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SINN FÉIN HAS more followers on Facebook than all of the other main political parties put together.
A look at the ‘likes’ of the various political parties shows that Sinn Féin has by far and away the greatest reach in sharing its message to followers on Facebook.
As of 19 January, the party had 76,936 followers on Facebook, way ahead of Fine Gael which was the second most popular with 13,666 followers.
Party leader Gerry Adams TD also has more Facebook likes than any other leader with 22,028 followers.
Though not technically a party leader, Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy TD is second to Adams in the list with 21,556 followers. Taoiseach Enda Kenny is in third.
The most followed parties on Facebook
Sinn Féin - 76,946 likes
Fine Gael – 13,666 likes
Labour – 12,248 likes
Fianna Fáil – 11,391 likes
Anti-Austerity Alliance – 10,848 likes
People Before Profit Alliance – 9,971 likes
Direct Democracy Ireland - 9,615 likes
Green Party – 3,521 likes
Social Democrats – 2,656 likes
Renua - 2,429 likes
Independent Alliance – 1,380
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Any post FG activists puts up on Facebook has the comments closed, because just like their leader they will not debate the point.
Can we exclude SF’s multiple Shinnerbot accounts by any chance?
“For Connolly” account for at least 20k….
Glass houses, throwing stones
All on robbed lap tops.
Diarmuid wishes to ban freedom of expression except for FG supporters.
lol…..Diarmuid complaining about multiple accounts….lol
Multiple accounts, pot and kettle spring to mind………
Seem to have stumbled into a Shinnerbot Reunion.
Keep the “Likes” flowing champs!
Priceless Dermo,there’s that blueshirt irony when they go on about multiple accounts.Good to see the Michael Noonan avatar back…..
A horse criticising a monkey
Think I will place my bets on the thoroughbred!
Honestly thought it was Michael Noonan.Doesn’t take away from the irony of Dermo’s post.Just had a good hard luck at the avatar and I stand corrected…..
Standing on all 4 legs yeah
Yeah,standing on all 4 legs.Stay in school and good luck in your exams and remember when your old enough to vote use it wisely….
You’re no Mr Ed. Yawn
I don’t care for likes or pseudonyms, I care about this country. Why you can’t actually comment under your real name is quite sad mate! To each their own..
They only like debating their lads…
All I’m hearing in my head is Omagh Omagh Omagh.
would be very classic if they where a load of fake likes :)
Social media never won an election, like a councillor friend of mine who had more friends on facebook than I care to remember thought he had the last local elections sewn up. He got the biggest shock when he lost his seat and has since cancelled his facebook account….thats a fact !!
The force is strong
Looks like rte lies and propaganda is failing people can now see through main stream bull.https://youtu.be/aG7JmlQXBt0 this is what people on the outside see about Ireland ._.Hav a listen educate your selves
Tell us again Dermo, which members of which party were caught out buying friends and “likes” on facebook not so long ago??
How many people have 600 friends on fakebook, where in 550 times out of 600, they’d walk by each other on the street. It will be the same in the election booth. When it really matters, people remember the armalites and bombs.
You walk down the streets of Mumbai very often p-anti?
As a one of those who are sitting on the fence, my opinion (for what it matters) F.G. all lies, F.F. the same, labour well, they are useless. So that leaves S.F. Sorry just can’t as long as Adams is still their leader. The rest get my votes.
I feel the same. They are talking a good game but Adams I can’t support
Unfortunately for them, many of the people who will hit like on their smart phone at home, will not bother their arse going to the polling station on GE day.
actually it did for obama :)
Just googled “the enda kenny song” for a laugh…
@Pani-matter Why???
Who is he?
FG were the same in opposition. No discussion about anything permitted on their web site.Worse than FF.
Tell me how do you “buy friends and likes” on facebook ?
@Tir….why what ?
Or more appropriately – ENNISkillen KILLEN KILLEN.
Why are you hearing “Omagh Omagh Omagh”?
I posted a comment on the labour Facebook page criticising them and what they have done to working single parents .it was quickly deleted and I was blocked . seems like labour do not like free speech
Fine Gael are exactly the same. They only want to hear from brown nosed yes men (and women).
Come to think of it I’m surprised Hugh O Connell hasn’t closed the comments on this.
He’s too busy creaming his jocks at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis
You have people that vote sinn fein or people that don’t. People that vote sinn fein are usually pretty stern about it and have no problem liking their parties page on FB. People who don’t vote sinn fein usually don’t know who to vote for cause they all shite anyway and will not be liking any page on FB. Simples….
