Sinn Fein is replacing Fianna Fail as the acceptable face of Republicanism in the Republic.

A new opinion poll for the Sunday Times newspaper shows the party well ahead of Fianna Fail in the popularity stakes.

The survey, carried out by the Behaviour and Attitudes company for the Sunday Times, has Sinn Fein as the second most popular party in the state.

Gerry Adams has led Sinn Fein to more than a 25 percent backing from voters.

A year after Fianna Fail was wiped out in the General Election, Sinn Fein has swept ahead of the traditional Republican party.

Fianna Fail was decimated at the polls as Fine Gael, Labour and Sinn Féin all won their highest-ever number of seats.

The latest survey shows even more support for Sinn Fein since the election.
Support for Fine Gael has gone up by two points to 32 percent with support for their coalition partners in the Labor Party down by 1 percent to 10 percent.

Fianna Fáil support is down four points since December and now stands at 16 percent, a result that will not please the party just a week before their Ard Fheis.

Sinn Féin, now on 25 percent and rising, have gained four points at the expense of Fianna Fail.

Independents and others are down one point to 17 percent.

Satisfaction with Prime Minister Enda Kenny is down three points to 41 percent while his deputy Eamon Gilmore drops one to 34 percent.

Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin is down seven points to 33 percent while Gerry Adams is down two to 46% but enjoys the highest rating of any leader.

Satisfaction with the Government is unchanged, at 26 percent while 70 percent are dissatisfied and three per cent have no opinion.