There has been a noticeable muting of discourse this time around about Ireland being “at a monumental crossroads”, as we have come to expect from past election cycles, writes Adam Hallissey.

The only plausibly remarkable aspect of the election is how inherently unremarkable it is. It was called only out of necessity and there is a disappointing absence of meaningful differences between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

However, scratch beneath the surface and you will find that there is in fact the capacity for this to be the election of a lifetime, and the power rests in the hands of younger voters – the first generation seemingly unbound by the long-standing, monotonous constraints of Civil War politics.

The most recent Red C polling shows Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – the establishment parties which have dominated Irish political history – to be at an all-time low amongst younger voters.

A collective 27% of those polled under the age of 35 expressed support for either party, while 35% committed to Sinn Féin alone. The Social Democrats (7%) and the Green party (12%) will also be happy with the youth support they are garnering. Such figures are in stark contrast to those demonstrated by the general voting population – half of whom support either FF or FG, while 62% of voters aged over 55 say the same.

However, our abandonment of the political establishment is more complex than a mere exodus to Sinn Féin, though it emerges as the primary beneficiary of the shift.

More ideologically focused than our older counterparts, young people’s votes are dictated by a set of issues which matter greatly to us – a worsening climate catastrophe, growing economic inequality, and faltering public services, to name a few.

Admittedly, there is a cohort of young people planning to vote for opposition parties purely to express deep-rooted frustration towards the comfort and complacency which FF/FG continued dominance almost guarantees. Others, meanwhile, simply refuse to accept the traditional dichotomy presented and care more about matters of policy than which side their great-grandfather fought on over 100 years ago.

Those who wish to see further investment in public services prioritised over imminent tax cuts are looking at the parties of the economic centre-left, those passionate on issues of climate are leaning towards Eamon Ryan’s Greens – few are impressed by promises of fixed potholes.

Election 2020 presents us with the prospect of a different type of politics and could mark the beginning of the end of Ireland’s two-party system.

Going forward, Ireland’s youth are likely to facilitate the normalisation of supporting a wider spectrum of parties, rather than the old guard.

While it would be juvenile to suggest major systemic change fuelled by youth is guaranteed, it appears undeniable that a message is being sent to both FF and FG which, if left unacknowledged, may see a government within the next few cycles which excludes both - something previously thought unthinkable.

Then, finally, gone will be the days of telling our children “my father voted for his father, and you’ll vote for his son”.

Adam Hallissey is the co-founder of The Progressive Brief and is studying at University College Cork. See www.progressivebrief.com or follow @progressbrief on Twitter.