There might be one or two other reasons not to vote SF Economic policy that is old fashioned tax and spend policy of Bertie Also all the people their friends in the IRA murdered in NI for the cause of as united Ireland
Ouch! Seems like none of the FG propaganda is working!
Old fashioned tax and spend!.. Say that to the likes of Denmark who have one of the best economies in the world and is also one of the most socially responsible
Is that why Denmark is closing it’s borders? SF support open door policies in regards migrants and refugees.
So do FG Jason…why, they even sent ships to the Med.
Nothing that I have heard so far from SF would convince me to vote for them, particularly with Adams, Mary-Lou and Pearse Doherty spouting utopian nonesense.
Touche.!
Tell me why are people so adamant on returning to the past. For example was FG, FF, not formed of the back of a civil war for independance Why is it alright to say that just because it happened 100 years ago it wasnt really the same as what was happening in the north of this country 30 years ago. The only difference is that the some people south where to affraid and ignorant to do anything about it. Most peoples take on it is it happened so ireland could be a 32 county country. The fact is that the treatment of Catholics was the straw the broke the camels back. I wonder if we where invaded by isis tomorrow (an unlikely scenario I know but a good comparison to what happened here in country) Would it be in 30 years time still be regarded as terrorism ? Or a fight to regain what we rightfully deserves Equall rights with a Democratically elected gorvenment in a Country that is 100% irish. The IRA have backed the peace process there are always going to be a few that will appose or get involved in criminal activity does this mean that because they where once members of the ira they are all members of sinn feinn. Lets not forget Eammon Gilmore was a member of the workers party, we all know how they where funded, How much of the tax payers money was waisted on tribunals that achieved absolutely nothing apart from confim what we knew all this thanks to FF and their brown envelopes, And we are only starting to see FG TDs in the news for the same sort of thing, when this happens its a corrupt TD but if a member of sinn fein gets a parking ticket the headlines are IRA illigally park whilst robbing bank for sinn fein elction fund. The fact of the matter is Sinn fein are a here regardless of what happened in the past their politics are credible so much so that in Northern ireland the troubles are never an issue when it comes to the two partys sitting down together.
I can’t believe anyone likes Enda(smug)Kenny, he’s a horrible, arrogant excuse of a man!!!
100,000 plus likes between the anti austerity parties. Excellent work
I liked the fg page too for a while, until they blocked me from commenting on their posts
Actually….if you need a laugh…head on over to the Labour Facebook page…the moderators there are run off their feet deleting posts.
To be honest it is hard to look at Fine Gael and the smug garbage talking Enda Kenny, he is an embarrassment to this country. Would really like to give him the elbow in the General Election. Is there a good alternative out there???… Or just more of the same….because at the moment there must be a huge number of people just don’t know who to vote for.
‘Enda Kenny is an idiot’ has more followers on Facebook than ‘Enda Kenny’…
https://www.facebook.com/Enda-Kenny-is-an-idiot-194710193880889/
Mary lou has over 85k on her own. Gerry has 22k
Lol.!
You are right Al, it does have more followers. Had a look, funny!
Is this what it has come to?
Niall I’m a sf voter worked since I was 16, can’t stand Celtic. I have never been in jail so I’ll give you that one, now are you making your own money yet or are you still living off daddy’s money and contacts
Daddy’s contacts, ouch that hurts
The party that most appeals to the young. TAL
All you have to do is tune in to the FG Ard Fheis on RTE right now for a quick glance and you will see that the majority are older members. Whole new generation coming up.
Great day for the parish
The party that appeals to silly young armchair republicans… who move on when they grow up, learn a bit of history and start earning money…
Or egalitarians for that matter. Other parties appeal to money grabbing fools. I know which I’d prefer to be associated with
You’ll grow up someday Toddy…
I find younger voters to be more sophisticated, informed, independent minded and less mindlessly supportive of one political party.
I’m a much older voter, a recovering Labour supporters, but I know the damage that my generation of voters did in viting fir FF, FG and Labour.
People will vote for the party they think will give them the most money, such is life.
I’m certainly not going to start criticising younger voters. They are our future.
Unless it young FG support yes Fiona?
Touché
YFG are a great bunch of lads
Why don’t we just abolish the ballot box and elect the next government by who gets the most facebook likes? Or better yet, create a reality tv show called “Who wants to be Taoiseach?’ where the various candidates perform a series of humiliating tasks for our amusement, then we’ll have a phone in vote based on who has the best sob story.
How many of those likes are from outside Ireland?
On the Fine Gael page? Most were paid for and are Likes from India & Pakistan http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/fg-denies-buying-likes-on-facebook-291772.html
Sinn fein likes thankfully won’t translate into votes as the electorate can’t be that stupid.
