Four years ago, Sinn Féin changed the landscape of Irish politics by securing the highest share of first preference votes in the 2020 general election and breaking Ireland’s two-party system.

The question among many voters in those weeks before the pandemic hit was not if Mary Lou McDonald would become taoiseach of this country, but when.

Jump forward four years, and the party has emerged from the 2024 general election with 39 seats, just two more than its 2020 haul. Sinn Féin TDs are now facing up to five more years on the Opposition benches, with disappointment and dismay palpable at different levels across the party.

What went wrong for Sinn Féin in the 2024 election, how can they turn things around and what does this all mean for Mary Lou McDonald’s future at the party’s helm?

Today, on In the News, after a year of disappointment, what’s next for Sinn Féin and its leader Mary Lou McDonald?

Irish Times political correspondent Jennifer Bray discusses what lies ahead for the party.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Declan Conlon

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