Fine Gaels change of leadership gamble has definitely paid off, looking at the polls

[@SeamusOCleirigh2002]

I have no clue how! Sinn Féin are no miracle workers and the shift to the right is very concerning, but so many of the key issues we have are directly linked to FF and FG! The 2 parties have ruled ireland with almost identical policies for a century, I rlly hope we get a change and soon, hopefully that change is a progressive, left-wing and socialist coalition led by sinn féin

[@PeterFlanagan0987]

@@SeamusOCleirigh2002 ah Harris is very good at the aul sound bite tbf to him

[@eddy66t6]

​​@@SeamusOCleirigh2002there's something you should know: ireland is Right Wing...regardless of what people tell you or what you think. We are progressive on some issues but frankly on the core issues, Irish voters are right wing to a fault. For example, At the end of the day the housing crisis is being caused by homeowners...who are also voters...and Sinn Feins policies on housing will detrimentally affect them through the value of their homes. So of course they won't vote for them.

[@roryd1888]

@@eddy66t6you’re right. Majority of Irish people are very conservative but the rise of far right is concerning. Your point about home owners is 100% correct, I see this in people I know and what’s worse is that their children and still living at home as adults. I find it hard to comprehend why a parent would prioritise the value of their own home (which they never intend to sell) over the prospects of their own children owning a home. Why would they want their children to own houses when they are 35 instead of 25 and be able to start families?

[@fitzstv8506]

Fine Gael traditionally appealed to old school wealthy rural and urban voters with Fianna Fail absorbing most of the rest....these days Fine Gael retains their old base but now also appeals to the new generation of rather sophisticated well paid Latte drinking SUV driving types that people the towns and cities of Ireland, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein absorb most of the rest with left wing parties on the fringes.

[@allthenewsordeath5772]

Maybe Ireland should try actually having political parties that have differing positions on major issues, who was it who said that the two main parties are two cheeks of the same ars?

[@crazychicSHENA]

Sinn Féin has not kept it's promise of Ireland first and taken more of the E.U.stance 😮.

[@peterincork3121]

That's a fair summary. I think there was a poll around March which showed 52% of their base was anti immigrant and that largely accounted for their long term support, as opposed to the new young people who had been attracted by their housing rhetoric. This made young people look a little closer and didn't like what they saw. As you alluded to, they are a one issue party, a UI, but if you live in the Republic of Ireland you wouldn't know it, as they talk about anything else apart from that, down here. This is the same party that slams the government on homelessness while objecting to 13,000 new housing unit in the last 5 years. Worse, they tried to slow walk the new Planning Bill going through the Dail until the government had enough of their carry on.

[@Javadamutt]

Should also be noted that there was a very strong establishment push in the media. In the months before the elections the number of "hit" peices targeting Sinn Fein dramatically increased. Understandbly if they are going to take control then this sort of thing and digging is to be expected but personally I have never seen it for an opposition party over the incombant government.

[@jontalbot1]

Another intellectual giant who imagines people do not share their views because of the ‘establishment’ and the ‘media’.

[@Javadamutt]

@@jontalbot1 oh a lot of people share my views. Just not all support one party as most of the time the details are in the implementation of the solution. As for Sinn Fein, I'm anti Sinn Fein and don't see their policies as the solution to the problems. I also see them as populist rather than pragmatic in what they propose which is easy when your in opposition to sit and say "they're doing it wrong". So yes, a large portion of their voter base is due to anti-establishment view points. It would be stupid and naive to think they would campaign on "more of the same in a different shade of green please" As for one specific view, people of Ireland are sick of the Fail/Gael swing yet they remain in power implementing the same policies that led to all the problems. We can debate endlessly about what ifs of Sinn Fein policies and if Sinn Fein would be "change" but one thing is clear....Fail/Gael are not held in positive opinion despite victories. My comment was pointing to the fact (and I made no comment on my opinion of the matter) that on the cusp of potential change, a notable uptick in negative news pieces was observed for Sinn Fein. After so long of the same duopoly and for the reasons above it is certainly interesting

[@jontalbot1]

@@Javadamutt Instead of imagining yourself an advocate for the people, why don’t you try getting to know a few - who you will quickly discover do not think like you at all?

[@LordDoof]

@@jontalbot1 Oh lord, the media is biased because the media is bought out by interests. That's not rocket science and they do push narratives. It's not a valid excuse to say 'this is why I lost' but it is a real phenomenon.

