The political tectonic plates are shifting in Ireland, with Fianna Fail back as the most popular party according to latest polls.

The polls show Fianna Fail jumping an average of nine points, a dramatic increase, and putting them in the mid-thirties.

It is hardly surprising as Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has been displaying rare political skill and opportunism that has left Fine Gael gasping.

It is clear the Irish electorate has short memories and are content to forget that it was Fianna Fail that almost bankrupted the country and displayed an arrogance in power that led to a groupthink that the Celtic Tiger would roar forever.

The last Irish election was a stalemate with no combination of parties emerging with a clear majority.

A deal was eventually agreed where Fianna Fail agreed to prop up a minority government on an agreed basis, and it is now remarkably clear that Fianna Fail are benefitting more.

They have what amounts to power without responsibility as the party picks and chooses legislation they can back, and Fine Gael have no option but to go along.

With Fine Gael slipping in the polls and Fianna Fail bounding ahead and also taking votes from Sinn Fein, the murmuring is growing louder in Fine Gael about the position of party leader.

Enda Kenny has led Fine Gael for 14 years and been taoiseach for six years.

At this point, it is clear that Kenny fatigue has set in.

The three names circling are Leo Varadkar, Simon Coveney and Frances Fitzgerald. Crunch time will likely come in autumn when a budget is passed.

Kenny clearly wants to hang on and has played up his European experience in the age of Brexit.

But it seems the world is changing, and new leaders in Britain, soon the U.S. and very likely France show how much the landscape has altered or will be altered.

All signs point to a leadership challenge, and if the polls continue to go south then there may be little Kenny can do.

Irish politics, like European politics, are undergoing a major change in light of Brexit, terrorism and underperforming economies.

It now looks likely the next government in Ireland will be a Fianna Fail led one and Fine Gael will be back to opposition. Time will tell if the Fine Gael grassroots will calmly accept that, or will there be a change of leader to try something new.

The polls will likely dictate that outcome and they are not looking good for Kenny.