Dissing your own electorate is a good way to loose votes, keep it up
You can be 13 and set up a Facebook account.
Naked trampolining with dogs is second only to cat photos in terms of popularity.
And you actually think sinn fein can be trusted…… I have one question for.you….are you better off since the last election.? Because most people are …and if the likes of sinn fein can create government police we will all be in the s##te.
I mean government policy.
Diarmuid, you personify the qualities of an FG hack. Party loyalty over thought.
Ask that to the people who have had their homes repossessed by the banks or the people lying indefinitely on hospital trolleys I’d say they feel a whole lot better off Patrick!!
A 14 year old will be an 18 year old 4 years later, best you show them some respect
No. I’m not. Lost my good job now working for far less.
Patrick everyone bar FG acknowledge the recovery has little or nothing to do with government policy.
Also Patrick unfortunately I’m poorer since the last election as are most.
@Patrick. You were right the first time. Water protests = government policing.
I’m a hell of a lot worse off since the last election, both mentally and monetary wise Patrick, had to endure watching my dying mum on a trolley in a&e for twelve hours whilst all around her were drunks being given pillows and blankets when they should have been in the drunk tank but no, not possible as the garda stations have been closed. Lost my son to Canada, he will never come back to settle in Ireland so I have to make do with Skype. My business took a battering and went hungry often, so yea, I’m pretty p*ssed off with this current shower of gombeens and pocket stuffers.
Oh My God I cannot cope after reading this!
Seriously if NI likes were taken out I wonder would it be different?
Maybe Enda could ask Gerry for some tips on gaining popularity among the upcoming new generation of voters!
Me life on you, Paul. Hardline Unionists interfering in this Republic, and it’s barely mentioned.
@Paul Arrogance dripping off your pathetic post. Ireland has 32 counties, not 26. Why should 6 counties’ ‘likes’ be discounted, you absolute clown. Perhaps it would be more a case that the other parties ought to get involved in all 32 counties. Of course they won’t though because they know that were they to stand in the six counties, the many years they spent turning their backs on a people in dire need of help would only come back to bite them in the a55. While i’d love nothing more than other parties like FF/FG/Lab to end their partitionist policy and stand in the six counties, i’d take immense pleasure in telling their canvassers that they are a few decades too late in showing an interest in the Irish people of Tyrone, that they turned their backs on us when we cried out for their support during the years we were getting trampled on, and to kindly get out of my sight and to never darken my door ever again.
Tyrone you just don’t get it do you, we are not interested in a united Ireland at any price. We have enough problems without saddling ourselves with further debt bailing out your failed statelet. SF have helped to ruin the northern economy and ye need to wake up and sort that out. Go and talk to Nicola Sturgeon and see what she can do for ye.
Chris Kirk,by”we are not interested in a United Ireland at any price” are you speaking for all members of FG/ACA/DUP or just those in your local lodge?
@Chris
“Tyrone you just don’t get it do you, we are not interested in a united Ireland at any price. We have enough problems without saddling ourselves with further debt”
Except there has only ever been one costed economic model of Irish reunification ever made (several months ago) and it found that such a scenario would be of economic benefit to both sides of the former border.
http://aunitedireland.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Modeling-Irish-UnificationFULL.pdf
“… bailing out your failed statelet.”
It ain’t my statelet. But that partition is failed, I couldn’t agree with you more,
“SF have helped to ruin the northern economy ”
Except not only is finance not a SF department, but the six counties has zero fiscal powers. Read a book ffs.
Well I know my mother subscribes to the same narrative, but even she has problems grasping the fact that all taxation powers and budget allocations are set by Westminster and not NI. SF may have not done themselves any favours in recent years up there, but the fact is, as long as Tory Government remains in no.10, the North will continue to be cash strapped unless some form of devolution of taxation powers is granted to the assembly.
However, the likely catalyst for change may well come about from the UK referendum on Europe, the result of which could ultimately result in the breakup of the UK, as some English analysts are now warning. The six counties in this scenario would be in no position to form their own independent state and therefore cut off from London, will have to decide whether to chuck their lot in with Dublin, either as part of the Republic or an interim alliance before reunification. Personally I would rather the second since it could give a few decades to acclimatize hardline Unionists to the new reality. When the rose tinted blinkers of bigotry fall off, they may realize at last that the South isn’t as bad as they thought after all.
You can buy those likes, cheap enough. Anyone check their expense forms lately.
Fine Gael have the largest ‘war chest’ for social media spending. Other parties just more popular among those on social media
SF/PIRA is minted.
