My Good Self did not see it coming. I feel out of step with the rest of the population.

Small wonder I never made it in political punditry.

It would appear that Sinn Féin themselves did not see the full extent of it coming either.

An historic day as Sinn Féin secured the highest first preference vote in the State with the big two of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael knocked off their perch.

Their only mistake was not running more candidates. Had they done so they would easily be the largest party in the country. Fianna Fáil just edged them by one.

To her credit Mary Lou McDonald has said that Sinn Féin will talk to anyone when it comes to forming a government.

Fianna Fáil, who had ruled out dealing with ‘the Shinners’ before the election, are now looking at quite a sizeable u-turn.

Fine Gael and Leo Varadkar, who also declared their aversion to sitting down with Mary Lou, are sticking to their guns and look set for a period of regrouping on the opposition benches.

And so to the small matter of forming a government.

80 is the magic number. Fianna Fáil will end up close to 38, Sinn Fein 37, Fine Gael 35, with the remainder, small parties and independents, at 50.

Mary Lou has been in contact with the smaller parties. Her preference is to form an administration without either of the big two. This is possible, but unlikely given the many different interests involved.

The odds favour a Fianna Fáil/Sinn Fein collaboration with two or three independents.

The time has come to let Sinn Fein have their head. To see whether they can put their money where their mouth is.

The key issue in the coming years will be housing. Sinn Fein are confident they can put it right.

If they succeed their political future will be strengthened.

If they fail it will be difficult to believe in them again.

My feeling is that they will succeed.