Sinn Féin will overtake the Labour as the second biggest party in Dublin its MEP Mary Lou McDonald predicted today.
Speaking at Dublin Sinn Féin's annual general meeting in the Mansion House this morning, Ms McDonald predicted substantial growth for the party in the capital overtaking Labour in the next five to ten years.
Labour currently holds nine seats in Dublin as opposed to Sinn Fein's two.
Ms McDonald has a strong chance of taking a seat in the Taoiseach's Dublin Central constituency, most likely at the expense of Mr Ahern's running mate. And the party also high hopes of breakthough for Larry O'Toole, Dessie Ellis and Daithi Doolin.
She told the agm that the party was in "buoyant and confident mood". "We have made significant gains in every election in the last decade and will continue down that road after this election," she said.
Ms McDonald also launched a new quarterly newspaper, the Dublin News,which is part of the plan to expand the party's reach in the capital.
Nearly 200,000 copies will be delivered throughout Dublin over the next month, increasing to 250,000.