[@j377yb33n]

@@jontalbot1 I don't know this guy, but there definitely has been a media soft touch on the right and center right parties, and a scrutiny bordering on slander for sinn féin and even the left wing parties that don't side with them

[@Parasmunt]

Don't rule out the Simon Harris effect, Varadkar was a disaster, Harris is media savvy, softly spoken, goes on about empathy etc, Vicky Phelan... female voters eat that crap up.

[@nathanaelsmith3553]

Best logo in politics

[@AfroGaz71]

Sinn Fein read the room wrong, and then blamed everybody else when things started to go pear shaped. As well as their stance on immigration, they fully supported the referendum and the much reviled "hate speech" law proposals, but flip flopped on both when their popularity started to wane. They mistakingly thought they could pander to a new audience whilst relying on their core base to just accept these "progressive" shifts, that just so happen to align with the current parties in power. Not the best plan considering how unpopular those parties have become.

[@liamhenry3025]

I think you’ve got the origins of Sinn Fein wrong here. The modern Sinn Fein is categorically not a successor to the original Sinn Fein. Actually, both of the other main parties ARE actually successors as a result of the splits you described. Modern Sinn Fein began 50 odd years ago and took the name. They took the name for optics and as a reference to the independence campaign 100 years ago

[@Runboyrun89]

What is odd is that SF started off as a monarchist party..:

[@Frankywoody]

Wrong, even though SF slided into political irrelevancy in the late 1920s their organisational structure remained intact. There is a contiguous succession of Sinn Fein leaders from Eamonn de Valera to Gerry Adams.

[@paradoxmo]

New character unlocked

[@shubhaamgokko1361]

5:52 why are they putting flags of a bunch of western countries and India on a poster on the top left of the screen in a protest against immigration?

[@yansen1568]

Maybe they're opposed to immigration from those countries?

[@Ghiyggnutredgjoo]

Lmao, they couldn't tell the Italian flag from Indian flag 😂😂

[@gerarddias1]

@@yansen1568 they also have the Irish flag on there! plus, how many Australians are moving to Ireland vs how many Irish are in Australia?

[@ALITAARMY]

I hope you do a "video" on their 3.8 % vote increase in the British Westminster elections in the north of Ireland!

[@carolcooks1208]

You mean Northern Ireland

[@ALITAARMY]

@@carolcooks1208 The ones who agree with it call it that.

[@fishyq5077]

@@carolcooks1208 No, they mean the north of Ireland, the bit that the British kept as a colony against the democratic wishes of the Irish people. There has never been a majority of Irish people in favour of partition, it was imposed by a foreign empire.

[@Burito-tj5ry]

One day the european left will understand being against deregulated migration isnt "racist" and this day the far right will lose a lot of its attractiveness.

[@toyotaprius79]

It's not deregulated migration. It's a deregulated/free-market and unplanned service economy that runs on migrants workers.

[@Hujhjgffw]

I dont think so, the far right will just keep moving the goal post until they get their ethnostate that they are always yapping on about.

[@Approfondissement]

This happened in Denmark already. Now the left is winning there.

[@toyotaprius79]

​@@Hujhjgffwexactly. And the center right will always coalesse with fascist politics to stay in power. Such as the Tories.

[@bloodwargaming3662]

​@@siegfried19888same

[@carolcooks1208]

Their guns are always in the wardrobe, waiting to come out

[@robingill9940]

and now they're back...what do you know... a week IS a long time in politics

[@Bix21-z3f]

SF's problem as an opposition party is that they did not oppose!!

[@davedooney8473]

The 2020 general election was very much a protest vote against the ruling parties not necessarily a vote of support for SF however local and general elections are two very different things in Ireland, in local elections people vote more for the person than the party. SF will likely still do very well in the next general election as people want a change of government but only if they can put forward policies of HOW exactly they are going to build more houses when the current government is already throwing billions at it, SF are big on message but very light on details!

[@fitzstv8506]

A Sinn Fein Government in Ireland would face the same issues and constraints as the current Government the only real difference would be in the personalities involved!. Ireland despite the housing and healthcare crises is doing rather well and it will ultimately overcome those issues no matter who is in power but by then there will be other crises and the cycle will continue....this is life!.

