Nice to see the IRA's political wing sweep to victory.

We've had 3 years of the liberal commentariat (particularly from Ireland) castigating us for daring to vote for Brexit, hurling accusations of "little Englander", the utter outrage of electoral pacts with the DUP.

And now, Sinn Fein just came first in their elections. Celebratory kneecappings all round, lads!

[Tweet Link]

It will be entertaining if Sinn Fein - which has been a leave (the United Kingdom) party since 1921 - decides that the Irish Island should be united and leave both (its sources of oppression) the UK and EU.

It is an interesting result, that is for sure and for all their 'progressive' values, yet again another nationalist party rises up through the ranks.

From a UK POV I wonder if it might actually make the Brexit talks easier? Sometimes it is easier to reach an accommodation with an enemy because there is no need to worry too much about diplomatic niceties. They hate you, you hate them and you can dispense with all the usual subterfuge nonsense and just get on and sort something out.

Plus if it does all go tits up and we go full-on hard Brexit, then it will be less of a moral dilemma in terms of caring what happens to the Republic of Ireland. We can flood our shops with cheaper beef and a variety of other agricultural products from countries outside the EU because when all is said and done it is Sinn Fein running the show in Dublin and there are almost zero votes to be lost for the Tories in sticking two fingers up at them, with only downsides for Labour in opposing such measures and reinforcing the perception/reality that they are terrorist loving scum bags.

Win-Win really for the UK. And also why I think a compromise can be reached. Ireland needs a UK that thinks kindly of it. They might not like that fact but that is the reality of it.

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

everybody in the Republic of ireland is pro EU.

Like a girl who still loves the pimp who is abusing her.

Kayla did Anfield & Old Trafford

People are by no means pro EU. The political elites maybe but plenty of average people aren't. The reason for the Sinn Fein vote is to break the hegemony of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, the two big parties who have shared power since 1922.
As with the Tories and Labour in Britain, these parties have come closer and closer to the middle and haven't done anything of note to help the Health Service and relieve homelessness. Both things Sinn Fein has promised to address. I don't believe them one bit but we will have to see. Brexit did not register as a concern at all. You can probably understand the Brexit fatigue that has set in.

Red and Blue Army!

A step closer to a united Ireland. And a good thing, too.