SINN FEIN President Mary Lou McDonald said today that she was trying to form a “people’s government” with the support of smaller parties after Saturday’s momentous general election in Ireland.

She described the “historic” results, which saw Sinn Fein top the polls with 24.5 per cent of all votes, despite standing just 42 candidates, as a “revolution” in Irish politics.

Ms McDonald hailed the end to the dominance of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, Ireland’s two centre-right parties, declaring the result a vote for “Sinn Fein to be in government.”

The republican leader confirmed she had entered discussions with the Green Party, Social Democrats and Solidarity-People Before Profit about forming a government.

“I said throughout the campaign, and I meant it, that we need change, that we need a new government.

“The best outcome is with a government without Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, so that’s the first thing I want to test, whether or not that’s possible,” she said.

Ms McDonald said that she “may well be the next Taoiseach” when the Dail reconvenes during an impromptu walkabout in Dublin this afternoon. 

Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail appeared to rule out governing with the republicans.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suffered a humiliating result, being overtaken by Sinn Fein in his constituency of Dublin West. It was the first time an outgoing prime minister has not topped the polls in their own seat.

But he insisted: “A forced marriage would not result in a good government,” as he rejected a coalition with Sinn Fein.

Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin struck a similar tone, speaking of “incompatibility in terms of the policy platforms,” although appeared to leave the door slightly ajar for talks.

The political establishment has been shaken, with an article by Ruth Dudley Edwards in the Belfast Telegraph comparing Sinn Fein’s election results to the rise of the nazis in Germany, implying the republican party poses a threat to democracy.

Weeks of political wrangling in the bid to form a government lie ahead, with the prospect of another election a possibility.