Ben Lowry: SF's rise in the Republic slows

Despite the relentless focus on state failures in a bid to justify the terrorism of the Troubles, Sinn Fein's historical association with the IRA probably explains why the party did not make the advances it had been anticipating last week.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Mar 2016, 18:09 BST
Updated 5th Mar 2016, 19:04 BST
Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams casts his vote at polling station in Ravensdale in Co Louth on Friday. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams casts his vote at polling station in Ravensdale in Co Louth on Friday. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams casts his vote at polling station in Ravensdale in Co Louth on Friday. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Its vote soared on 2011, from 10% to 14%.

But the party was well short of the 20% it had been getting in some of the pre-election polls.

Given that fringe or protest parties are doing well in the angry environment that is apparent across the western world, Sinn Fein could well have polled much better.

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Interventions from people such as Austin Stack, whose prison officer father Brian was murdered by the IRA, are still doing the party damage in the Republic.

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Ben Lowry: Like it or not, power at Stormont has helped sanitise Sinn Fein in the Republic

Ben Lowry; Cameron in NI cut an isolated figure compared to Boris

Related topics:Ben LowrySinn FeinIRA