38 Comments

• Bythebay | Jun 04, 2012, 11:00 AM EDT

  This poll was about political party support, not Gerry Adams or party leadership. The Red C Poll gives Sinn Fein 18%, about equal to the disgraced Fianna Fail party.

• GeorgeDillon | May 31, 2012, 02:49 PM EDT

  ancavker: Maybe Audi-rey was one of the people with hearing problems who sued? But there was worse than that. Maybe Audi-rey will remind me of the details, but I have a memory that Irish "soldiers" who had heard gunfire while on duty in the Lebanon subsequently sued the Irish government for stress! By the way, Audi-rey, your tactic of screaming "IRA" won't work with people who, unlike you, know Irish history. The IRA stopped their campaign in the 1990s, indeed the Good Friday Agreement was in 1998. Yet you say the key factor in that decision was something that happened in 2001! You're an ignorant fool. Truly, recruits for the Irish Free State Army are of of the lowest caliber.

• ancavker | May 31, 2012, 01:27 PM EDT

  audrey: It was shameful how so many so called Irish soldiers sued the government for alleged hearing loss. Does not say much about the caliber of men and women serving in the defense forces.

• audreybolton | May 31, 2012, 01:18 PM EDT

  Another point I would like to make is that the IRA finally gave up the "cause" after the the tragic deaths of over 3,000 people (including a close relative) in the Twin Towers and Irish Americans realised they had contributed money to terrorism over many years. The UVF/UDA were no better but at least they finally apologised, the IRA never did. There are still people about on both sides who are so bitter they can't move forward. BTW GEORGE WILL YOU STOP BEING HYSTERICAL!! IT DOESN'T SIT WELL ON A MATURE PERSON.

• audreybolton | May 31, 2012, 12:51 PM EDT

  Oh good memory George and mamaginnty! Yes I am still serving in the Irish Army and proud of it. We don't "run around playing solders", we also peacekeep around the world. My ancestors fought (including my grandfathers) to give me this right and to live in peace. Yes I read newspapers every day and know what is going on in the country and abroad. I lived through "the troubles" in Northern Ireland and I am glad they have peace now. This doesn't alter the fact that Adams and his friends killed many people in our name when we did not ask them to do so. THEY WANT TO SEIZE POWER AND DISMANTLE THE REPUBLIC. THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO ACHIEVE THIS! I CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OF AGE AND HAVE NOT CHANGED MY MIND. The point I was making is that the Republic gave up its rights to Northern Ireland under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution until such time as both sides agree to a United Ireland. The majority in the Republic still don't want it, so open your eyes and ears lads! Sinn Finn have little in the matter. As for Adams being an Irish Taoiseach (Prime Mininster) that is about as likely as McGuinness becoming the President. Most people think they are irrelevant. Stop getting annoyed with people who defend the Republic.

• GeorgeDillon | May 31, 2012, 07:07 AM EDT

  Folks should remember that some time ago this poster AudreyBolton told us s/he works in the Irish Army. Actually "works" is the wrong word, since the Oirish Army has no function that I know of. There is no reason for such a body to exist. It's an army that sues the government if its soldiers hear a gunshot or see a dead body. Paying jerks like Bolton to run around playing soldiers is a disgraceful waste of Irish taxpayers' money. I say disband the useless Oirish Army and send their toys to the scrapyard. Every euro spent on paying worthless people like Bolton is a euro wasted. Get a real job and stop playing at toy soldiers, Bolton. I stopped when I was about six. Grow up.

• mamaginnty | May 30, 2012, 06:26 PM EDT

  Audreyboltan if you are Irish you should be ashamed, " studied Irish history " and "sick of the past", when your ancestors fought to give you a future. You are definitly not educated when you call people provo's on this page because they might support the Sinn Féin party. The truth is only starting to surface about our Irish history, so when you grow up a bit, then go read about Ireland. You should spend some time reading the newspapers too on government and opposition Parties.

• mamaginnty | May 30, 2012, 05:59 PM EDT

  haha GD mellowing le haois a fheiceáil mé, is medicine le cineál, ar a laghad, tá mé macánta agus dúirt postaeir mé d'aois... gaeilge... agus bródúil aisti.

• RedBranch | May 30, 2012, 05:43 PM EDT

  'Sinn Fein--stale Guinnness in new bottles.' Nice one George, although I would add a 'toxic' in there for good measure.

• GeorgeDillon | May 30, 2012, 03:10 PM EDT

  audreybolton: Didn't you tell us you are in the 26 County Army?

• GeorgeDillon | May 30, 2012, 03:09 PM EDT

  Momma Ginnty: "just a bitter old man"---Betcha I ain't half as ancient as you, you old cailleach!