How many dislikes would they get if there was one ?? Millions
No. 2 the troll
Sinn Fein/Gerry Adams and Paul Murphy with the rest of the socialists…god help us all if those two get into government
Yeah, right on brother! I want the established parties to bring another Bank Bailout, relive the greatest economic catastrophe in the history of the State, another property bubble, ‘temporary USC’, saddle me with private debt, make our A&E’s go from Third World to Fourth World, close more Garda stations, increase emigration, put more people on the streets in sleeping bags and make corporate profits equate to ‘recovery’, let’s do this! Vote FG / Lab & FF!
I never said anything about endorsing FG/Lab/FF or any of the other established parties. HOWEVER as bad and all as they are SF and the socialists would be a 1000 times worse with their populist, idiotic, pie in the sky “policies”
Well said Leon
Well you sure do back up your points very convincingly Leon, I’ll give you that, LOL!
I wouldn’t be too worried. Most of Sinn Fein supporters are Celtic jersey wearing, jeans tucked in to socks, mighty patriotic despite never working or done a stretch in prison. I’d be suprised if half their Facebook supporters knew how to fill out a ballot paper.
Ouch, does it feel good verbally abusing fellow people in the community?
I say it as I see it.
I doubt a trip to specsavers would suffice, maybe a read up on the hospital crises would clear the mind
Nearly as good as feeling up statues it seems.
Going in your grasp of the English language I’d be surprised if you could fill out the ballot paper.
If I walk out my door and walk a few minutes in to town and spot a gent with a peaked baseball cap and a Celtic jersey and ask him who he’ll vote for this is what he’ll say: “Have ta vote shinners boi! They’ll win back da Nort and drive out them English baxtards. Ya know yourself boi. Any bangers?”.
Niall, that’s just naked and stupid prejudice. Social snobbery is a poor basis for socio economic and political policy.
Call it whatever you want. It’s what I’ve experienced in the real world time and time again.
Niall, you are a deeply unpleasant individual with despicable views. You make my skin crawl.
@Niall. Nothing wrong with what you said, you only described a fashion sence. But it would normally be track suit tucked into the socks.
You’re right but whenever they pop in to the social around the corner for me they make an effort by tucking in the jeans.
Fiona, there is no word/s in the English language I could use to communicate how little I care about your opinion. Of me or otherwise. You are insignificant in my life and I wouldn’t care if you fell off the Earth tomorrow.
And the burds in the jammies
Niall. I see three tits in your avatar.
Labour party: 12,248 likes.
“I bet this brick can get more likes than the Labour Party”: 13,355 likes.
A brick is more popular than Labour. Nuff said…
‘Diarmiud’/powerabbey/mk76/mcdonagh your new party leader Arlene Foster is very like your good self, never stops talking about SF,lol.
Figlab promised to open 3 food kitchens in every county if re elected.fair play to them.
The farmers who produce the milk, yogurt, butter, steaks for those on Facebook and Twitter, and commenters here, do not have time to tweet.
They have time for journal comments apparently
They have plenty of time to fill out their forms for their free money from Europe I bet. All at the expense of our fishing industry!
Farming is an antiquated way of life which is a drain on the taxpayer in its current guise, if it was a sustainable industry they wouldn’t need massive grants to prop them up, the Dublin Bus of the Irish economy.
You don’t eat meat or dairy or drink beer?
I do Jason, all three, why?
Just wondering what you’d eat and drink when we do away with all the antiquated farmers.
Maybe not Brendan but unfortunately for the rest of us you will take time from your busy schedule to vote them back in.
Could we eat vegetarians?
Jason, how would you interpret the parts of my comment where I said ‘in its current guise’ and specifically meant Ireland? What would those two pieces of information mean to someone reading it do you think?
I don’t know about anyone else but most of the food and alcohol I purchase is produced outside of Ireland.
Fiona I’d pass no remarks on Niall he’s probably one of those people who spent most of his 20s in college getting hand outs from daddy and bring home his washing for mammy to do and at the same time looking down on people who were out working on low pay jobs or who were on social welfare but the funny thing is daddy was probably claiming back on his college fees and one last thing his family come from a farming back ground
Thats a scathing attack there on someone who only posted an opinion different to yours on an open opinion forum. You’re the reason why shinners will always remind decent people of the carnage. Give yourself a clap on the back son.
What should be done is if you want to speak on sites like the journal you should have to use your real name and profile problem solved
There is 166 w*****s in dail eireann that is all.
Populist political parties are popular on SM – fancy that.