[@jot2369]

No it wont rent is up and wont fall until massive economic downturn and then everyone will be crying and acting like their was no solution

[@andrewboland1062]

Turned their back on the Irish people. I never voted in since I became an adult, but in 2020, I gave it a go, they got my vote, but now they've stopped helping the Irish, I still sometimes think they might start helping but a lot of people feel like theyve betrayed them, so the trust is gone

[@shutup2751]

SF's traditional support base was drawn from rural and working class areas, in recent years though they have begun peddling more progressive identity politics in an attempt to win votes of more upper class people such as well off university types who call themselves republicans as a sort of fashion statement almost, which in turn has alienated a lot of their traditional base

[@tiglishnobody8750]

traditional base is kind of dying otherwise we wouldn't legalized same-sex marriage by popular vote

[@shutup2751]

@@tiglishnobody8750 same-sex marriage is nowhere near as big as concern to people as open borders

[@tiglishnobody8750]

@@shutup2751 You just talking about traditional base

[@User-qf2ex]

As if the leaders of 1916 weren’t well off university types…

[@shutup2751]

@@User-qf2ex in touch with people at the time though, now it is the opposite

[@upmayo100]

Just a footnote: Fine Gael and Fianna Fail also trace their roots to the Sinn Fein of 1919

[@jonfallis305]

doesn't sinn fein translate into "we ourselves"........how does that work with immigration

[@Ohaodhatirfothuinn]

These days they are heading for “All Alone” they are losing support that fast!!🤣👍🏻

[@King_Cova]

Mary Lou is the problem. Pearse Doherty should be ruling the party.

[@6Tghma]

Mary Lou wearing a hijab and speaking at a Muslim meeting was a massive middle finger to their core supporters and majority in Ireland.

[@umerbsr]

How?

[@6Tghma]

@@umerbsr most people are against Islam and it's Draconian teachings. Constant terror attacks around the world in the name of islam is pissing people off

[@goose9515]

Muslim Irish people are just as Irish as Protestant Irish people, or Catholic Irish People. You're just racist

[@goose9515]

Muslim Irish people are just as Irish as Protestant Irish people, or Catholic Irish People. You're just racist

[@maverick7291]

They just know who's going to be the new majority living in Ireland so be quiet and go out with your "partner" and walk your dog , while we take care of our country.

[@samwaters1556]

The brilliant plug was hilarious

[@mjr_schneider]

From an outsider perspective, it seems to me that a big problem with Irish politics is that it doesn’t have a coherent party system. The two traditional parties, FG and FF, occupy the exact same vaguely neoliberal centrist position and Sinn Fein is a left wing populist party, but all three appear to be equally socially liberal and pro-immigration. It seems like the kind of environment that’s ripe for the emergence of a right-wing populist party.

[@RobespierreThePoof]

There's really no chance of a right-wing populist party gaining traction in the Republic of Ireland.

[@michaelbarry8277]

Wow really impressed with your grasp of the Irish local and European elections. Think Sinn Fein need to regroup. They've been an accident waiting to happen trying to be a catch all party like FF 30 years ago. They never saw the immigration issue coming to bite them amongst their working class base. Also, their constant negativity about the country makes them seem jaded and tired with the young voters.

[@lawLess-fs1qx]

that's a lot of words. Brits out, Africans in is more succinct. Housing and immigration are 2 sides of the same coin.

[@bribee6652]

Just to clarify for all the millions dollars that are sent over to Ireland from USA to Sinn Fein ,They are not the everyday Irish people s party ????

[@johnmccarron3628]

As a NI person from Derry, I can see SF overtaking the DUP in NI but the party taking a less ambitious strategy in the next dail elections due to their repeat poor performance in local and EU elections, though more ambitious than their last dail elections so they could possibly still be the main governing party. Although with Simon Harris being a strong campaigner this could be more of a challenge in the south (republic)

[@tiglishnobody8750]

DUP are useless anyway in Northern Ireland who can't just even move on and wondering why they didn't have any of Youth voter

[@lambhdeargh]

Sinn Fein, are a northern party that has received support from southern Irish people, to think outside of our box, thus making it their box!

[@StevenMorris-g4e]

As an Irish voter, the reason that Sinn Fein has lost support is because there is a perception among many Irish people that the incumbent parties (Fine Gael and Fianna Fail) have done SOME things to fix the problems that we are suffering as a country (they need to do more on housing) and all Sinn Fein do is cry about how terrible things are but offer no solutions. Mary Lou doesn't help either.

