Sinn Fein support surges in opinion polls as Gerry Adams remains most popular leader

This poll was about political party support, not Gerry Adams or party leadership. The Red C Poll gives Sinn Fein 18%, about equal to the disgraced Fianna Fail party.

ancavker: Maybe Audi-rey was one of the people with hearing problems who sued? But there was worse than that. Maybe Audi-rey will remind me of the details, but I have a memory that Irish "soldiers" who had heard gunfire while on duty in the Lebanon subsequently sued the Irish government for stress! By the way, Audi-rey, your tactic of screaming "IRA" won't work with people who, unlike you, know Irish history. The IRA stopped their campaign in the 1990s, indeed the Good Friday Agreement was in 1998. Yet you say the key factor in that decision was something that happened in 2001! You're an ignorant fool. Truly, recruits for the Irish Free State Army are of of the lowest caliber.

audrey: It was shameful how so many so called Irish soldiers sued the government for alleged hearing loss. Does not say much about the caliber of men and women serving in the defense forces.

Another point I would like to make is that the IRA finally gave up the "cause" after the the tragic deaths of over 3,000 people (including a close relative) in the Twin Towers and Irish Americans realised they had contributed money to terrorism over many years. The UVF/UDA were no better but at least they finally apologised, the IRA never did. There are still people about on both sides who are so bitter they can't move forward. BTW GEORGE WILL YOU STOP BEING HYSTERICAL!! IT DOESN'T SIT WELL ON A MATURE PERSON.

Oh good memory George and mamaginnty! Yes I am still serving in the Irish Army and proud of it. We don't "run around playing solders", we also peacekeep around the world. My ancestors fought (including my grandfathers) to give me this right and to live in peace. Yes I read newspapers every day and know what is going on in the country and abroad. I lived through "the troubles" in Northern Ireland and I am glad they have peace now. This doesn't alter the fact that Adams and his friends killed many people in our name when we did not ask them to do so. THEY WANT TO SEIZE POWER AND DISMANTLE THE REPUBLIC. THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO ACHIEVE THIS! I CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OF AGE AND HAVE NOT CHANGED MY MIND. The point I was making is that the Republic gave up its rights to Northern Ireland under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution until such time as both sides agree to a United Ireland. The majority in the Republic still don't want it, so open your eyes and ears lads! Sinn Finn have little in the matter. As for Adams being an Irish Taoiseach (Prime Mininster) that is about as likely as McGuinness becoming the President. Most people think they are irrelevant. Stop getting annoyed with people who defend the Republic.

Folks should remember that some time ago this poster AudreyBolton told us s/he works in the Irish Army. Actually "works" is the wrong word, since the Oirish Army has no function that I know of. There is no reason for such a body to exist. It's an army that sues the government if its soldiers hear a gunshot or see a dead body. Paying jerks like Bolton to run around playing soldiers is a disgraceful waste of Irish taxpayers' money. I say disband the useless Oirish Army and send their toys to the scrapyard. Every euro spent on paying worthless people like Bolton is a euro wasted. Get a real job and stop playing at toy soldiers, Bolton. I stopped when I was about six. Grow up.

Audreyboltan if you are Irish you should be ashamed, " studied Irish history " and "sick of the past", when your ancestors fought to give you a future. You are definitly not educated when you call people provo's on this page because they might support the Sinn Féin party. The truth is only starting to surface about our Irish history, so when you grow up a bit, then go read about Ireland. You should spend some time reading the newspapers too on government and opposition Parties.

haha GD mellowing le haois a fheiceáil mé, is medicine le cineál, ar a laghad, tá mé macánta agus dúirt postaeir mé d'aois... gaeilge... agus bródúil aisti.

'Sinn Fein--stale Guinnness in new bottles.' Nice one George, although I would add a 'toxic' in there for good measure.

audreybolton: Didn't you tell us you are in the 26 County Army?

Momma Ginnty: "just a bitter old man"---Betcha I ain't half as ancient as you, you old cailleach!

"Adams the most popular leader in Ireland" O please! Where does this info come from? Having encounterd him several times, he is most boring 64-year-old you could meet. He does not understand or know much about the people of the Irish Republic. He is the sort of person you cross the road to avoid. He harps on about a United Ireland when he knows the majority of the people in the Republic don't want it. Myself and most of my friends are 30 or under and have studied Irish history and we're sick of the past and want to live in the present and look to the future however hard it may be. Adams and his ilk belong to the past and if the provos who seem to be on this site don't like, well hard cheese put up with it. The failure of McGuinness to get the Irish Presidency should be a clue to these peoople!! Besides one name that will always dog Adams and his friends JEAN McCONVILLE and all the other unfortunates who got on the wrong side of Sinn Fein/IRA and the standard of "ethics". Mamaginnty, Seanomelbourne and the others are going to be very disappointed waiting for this United Ireland.

Bythebay, 14 seats for SF, Just show's you the impact they have had on the southern part of our country. A few good men/women as they say. Never before has this happened with any other party. The next elections will give them all the seats they need. Martin Mc Guinness has proved a point too, coming into the south and getting such a massive vote when running for president. We will have our country back again, not tomorrow or next year, but a lot sooner than we ever dreamed of, with no war. As for that old git GoergefrigginDillon no matter what comments come up over the months you have had nothing good to say about anything or anyone, you have no Irish blood in you, just a bitter old man with a bully boy attitude.

Seems some serial posters miss conflict in Ulster/Northern Ireland as to engage in perpetual belligerance. Siege mentality will be end of them, and possibly the peace process. Just remember, even the European settlers to the US had to uncircle their wagons at some stage, and to risk getting to know the natives. For those overidentified with the shibboleths of Ulster-Scot folk memory, think of a United Ireland as being like a trip to the dentist. The anticipatory anxiety is invariably worse than the actual experience itself.

George . you have a point . we only have to look at the Girwood project and SF `s participation in Gerry Mandering. 1969 the people took to the streets for civil rights . now its happening again with SF at the wheel. Disgracefull.