• audreybolton | May 30, 2012, 03:01 PM EDT

  "Adams the most popular leader in Ireland" O please! Where does this info come from? Having encounterd him several times, he is most boring 64-year-old you could meet. He does not understand or know much about the people of the Irish Republic. He is the sort of person you cross the road to avoid. He harps on about a United Ireland when he knows the majority of the people in the Republic don't want it. Myself and most of my friends are 30 or under and have studied Irish history and we're sick of the past and want to live in the present and look to the future however hard it may be. Adams and his ilk belong to the past and if the provos who seem to be on this site don't like, well hard cheese put up with it. The failure of McGuinness to get the Irish Presidency should be a clue to these peoople!! Besides one name that will always dog Adams and his friends JEAN McCONVILLE and all the other unfortunates who got on the wrong side of Sinn Fein/IRA and the standard of "ethics". Mamaginnty, Seanomelbourne and the others are going to be very disappointed waiting for this United Ireland.

• mamaginnty | May 30, 2012, 10:46 AM EDT

  Bythebay, 14 seats for SF, Just show's you the impact they have had on the southern part of our country. A few good men/women as they say. Never before has this happened with any other party. The next elections will give them all the seats they need. Martin Mc Guinness has proved a point too, coming into the south and getting such a massive vote when running for president. We will have our country back again, not tomorrow or next year, but a lot sooner than we ever dreamed of, with no war. As for that old git GoergefrigginDillon no matter what comments come up over the months you have had nothing good to say about anything or anyone, you have no Irish blood in you, just a bitter old man with a bully boy attitude.

• IrelandNorth | May 30, 2012, 08:09 AM EDT

  Seems some serial posters miss conflict in Ulster/Northern Ireland as to engage in perpetual belligerance. Siege mentality will be end of them, and possibly the peace process. Just remember, even the European settlers to the US had to uncircle their wagons at some stage, and to risk getting to know the natives. For those overidentified with the shibboleths of Ulster-Scot folk memory, think of a United Ireland as being like a trip to the dentist. The anticipatory anxiety is invariably worse than the actual experience itself.

• seamus60 | May 29, 2012, 05:17 PM EDT

  George . you have a point . we only have to look at the Girwood project and SF `s participation in Gerry Mandering. 1969 the people took to the streets for civil rights . now its happening again with SF at the wheel. Disgracefull.

• seamus60 | May 29, 2012, 05:09 PM EDT

  Gerry Geough the Irish freedom fighter, in a british prison cause he had the necK to stand in elections against SF.

• GeorgeDillon | May 29, 2012, 05:04 PM EDT

  You gotta feel pity for the Irish. They put their trust in Fianna Fail and Fianna Fail screwed them. Then they put their trust in Fine Gael Labor and Fine Gael Labor are screwing them. They voted NO in different EU plebiscites, but the Irish ruling class wouldn't take NO for an answer. It's no surprise that they are turning to Sinn Fein. But the sad thing is that SInn Fein have nothing to offer. They're just a version of Fianna Fail. They claim to be a nationalist party, yet they support the dilution of the Irish Nation by the importation of huge numbers of foreigners. They claim to be a Left party, yet they stand with the Irish capitalists in bringing in unlimited cheap labor from overseas to keep down wages and make sure the Irish work force is kept docile and tame. Sinn Fein--stale Guinnness in new bottles.

• chicksooze | May 29, 2012, 03:05 PM EDT

  Sinn Fein has tremendous support whether you like it or not, they will prevail someday and Gerry will lead the way. What will you do then btb?? You really need to learn the difference between a terrorist and a Freedom Fighter, time for you to go back to school.

• Bythebay | May 29, 2012, 12:40 PM EDT

  Sinn Fein doesn't have the support of 76% of the Irish people. Gerry Adams couldn't win reelection in Northern Ireland UK and had to come to Ireland in 2011 to try to save his political life. He clao came to get into the pension system since the United Kingdom Government would no longer allow him to be in both the Northern Ireland UK Government and UK Parliament in Westminister, England. Of course he collected his Westminister salary and benefits and never took his seat there. Gerry Adams is a failure -- failure as a Northern Ireland politician and failure as an IRA Provo Terrorist who accomplished nothing.

• IrelandNorth | May 29, 2012, 06:35 AM EDT

  PhlutiePhan! The Rt Hon Deputy Adams, TD and Sinn Fein generally are a centrist party straddling the ideological divide, which your Irish great grandfather(!) would've supported. They espoused a social capitalist model of macro-economics at their impressive weekend Ard Fheis in Killarney - as well as a NO! to the Austerity Treaty. (As an ideological refugee from the centre-left Labour Party - believe me, I know!) Sinn Fein is the only truly national political party operating in both artificial states in Ireland. Which is why historically illiterate opinionated 30-somethings ideologically conditioned by a revisionist education (and frontally lobotomised by the partitionist press/media) invariably get it wrong. (A copy of "The Troubles: For Dummies" by P O' Neill is in the post for CD!) And why 40-something Ulster-Scots living and working in England rightly intuit the end of partition. Won't be as painful as you fear - BTB! My predictions: Sinn Fein ( 32%) - Fine Gael ( 26%) - Labour ( 6%) - Fianna Fail (-26%!). Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church (HRC&AC) (-100%).

