Why Sinn Féin is Struggling

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Looking at the polls, things are looking pretty good for Sinn Féin. But – being squeezed from both sides, some left-wing parties are questioning Sinn Féin’s left-wing credentials and recent by-elections in Dublin Central (where the Social Democrats’ Daniel Ennis emerged victorious) and Galway West highlight the party’s struggles. In this video, we’re taking a look at the recent byelection results and why Sinn Féin might be struggling.

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Irish polling:
https://www.politico.eu/europe-poll-of-polls/ireland/

Dublin Central & Galway West by-election results:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Dublin_Central_by-election
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Galway_West_by-election

McDonald (and other parties’) responses to Dublin Central:
https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/05/26/leader-of-the-left-or-left-behind-sinn-fein-scepticism-grows-among-progressive-parties/
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/opposition-parties-question-mixed-message-from-sinn-fein-after-by-elections/a/153029775.html

Sinn Féin’s pivot/equivocation on social/cultural issues:
https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/oireachtas/2026/05/13/free-vote-matter-of-conscience-for-government-tds-on-abortion-reform-bill/
https://www.thejournal.ie/sinn-fein-crossroads-holly-cairns-mary-lou-mcdonald-7050133-May2026/

Tensions with other left parties over rightward pivot:
https://www.thejournal.ie/sinn-fein-crossroads-holly-cairns-mary-lou-mcdonald-7050133-May2026/
https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/05/26/tensions-between-left-wing-parties-and-sinn-fein-over-policy-direction/
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/opposition-parties-question-mixed-message-from-sinn-fein-after-by-elections/a/153029775.html

More on Sinn Féin’s isolation and squeeze from both sides:
https://www.businesspost.ie/politics/left-or-right-sinn-fein-must-decide-what-it-stands-for-if-its-to-have-any-hope-of-government/
https://sluggerotoole.com/2026/05/26/left-coalition-tensions-sinn-fein-isolated/

00:00 – Intro
01:28 – Dublin Central by-election
03:16 – Sinn Féin’s pivot right?
04:51 – Intra-left tensions
06:17 – Conclusion
07:20 – Too Long

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