There has been a minor earthquake in Irish politics in recent days. Republican party Sinn Fein has made a breakthrough into mainstream southern Irish politics. It almost doubled its vote to 17% in municipal polls for the southern state and won more than 20% in the European election.
This was alongside a surge of electoral success from those further to the left and independents.
Overall in the municipal elections in Ireland's south, Sinn Fein won 150 seats and those further left won about 40.
Henry Silke
Henry Silke