Ivana Bacik’s rise will open new avenues for the Labor Party, but how bright-eyed are voters?

But in a way, this well-worn joke of the socialist struggle betrays an underlying truth – Labour, in its fiercest determination to uphold its “values”, would prefer the electorate to change itself rather than Labor adapting to the electorate. Indeed, the most visible change in the party in this Dáil – aside from the advent of Bacik – has been a regression to the old Star Plow as a symbol rather than the soft red rose of its sister progressive parties in Europe.

However, there is a chance that the young voters that Labor urgently needs to appeal to may not have the faintest idea what the symbol stands for.

Aside from that initiative, at the wake for Mr Kelly’s leadership at the Dáil bar on Wednesday (when he wore the Star Plow on his lapel), a weary Labor politician admitted that the outgoing leader had “no ideas” on how to improve the party’s appeal can expand.

But in one fell swoop, Bacik’s survey will do that.

It is progressive that Ireland’s oldest political party is only electing its second female leader – the first was Joan Burton – in 110 years.

It will force voters to sit up and take notice immediately.

The anticipated move also leads to a battle royal with Sinn Féin led by Mary Lou McDonald, with an inevitable focus on how the two stack up against each other.

But the real short-term goal is to reclaim the political ground occupied by the Social Democrats led by Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall.

She ended the last election count with the same number of seats as Labor – six.

Labor’s constant problem has been that it is seen as a pioneer of Fine Gael, as Mr Kelly’s obstinate management of water charges (Irish Water was invented by Simon Coveney in the first place) is seen as a particular obstacle to winning votes in the long memory the public.

But it’s also plagued by the perception that it’s a comfortable, middle-class group — the elderly and urbanites largely confined to garrison towns.

After all, it is relatively recently that Colm Keaveney won the party’s first seat west of the Shannon at Gilmore Gale.

And then, fatally, the political tide turned.

Bacik is a polished, articulate media artist, a darling of recent referendums.

It could very well get the party started among the urban elites of the east coast and in Galway and Limerick, where the party has no TDs.

For many in rural and religious Ireland, however, she will remain an anathema as she is viewed as the embodiment of choice-free, over-liberal Ireland.

But the equality agenda has long been its strength – and it is fertile ground.

Newly elected for Dublin Bay South, she is clean hands for Labor in a different way than Mary Lou is for Sinn Féin.

It cannot be painted as the cat paw of the conservative parties. At least not yet.

As Sinn Féin ponders lines of attack, the Social Democrats have a battle ahead, with both co-leaders likely turning 70 before the next general election.

But the Social Democrats believe the Labor Party’s dream of taking their seats is an illusion.

They believe it is a fallacy to imagine there could be a merger, as has happened between Labor and the Democratic Left, the latter containing some remnants of the old political wing of the official IRA.

The social democrats with their purple styling have talented new cast members like Jennifer Whitmore, Gary Gannon, Holly Cairns and Cian O’Callaghan. Labor would love to have such talent.

Then there are independent socialists and the likes of People Before Profit who are clamoring for a share of the left vote.

It’s also arguably that the Greens occupy the crowded ground at the other end of the spectrum from the traditional big parties, which now appear to be shrinking. Bacik will hope to honeymoon with the new generation – without having to fret and moan about the last wish.