Social Democrats

Cairns and Gannon don't have enough experience to lead yet. Though I think both are very good. They still struggle as a proper functioning political party and don't seem to have enough td/councillors yet to take out labour.

Yeah would agree with this, growth of political parties comes at a glacial pace. If party members think it can be sped up simply by a change of leader they should be careful what they wish for.

Id say the SDs main problem is that Murphy & Shorthall are both are 67 years old and one or both of them might be thinking of retirement at the next election in 3 years time when they hit 70. Their votes are personal ones so it wont be easy for the SDs to hang onto those seats when they do retire.

Holly Cairns would be the obvious new leader in time but if Murphy & Shortall did retire and their seats were not retained then she would have an even smaller party to lead. If that happens there will be talk of a merger with Labour. I couldnt see that happening so long as Kelly is the leader because theres a lot of animus towards him but further down the road it could happen if the SDs lose seats. Retaining the Murphy & Shortall seats will be vital to their long term survival as a party.

They actually couldn't field a candidate in that instance. Too many elections came too quickly. They were right to rationalise. That's good leadership.

I'd say they have got as big as they are going to get, maybe another seat or two but they are going for the same middle class liberal voters as Labour, the Greens and in some areas SF.

Parties like Labour, the SDs and the Greens will never be popular or rural or working class urban areas so their options are limited in how many TDs they can get elected.

really find it bizarre people saying they voted for people who's politics they clearly don't agree with

Ah stop, I gave Aodhan O'Riordan the number one, had to hold my nose 🙂

I don't think Cairns is overly liked in the area she ran in from what I know. I think some gave her a chance or a second presence after voting for her fella at the time and she hasn't impressed.

There is virtually nothing to differentiate them from Labour in terms of policies, and with Labour having more Oireachtas members and 3x the number of councillors they continue to get more media time.

A basis of "We're not Labour, we weren't in Government in 2011-2016" becomes less useful the longer ago 2016 becomes. They would have to become the bigger party and that is unlikely to happen now.

I think **** the bed Shorthall is a big problem for them, seen as defacto leader with zero ambition but whinge.

and as blanchs says, they don't whing loud enough.

I honestly doubt you ever voted for them. Your language is clearly that of someone who would have been appalled by them long before covid

Apparently they are "Woke".

Given the general political leanings of people fond of flinging that term around it's a point in favour of the SD's imo.

They should put it on posters.

We are Woke - FF/FG/GP are asleep.

Two councillors resigning due to scandals in the last year, hard for a small party to survive that type of thing.

As for the allegations made against the Councillor in question, what drives people to do such things? He's been held up as a role model for LGBT youth and this is what he does?

If you want to hand ammunition to anyone with an axe to grind against what they like to call the "gay agenda" this is a sensational way of going about it.

But they are only allegations.

In the last few years two prominent media people have had their names dragged through the mud and have had their carrers seriously affected by what turns out to be unfounded allegations.

Let due process take it's course before accuse him of doing anything.

I know what you are saying but there have been allegations for a while, the young guy has went public and seemed very genuine not an easy watch.

Who are the two media people?