A dogfight in middle Ireland is a chance to sniff the political wind

The Carlow Kilkenny by-election on May 22 is the last election test before the General Election. This middle of the road, classic middle Ireland constituency is a template for national political questions.

Why is this largely irrelevant election relevant to national politics? The narrative is thus. Fianna Fáil needs a win to calm mutterings about lowly poll ratings and Micheál Martin’s leadership. Is the Sinn Féin brand on an upward trajectory? Is Renua ...