The Social Democrats have reached a record high in the latest Sunday Independent / Ireland Thinks opinion poll.
It's up 3 points to 12 percent and Fine Gael's up 2 points to 19 percent - following both parties' recent by-election wins.
Sinn Féin remains the country's most popular party on 20 percent despite losing two points, with Fianna Fáil down one point to 16 percent.
However Conal Thomas, Political Correspondent for the Irish Independent and the Sunday Independent says it's a setback for Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald.
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