Sinn Fein? They have gone away, you know.

[screenexile]

Some tube singing Get out ye black and tans... Jesus!!

[RedHand88]

If SF have sense they won't go into government and wait on another election. They don't want to be Labour 2.0

[balladmaker]

If SF have sense they won't go into government and wait on another election. They don't want to be Labour 2.0

+1.  They need to bide their time, run additional candidates at the next opportunity and see where it sits then.  They don't want to be known for putting FF back into government again, their voting base voted for change and not FF/FG back in.

[Rossfan]

So they'll abolish the USC, the LPT, give us all €65k houses while in opposition?

[Cavan19]

If SF have sense they won't go into government and wait on another election. They don't want to be Labour 2.0

+1.  They need to bide their time, run additional candidates at the next opportunity and see where it sits then.  They don't want to be known for putting FF back into government again, their voting base voted for change and not FF/FG back in.

Yes they voted for change and i don't think the voters will be happy if SF don't try to get into government.     

[Fear Bun Na Sceilpe]

Testing times ahead

[Farrandeelin]

Somebody tell SF that they don't own the tricolour please.

[five points]

If SF have sense they won't go into government and wait on another election. They don't want to be Labour 2.0

With 30-something seats, pretty much the same as FF, they have no choice really. If they cower away now, they won't be thanked for refusing to pursue the change they asked people to vote for.

[Fear Bun Na Sceilpe]

If SF have sense they won't go into government and wait on another election. They don't want to be Labour 2.0

With 30-something seats, pretty much the same as FF, they have no choice really. If they cower away now, they won't be thanked for refusing to pursue the change they asked people to vote for.

Coalition of the left

[Rossfan]

You cant effect "change" in opposition.
FF will lean leftwards and we'll end up with a FF/SF/Greens Coalition.

A totally left wing Coalition will hardly make 60 seats.

[five points]

FF will lean leftwards and we'll end up with a FF/SF/Greens Coalition.

I can't see the Greens and Sinn Féin agreeing at all, for example on carbon tax or restrictions on rural car use. The demographics they represent are polar opposite to each other.

[Fear Bun Na Sceilpe]

Going to be interesting to see how the US military stop overs at Shannon are dealt with. Will SF stand up to Trump and risk economic chaos

[Snapchap]

Somebody tell SF that they don't own the tricolour please.

Ugh that line gets under my skin. Nobody is stopping anyone from holding flags at count centres. In fact Aindrias Moynihan (FF) held one as he celebrated his election

Striking attitude shown in Galway West by the returning officer. The only party she told not to cheer was Sinn Féin, and also told them to put away their a tricolour saying it was "not the place for that or for any other symbols". She said this while standing on stage right beside a tricolour.

[armaghniac]

A tricolour on the stage is a sign of the office. Dancing around with a tricolour on your head is taking the piss and insulting to Irish people.

[Snapchap]

A tricolour on the stage is a sign of the office. Dancing around with a tricolour on your head is taking the piss and insulting to Irish people.

I haven't met anyone who is genuinely offended by national flags at an election count. You will see it the world over. There's always a core of people in Ireland though who are somewhat ashamed of using the flag and will hide that behind lofty claims about respecting it. Nobody wants to see it in tatters on a lamppost, but to whine about political parties/members/supporters holding them at democratic election counts, is a little bit pathetic.

Besides, had the returning officer not been inconsistent in her warning regarding celebrations, only asking SF supporters not to cheer, then her real motivations for admonishing them about flags might not seem so suspect.