on this sort of trajectory, then could be talking about a Sinn Fein government at that stage," he added.

Sinn Fein was the political wing of the IRA, which was responsible for more than half of the 3,600 killings during three decades of violence between Irish Catholic nationalists seeking an end to British rule in Northern Ireland and the British Army and Protestant loyalists who defended it.

The party insists the IRA - designated a terrorist group by Britain - "left the stage" in the wake of a 1998 peace deal.

It is now benefiting from support among a new generation too young to remember IRA attacks, said Sinn Fein candidate Chris Andrews, who analysts say is a serious contender in a Dublin constituency where the party had previously never stooda realistic chance of victory.

"Most of the people here canvassing were only toddlers when the first ceasefire happened," said Andrews. "The electorate see that Sinn Fein is moving on and becoming a very central part of politics in Ireland."

SPECTRE OF PAST

Sinn Fein's progress has been built on support in working class areas worn down by tax increases, spending cuts and high unemployment as Ireland has toiled under the austerity programme that was a condition of its 2010 international bailout.

The party has particularly benefited from a decline in support for centre-left junior coalition partner Labour, accused by some voters of backing down to Kenny's centre-right Fine Gael in allowing new water charges and property taxes and cuts to services they say have hit the poor hardest.

"I feel as if