The poster boy for Sinn Féin, Pearse Doherty, was the party’s first senator but has gone on to much bigger things.

A TD since 2010 as a result of the Donegal South-West by-election in that year, Mr Doherty makes no bones that he wants to be the country’s minister for finance.

He and his wife Roisin have four sons.

The 47-year-old former civil engineer topped the poll in the 2020 general election, when he was elected in the first count.

Born in Scotland to Irish parents, Doherty was raised in Gaoth Dobhair and has been a member of Sinn Féin since 1996. An avid music and GAA fan, the Irish-speaking public representative helps to run the very successful Sult music festival in his hometown each year. He has a high national profile and there was no surprise that he has topped the poll again in his native Donegal.