The west is awake… February 24, 2011
Posted by WorldbyStorm in Economy, Irish Politics.trackback
I’m indebted to Pidge for the following from the Western People. Check out the full article, but for some choice examples, well, read on…
The headline:
We will never again have the chance to elect a Mayo Taoiseach
Go on…
WE have entered the final days of a general election campaign that looks set to give Co Mayo its first homegrown Taoiseach.
Enda Kenny’s surge in the weekend opinion polls has made him the clear favourite to succeed Brian Cowen as the country’s new Taoiseach. The Islandeady native has run a hugely impressive election campaign and even sectors of the national media that had previously been hostile to him have had to concede that he is now the obvious candidate for Taoiseach.
And:
Setting political allegiances to one side is always a difficult thing to do in the final days of an election campaign.
However, even the most vocal opponents of Fine Gael must agree that voters in Co Mayo are being presented with an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of electing a Taoiseach from the county. We will never again live through a week like this because the confluence of unique circumstances that have brought Enda Kenny to his current position are truly inimitable. Whether by accident or design, Mayo people now find themselves staring history in the face as one of their own enters the home straight in the race for Taoiseach.
Don’t forget Dublin…
The dominance of the Dublin-based national media means that it is becoming increasingly difficult for politicians who reside ‘beyond the Pale’ to reach the highest office in the land. Not since the foundation of the State has there been a Taoiseach from a constituency in either Connacht or Ulster, and the lack of investment in both provinces is a stark reminder of its exclusion from the centre of power.
But…
However, we believe it would be utterly remiss of us to gloss over the obvious benefits to this county should Enda Kenny assume leadership of our country.
And there’s more…
Mayo badly needs an economic lift at the moment, and the single act of electing a Taoiseach with a strong mandate will be the equivalent of several multi-nationals locating in the county.
The economic benefits will be enormous, notwithstanding the financial constraints under which the new government will operate.
So…to conclude.
But it is almost impossible to look past Fine Gael in this general election in Co Mayo. The party is at an historic high in the polls nationally and the ‘Taoiseach factor’ will undoubtedly dominate the intentions of voters in Mayo.
The West of Ireland has long been paid little more than lip service by a Dublin-centred political elite. We have an opportunity to change all that on Friday next. It’s a precious opportunity that won’t come around again.
Not in the business of telling people how to vote – eh?
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Northern Ireland, Gabriel Beecham. Gabriel Beecham said: "We will never again have the chance to elect a Mayo Taoiseach": http://is.gd/xTnPVu #ge11 [...]
Jesus Christ.
As a display of everything that is wrong with the Irish political system, you couldn’t top this article. A letter from the Taoiseach gets that pothole filled faster! Vote Enda: as effective as seven multi-nationals!
Yep. By the way, check out who owns the Western People
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Crosbie_Holdings
So, not Dublin. More like… Cork.
David McWilliams (who may not be the most reliable source) claims that by the end of 2012 the interest payments alone on our debts will be E12 billion (out of a tax take of E30 billion). I think that a whole lot of people just haven’t grasped what “financial constraints” means in this context (even with a Taoiseach pulling like seven multi-nationals). I am really frightened over what is going to happen in the next five years; a 2013 Lockout won’t be the half of it. Is it possible to have any optimism at all in these circumstances?
(here: http://www.davidmcwilliams.ie/2011/02/23/bit-of-something-is-better-than-all-of-nothing-for-ecb?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Davidmcwilliams+%28DavidMcWilliams.ie%29)
Snap. The shallow boosterism we’ve heard in recent times is quite mad really when one looks at the actual figures involved. You’re dead right.
In mitigation, the history of Mayo largely consists of losing things. Four crushing All-Ireland defeats in the last decade and a half can do terrible things to the human spirit. Secretly they suspect something is going to go wrong this time too. A friend of mine suggested before the last election that FF should show a series of Mayo players kicking the ball wide in Croke Park and then end the ad with a picture of Kenny and Rabbitte and the statement, “And now . . . they want to run the country.”
If the place elects four Fine Gael TDs on this kind of openly gombeen basis we can only hope that it curses their All-Ireland hopes for another century.
EamonnC, that’s a great line about “And now they want to run the country”. Made me laugh out loud. Just been on the phone to a Mayo FG friend of mine with it. I signed off with “Good luck, now. Tomorrow we’ll have a Mayo taoiseach, God help us.”
You’ll work harder with a gun at your back, for a sod of turf a day.
Ah but we’ll feel better for knowing that, deep down, the overseer is one of us.
That’s a line from Holiday in Crossmolina by the Dead Kennys isn’t it?
Not taking away from the gombeenism of the Western People, but I’ve just got a leaflet in the door from Mary Lou McDonald, telling me to ‘stand up for Cabra-elect a local TD’. It’s about the fifth Sinn Fein leaflet I’ve got that bangs on about her being local. But Mary Lou’s from Castleknock.
A blantant case of impersonation which deserves a thunderous editorial in the Cabra Champion. Or whatever it is called.
Parochial? Nous?
Actually she’s from the southside. She lives in Cabra, though.
When did she move there? And what did she do with the place in Castleknock?
Today was the first time I actually looked at the candidate’s addresses on a ballot paper. I absolutely hate the notion of voting for someone because they are living in the same part of the constituency but I was curious. It was surprisingly interesting. The candidates tend strongly towards the Drumcondra bit of the constituency, while there was one independent with an address in Westmeath.
I also noticed that Mary Lou McDonald has been demoted from “Peace Negotiator” to “Party Official”.
Well, at least we’ll get a Taoiseach who miraculously retains his youthful good looks. And maybe that’s because of one of Mayo’s few successful industries:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/oct/15/migraine-treatment-goldmine-for-botox-maker
One ring to rule them all,
One ring to find them.
One ring to bring them all,
And in the darkness bind them.
In the County of Mayo, where the shadows lie.
With regards to Mary Lou being demoted to an Official. Sure aren’t they all Officials now?
I’ll get me coat!
She’s been there for a couple years Mark. If you’d looked at your ballot paper in the Euro elections you would have noticed
Well, she’ll have a few years to get settled there now that her years of political vagrancy seem to be over. I can’t see her missing out on the seat this time.