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The Sinn F\u00e9in candidate topping the poll in the Taoiseach\u2019s constituency said the people had given him the chance to make a change.<\/p>\nThe Sinn F\u00e9in candidate topping the poll in the Taoiseach\u2019s constituency said the people had given him the chance to make a change.<\/p>\n
Paul Donnelly, 51, hailed a \u201cmassive\u201d vote several thousand above that needed to win a seat in Dublin West.<\/p>\n
It is a constituency with a mixture of affluent suburbs where Leo Varadkar derives much of his support, and communities housing Ireland\u2019s new immigrant population which are among the country\u2019s most diverse.<\/p>\n
Mr Donnelly said: \u201cWe are talking to people, they heard the message that we were trying to sell in terms of housing and health, in terms of finance and managing the economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople want something different, they told me time and time again they look at Fianna F\u00e1il and Fine Gael and they see the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
He received the applause of his colleagues as he walked around the Phibblestown community center which is being used as a count venue, smartly dressed in a dark suit and bearing a broad smile.<\/p>\n
The married father-of-four and youth worker is part of several local community organisations tackling drug abuse and promoting local housing.<\/p>\n
He said he was thrilled and thanked his supporters and the public.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have experienced the same and they don\u2019t believe the manifestos they were seeing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were telling me that if they (other parties) were so genuine in terms of what they want to implement they have had 100 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t they just do it, why are they coming and telling us now that they will do it in the next government?<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have had their chance and they (voters) are saying it is now Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s chance to get in there and really make a change and a difference to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey looked at our policies and they said we like them, they connect with us, they will make our lives different and that is why they came out in such large numbers to vote for Sinn F\u00e9in.\u201d<\/p>\n