Front page prediction that took 140 days to come to pass

▪ One week after the General Election was held, the Sunday Independent ran a front page story predicting the very outcome that has come to pass this weekend.

In our edition of February 16, the lead story read:

‘‘FF, FG, Greens to put together deal’’’. The piece, by Jody Corcoran and Philip Ryan, said: “The intention of the two old parties, which emerged from the Civil War almost 100 years ago, is to embrace the Green Party in a three-hand coalition to be presented to the public as “change” while also holding the centre ground of politics in Ireland ... A stumbling block may be the issue of a “rotating Taoiseach”, but a view was taking hold this weekend that the Fianna Fail leader would ultimately be prepared to accede.

“Martin would lead the government for the first three years, before stepping down as Taoiseach and resigning as Fianna Fail leader, leading to a leadership contest, and allowing Varadkar to take over as Taoiseach for the final two of a five-year term.”

And so, more or less, it has transpired. Although it remains to be seen if Martin will step down as FF leader.