Holly Cairns emerges as most popular party leader

James Cox

The latest political opinion poll shows Holly Cairns of the Social Democrats is the country's most popular party leader.

It's a further boost to the party after Daniel Ennis won the recenty Dublin Central byelection, bringing the party's number of sitting TDs to 12.

Cork South-West TD Cairns has an approval rating of 47. Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald is the second most popular leader with an approval rating of 46.

Sinn Féin has dropped four points to 21 per cent in the latest Business Post/Red C poll after disappointing reslts in the recent byelections.

The party still remains the most popular in the country, with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on 17 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.

The Social Democrats are continuing to gain support - they're up two points to 10 per cent.