BREAKING: 'This election is a game changer" says Sinn Fein leader as she opens Offaly candidate's office

SINN FEIN leader Mary Lou McDonald said she looks forward to walking through the gates of Leinster with the new TD for Offaly after the General Election, Aoife Masterson.

Speaking as she officially opened Cllr Masterson's office in Kilbride Plaza in Tullamore on Thursday afternoon, Deputy McDonald described her as a candidate of "outstanding calibre".

Speaking to the Tullamore Tribune she said Cllr Masterson was a person embedded in the county and community who championed key issues such as rural regeneration and the creation of new jobs.

"We have a good organisation here on the ground in Offaly and I am sure that she will perform very well," stressed the Sinn Fein leader.

Dismissing pundits who have written Sinn Fein off, Deputy McDonald said there was now a real sense on the ground that this election was a gamechanger.

"For the first time there is a opportunity for a Government to be led by a party other than Fianna Fail or Fine Gael," she outlined.

Deputy McDonald stressed Sinn Fein was running enough candidates in the election to allow them lead the next Government for the first time.

"Anyone who thought they could write Sinn Fein off will observe as the campaign develops that this was the wrong place to be."

She added that only when a General Election was called did many people start to think about where things are and whether they would like to see change in housing, health, childcare and mental health services.

"This is the first time in history where we can say that the State has the resources but we have to ensure that they are spent shrewdly," she stressed.

Ms McDonald said the Government had shown through plans to spend €9 million on phone pouches that it could not be trusted with the small things.

"The questions arises that if the Government cannot look after small projects can we expect it to look after the big projects," said Ms McDonald who pointed to the huge spending on the new children's hospital in Dublin.

Asked about the fallout from the Brian Stanley affair in Offaly, she said the "honourable thing" for the Laois TD to do was to "take responsibility for his own actions".

"Brian Stanley caused his own problems and now he needs to have a bit of integrity."

As well as Tullamore and Clara based supporters, a contingent from Birr and south Offaly travelled to the official opening and walkabout with Cllr Sean Maher.

Birr's Speedy Harte told the Tribune the critical thing was to get people out to vote. He asked how could people expect a change of Government if they did not vote.

Rahan based mental health campaigner, Ray Larkin spoke at langth with Cllr Masterson and Deputy McDonald about the twin issues of suicide and mental health.