[@MrManBuzz]

What the hell have FFG done to help me get a house? Absolutely NOTHING. Give your head a wobble.

[@Ronnet]

​@@MrManBuzzhe literally said they need to do more on housing... Maybe give your own head a wobble?

[@eointarps]

@@MrManBuzzcry more, i think the coalition is doing a bit better now, and are being dragged down by the greens

[@MrManBuzz]

@@Ronnet They've done nothing on housing. And they never will. The elephant in the room is their voter base wants house prices to stay high because they already own houses, and FFG know this. "hey we'll implement policies that'll effectively crash the price of your home, vote for us" That's never happening.

[@tiglishnobody8750]

@@Ronnet Like they been saying when they are in power before 2020?

[@Parasmunt]

Some people are so stupid they would probably reward FG for the 14 billion even though Irish people won't see a penny of it and fought hard to ensure Ireland didn't get it.

[@KonradAdenauerJr]

Schadenfreude at Sinn Fein's expense.

[@GorgyCL]

Savage Brilliant Ad :O

[@lucasjames7524]

5:30 Sinn Fein "cannot please all it is voters," in un-contracted form? Aren't the Brits supposed to be better at grammar & spelling?

[@patrickquinlan3056]

I listened to that section several times. She didn't say that. Maybe you have the timing wrong.

[@gargargargar]

@@patrickquinlan3056They’re talking about the text on the screen. It should be its, not it’s.

[@patrickquinlan3056]

@@gargargargar It'sw a typo. See, I just made one. In any case, what is the 5:30 all about?

[@sanpotkins4705]

All the toughness against Britain....

[@stiofain88]

Britain all tough against Germany but can't stop grooming gangs doing whatever they want to their kids.....

[@stol8868]

5:35 "Ireland is full" is a slogan of the furthest right in Irish politics. The extremes which won next to no votes in even the local elections, and who are linked to the burning of buildings earmarked to house migrants. It should not be depicted as something even remotely mainstream within any voter base. Its use feels careless or unknowing here, and subtracts from what is otherwise a decent explainer for those outside of Irish politics.

[@senwal422]

Don't forget a huge amount of their funding comes from far right English groups

[@rod9829]

Miss reading the situation I think

[@barryb90]

@@senwal422 Gob-shite comments like this and the new breed of neoliberal Shinners cost them. There is literally no evidence of what you say. If you have no issue with British security and contractors in Clonmel, don't be spouting that rubbish. I've seen this parroted online for months now. Why would British Unionists have a vested interest in supporting a more homogenous Irish Society? That makes no bloody sense. Apparently I'm far-right, in league with loyalists because I took issue with the Govt dumping an IPAS centre on my doorstep and it being down the road from a school and crèche of which I've family in. Quite a number of the protesters were former Sinn Féin supporters. Two of them were even at the hunger strike marches and the burning of the British embassy

[@tiglishnobody8750]

Ireland is full when we have more people before Great Famine than we ever have and how many people before it enough to make Ireland full?

[@HowardJack-oj5bo]

Sinn Fein in Ireland isn't declining thou, I have heard a lot of people say that they voted for the one who has done the best for the local community in the local election, which is how I voted too. I'm pretty sure if you remove the political party angle of the local elections, the results would of been the same

[@Joe-rf3mv]

They also underperformed in EU elections. SF is losing its anti-immigration wing of base, who initially mainly supported SF as it was simply an alternative. Despite SF being a rather progressive party for the past decade. Quite frankly, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing in the long run. A progressive party having far right people voting for it isn’t a good look. It would likely remain top 3 party in Ireland as the main left leaning party.

[@greenslider]

They've become the stereotypical "say no to everything" party rather than engaging in positive politics . A syndrome suffered by opposition parties in times when government have limited fiscal and economic options and the public can see that. Furthermore, their gradual shift to centre has homogenised them

[@dairreagh6468]

We're not doing this. It's silly to put out a video that brings up their increase in dail seats and only 1 EU/council election. In 2019, right before they had their historic general election result in 2020, they had historic defeats. They went from 3! MEPs to 1, and their councillors fell from 160 to 80, literally halved! And it annoys me to no end that nobody talks about it. This happened right after marylou took over. Council elections and EU elections are vibes-based and ML doesn't have the vibes for council and eu elections that Gerry Adams did, but she does better in the general. Nothing explains Labour and Soc-Dems coming 4th and 5th in council elections and second last and dead last respectively in EU elections. Nothing! Im not denying there are legitimate reasons for their decline in support. But christ can somebody get a journalist to throw a glance at a wikipedia page please im literally b e g g i n g g g g g

[@beaglaoich4418]

Agreed the stock being put in an election where one sheet is a bunch of borderline nobodies and the fella down the road and the other is a >20 list where even those invested with politics are half forgetting as they fill in is not a great measure of anything That’s also ignoring the fact it’s an election that’s criminally underrespected by a large cohort that’ll only bother their holes appearing for the general and the bigger referendums

[@JD2747]

They hypocrites. You cannot talk about peace and equality but justify their murderous past.

