Sinn Féin, on 42 percent, is by far the leading political party among Irish Americans polled by IrishCentral.
Over 1,400 readers responded to our day long poll, which showed that the historic affinity for Sinn Féin is present among Irish Americans.
A minor surprise is that Fine Gael – at 17 percent – finished ahead of Fianna Fail, which once had strong Irish American support during the Haughey era. Later, during the peace process times, Irish leader Albert Reynolds of Fianna Fail was once named Grand Marshal of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The Labour Party is at the same level it is in Ireland, where it has plummeted to the 6-8 percent range of support.
The new party, the centrist Social Democrats, actually finished ahead of the Labour Party at seven percent while the left wing Austerity Alliance came in at a very respectable 5 percent.
Read more: Keep up to day with Ireland's politics news here
Rounding out the poll are the Green Party and Renua, a conservative grouping on their first outing. Both are on 3 percent.
Sinn Féin’s long term strategy has been to build a permanent base in the US and the results of the internet poll certainly seem to show they have been successful.
While Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have done fundraising in America in the past, neither has done so in recent years. In contrast, Sinn Féin has a major fundraising dinner every year in New York as well as strong labor and political ties in Washington, DC.
“It is no surprise that Sinn Fein is the most popular party," said IrishCentral founder Niall O’Dowd. “They have the history and modern presence the other parties lack. Irish America sprang from a radical tradition as many forefathers came on Famine ships and under great duress. That is not forgotten.”
Are you surprised by Sinn Fein's win in our poll? Who would you vote for?
Read more: An air of total uncertainty as Irish voters go to the polls
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