Sixty percent of the Irish population want a general election before the year is out, according to a new opinion poll by Irish Sun/Red C.

The results show that six out of ten voters want a General Election this year as support for the main parties continues to plummet.

And one in three voters want Labour leader Eamonn Gilmore to become the next leader of the country, according to the poll.

Despite the fact that Gilmore appears to be the country’s favorite to take over from Cowen as Taoiseach, his lead at the top of the popularity chart has taken a minor slide from the  40percent of the population who wanted him as Taoiseach  in a previous poll to the 33pc in the latest one.

Fine Gael's Enda Kenny received 27percent while current leader  Brian ‘Biffo’ Cowen has just 18 percent of the country supporting him in his present role as Taoiseach (Prime Minister).

Cowen has been the victim of endless satirization in Ireland; only days ago a new website - nobnation.com - launched with a strong focus on the present leader.

The Taoiseach’s support seems to be weakest in Dublin, the nation’s capital, with just 13 percent wanting him as Taoiseach in that location,

Those most eagerly calling for an election are the youth, who have been most badly affected by the economic downturn: a massive 69% of 25 to 34 year olds want an election in the next five months.