[@00dude3]

Every one of these videos about parties losing support all fall under the main reason - mass immigration and prioritising immigrants over citizens.

[@geraldneary]

True.

[@seankeeney7087]

The Taoiseach has stated that there will be no general election until at least after the Budget is announced in September and likely not until 2025. This may be good for Sinn Féin as the last 2 budgets had a lot of opportunity cost, such as doing little for housing, and with much of what they are doing benefiting landlords and not tenants.

[@PeterFlanagan0987]

Not a chance it’s 2025 imo. Next budget will offer a mix of tax cuts childcare subsidies and grants for businesses farmers and announcements around housing delivery. I reckon it’ll be on the whole a popular budget albeit an election budget. And they’ll go to the country soon after. There might be a manufactured row with the greens to give them all a campaigning message.

[@jckrielesq]

I will say it's dishonest to try to frame the dislike of immigration while emphasising Ukranian refugees. Most anti-immigration issues are not focused on that, trying to frame that as "the reason people care" seems like a smearing tactic.

[@krombopulos_michael]

Refugees are the biggest factor, and by far the biggest number there are Ukranian. There has definitely been a lot of discontent over Ukrainian refugees since 2022 invasion, whether it's over people falsely thinking they're getting preference over Irish people, businesses in tourist towns taking issue with hotels being used to house them and crowding out normal tourism customers, or stuff like helping refugees bring their dogs to Ireland or getting to leave and be allowed to return.

[@samuela-aegisdottir]

What happened between April and May 2024 that the importance of the topic of immigration rose so sharply?

[@shaneoconnor2669]

This video aged like milk Sinn Fein just became the largest party in the north in the general Election

[@ahopefor]

Politics in Northern Ireland and the Republic are almost completely different so a comparison is a waste of time.

[@dodiers2142]

Northern politics is way different from the south. Northerners are tribal and won't vote for anyone other than SF or DUP.

[@ahopefor]

@dodiers2142 I mean that's not really true, the SDLP and Alliance also pick up seats in the North.

[@theredraven]

They stayed on the same number of seats as before and their number of votes went up by only 4%. If you add up all the Unionist MPs (five DUP, one UUP, one TUV and one independent Unionist) and all the nationalists one, the nationalists are ahead by a grand total of one (seven Sinn Fein, two SDLP). Not exactly a landslide.

[@enric-x]

So, this is a COLLAPSE of a party accordding to you? WELCOME to the SENSATIONALISY media space!

[@AlphaHorst]

the word "collapse" exists 0 times in the video. So take your meds mate, you are imagining things again

[@objectdefiance4027]

​@@AlphaHorst Did you read the thumbnail or listen to the introduction when she said "rise and fall"?????

[@withersheep9009]

@@AlphaHorst I mean the thumbnail calls it their collapse?

[@AlphaHorst]

@@objectdefiance4027 "RISE AND FALL" CONTAINS COLLAPSE 0 TIMES like get real mateand the Thumbnail of mine says "Rise and fall" so wtf are you on about? Also thumbnails are clickbait and have nothing to do with the content of the video? What a shoker. take your meds

[@AlphaHorst]

@@withersheep9009 mine does not... It has "rise and fall". Maybe they have multiple using youtubes new feature of changing thumbnails?

[@tjmunros]

Very informative. And nice to have a female voice 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@NMY232]

It's unwise to read too much from Local/European election results in Ireland. Sinn Fein is likely to do much better in the General Election, same as the last cycle (did poorly in Locals, did excellent in General). They just need to run their strategy better - running the right number of candidates per constituency.

[@ciaranmac8689]

So you vote for globalists is that right lock down vaccines climate change all the genders is that right just keep going you will do well for your country not.

[@geraldneary]

SF went to queer and lost their nationalist voters.