The term shinnerbot didn’t just materialise from nowhere, would be interested to know how many of these accounts are real
Probably a load of misty eyed Yanks who put dollars in jars to support “the cause”. Slightly more real than Fine Gael’s, I’d say.
http://www.thejournal.ie/fine-gael-spam-facebook-likes-1727309-Oct2014/
About as ‘real’ as the numerous multi-BlueBot accounts that frequently funk up this forum with their unique brand of crass Fine Gowlery!
well reality is social media doesn’t dictate election its a tool for information and SF have have been using it fantastically in spreading their message and FF, FG and Lab etc are miles behind and wont be catching up anytime soon. I think it shows the way the people are thinking and and how people are feeling at for generations being let down by various parties of the “what’s in it for me?” mentality.
Can the Sinn Fein people explain what they will do for jobs and the development of the country? It would be interesting to see if they have any proactive viewpoints.
It’s very simple, go onto their website and you’ll see it all. I can never understand people who ask questions like this over the internet when in the time you spent writing the question you would have found the answer to your question.
Hi John, probably the opposite of what FF / FG & Labour did which led to the destruction of our economy in 2008.
FG and labour weren’t in power prior to 2011 in the lead up to the bust.
True Jason but while in opposition during the boom they berated the FF Government for lack of spending…..lol…and now they throw mud at FF at every opportunity…..you couldn’t make this sh*t up!
Can FG tell us how they have created the recovery?
Spot on Al..
I heard an unprecedented amount of students have registered on the electorate for the intention to stuff the present govt. It was a terrible idea to put out the intention of the govt to set up student loans. They are going to pay dearly.
Are the Shinners still advocating an open door immigration policy?
Yes
Are SF still for an open door immigration policy?
You’ll note Lisa, the red thumbs are shinner bots who don’t want that fact publicised. Fgoed to show you what a right shower of sneaky dishonest liars they all are.
Shinner bots breed.
I’d vote for S.F., if Adams was not their leader
It’s frightening for me. Emigration looms! The message is simple. The young users of Facebook have no clue about Sinn Fein and the torture they put us through in the 70′s, ’80′s and 90′s. The billions of € and ’000′s of jobs they cost waging a false war against society. They continue with their ridiculous economics and fascist politics. They try to bury their past and hide their crimes.
Younger people want change for a more just society. They are less cynical and more idealistic. Hence the move to Sinn Féin and other parties of the left.
You can’t get any more cynical than SF.
Young people want jobs and a society with a long term future. Hence they vote for FG.
No, Tom, they will not vote FG. You want jobs and a more just society then the emigrants had better start getting their asses together and set up their own party and be prepared to come home with a new message and start running in elections. The current system and capitalistic thinking is broken and if we are to continue to survive and thrive, we need a radically new narrative, one that reflects the actual concerns and lives of 21st century folks, and rapidly.
They could have created an alliance after the SSM referendum to campaign for real political and economic change but they have now missed the boat this side of the next council elections. IF Kenny is re-elected again, I guarantee you I’m out of here, because I’m not staying for more austerity high taxes and Bertie Aherne the 2nd masquerading as David Cameron. A vote for FG and the coalition is a vote for further inequality for everyone. More taxes, more spending cuts, wage cuts and higher costs of living. This simply can not go on. It’s not working. For the what’s in it for me brigade, I’m afraid they are in for a nasty surprise a few years down the road when the penny finally drops that a highly inequitable and dysfunctional modern democracy can’t function indefinitely. Just see what is happening in the US or Britain, in which they haven’t really emerged from recession, just trundling along until the next crash sends them back to square one or worse, disintegration.
If ever there was an argument in favor of s dislike button on FB…
So what Joan Burton said about those IPhones was true after all! ☺
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SF the most popular party on F/B. That’s weird, I’d have thought that ‘the all night party’ would have been even more popular ??
#DirDemNCM #GE16
The Journal while a fair online newspaper most of the times compared to other rags owned by billionaires who were found by the Moriarty Tribunal to pay corrupt payments to a Fine Gael minister.
But on this occasion they got it wrong. With the merger now between Direct Democracy Ireland and the National Citizens Movement we on this page have over 25,000 likes. Just look on our page on Facebook.
So that puts is in second place to Sinn Fein and ahead of all the rest.
The Journal please take note.
Well, it’s not like any of their trolls are in danger of getting jobs.
Likes on social media are irrelevant, the only likes that count are those on the ballot paper.
Doesn’t really bode well for renua when they (and I get the impression they would place a big emphasis on social media) get less likes than the social democrats after a 2 year head start?
Doesn’t surprise me that SF are more popular on modern media. They are supported by our younger generation, many of whom are brainwashed into believing in St. Gerry – believing in a better society with everything free & no taxes to pay.
have your say