• sirpeter | May 29, 2012, 05:46 AM EDT

  The problem with IC is they ask for peoples personal opinion on complex matters and unfortunately that's exactly what you get.Bythebay you can get into power with 14 members of the Dail and also bring down a government.In 1997 Sinn Fein had 2.5% of the vote and now they have 9.9%.1 seat to 14 seats.Any fool can see the winds of change.Maybe you don't realise the disillusionment the Irish electorate feel for the main stream party's because of the economic situation.An economic situation in Ireland and Europe that could very well get a lot worse.I mean really bad.FF are in tatters.FG & Labour are on a knife-edge.Which party do you think the Irish electorate might look to next?

• greensod | May 28, 2012, 07:59 PM EDT

  NYCsheridan,Great post,true and accurate.Like Collins, Gerry Adams is way ahead of his time.History will show this to be true in the future.I see you also know your Irish history when you quote Collins as stating that the Irish had waited seven hundred years let them wait seven minutes.I learned that in the N.S.school a half century ago.Sure is nice to see some facts posted here instead of opinions by people with chips on their shoulders or just plain hate in the heart.As a Vietnam vet I would like to wish all Irish vets who served in the U.S. service and all veterans a great memorial day and many more of them.Thanks for your service and the difference you have made.

• pilib04 | May 28, 2012, 07:34 PM EDT

  NYCsheridan, you probably have it right that they are one in the same. Likewise, they probably reside in the USA.

• pilib04 | May 28, 2012, 07:32 PM EDT

  Great news. Sinn Fein continues to surge ahead of the other parties to become the leading opposition party in Ireland. Under the leadership of Gerry Adams TD in the Republic, Sinn Fein has shown vigorous renewal and development. A few years ago the hags were grousing about Sinn Fein reaching a wall. Even Sinn Fein was concerned. In spite of everything, Gerry's popularity has been strong for several years. The posters here (including ciara) seem to be totally out of touch with the Irish voters. 1 in four voters are selecting Sinn Fein. Adams has had very strong voter identity throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland. Aside from the westBrits, Adams enjoys popular support. What an exciting period of Irish history. Tiocfaidh ar la. Oh, by the by, ciaradexy, the majority of Irish schools are church operated. You really should consider coming home for a visit. Between your comment about Irish schools and your comment about Gerry Adams, you probably need to visit.

• SeamusMor | May 28, 2012, 06:55 PM EDT

  Answer to RedBranch: Conspiracy to Murder. Kitty O'Shea brought Parnell down, and the murder of Jean McConville will bring Adams down.

• seanomelbourne | May 28, 2012, 06:16 PM EDT

  The "Anglo's" and "West Brits" (you know whom I mean bythebay and Ciaradexy and their cohorts) are spitting chips because they are fast becoming a minority with their brainless assessment of the Irish psyche. Ciaradexy bloviates about living in Ireland and castigates those outside of Ireland as a defence for her meagre views. With her knowledge of Irish affairs she may as well live in Mongolia.

• KevinKehoe | May 28, 2012, 05:38 PM EDT

  Bythebay & ciaradexy regarding this and the last article on Gerry Adams, I do live in Ireland and you pair don't have a clue. Gerry Adams toped the poll in the last election and keep a close eye on the local elections in a little under 2 years. Sinn Fein are rapidly closing the gap whether you like it or not. Perhaps you might be writing as an emigrant when Ireland is united as you seem to hate the idea of a real Republic, not this banana Republic run by the Corrupt gangsters since the foundation of this State. And the Irish Americans lads and lady's are well in titled to comment on Irish affairs.

• RedBranch | May 28, 2012, 04:59 PM EDT

  Hey Seamus, whose playing Kitty O'Shea in your Greek tragedy??

• Bythebay | May 28, 2012, 03:23 PM EDT

  The poll wasn't about party leaders! Sinn Fein does not have the support of 76 per cent of the Irish people. Sinn Fein has a whole 14 members of the Dail of 166 members. That's 8 per cent of the total. Not any winning numbers at all!

• Murph46 | May 28, 2012, 03:04 PM EDT

  NYCsheridan-you stated the case well for Adams as well of view of bythedexy!

• NYCsheridan | May 28, 2012, 12:34 PM EDT

  Gerry Adams is the rightful heir to the Legacy of Michael Collins. He believes as Collins did at the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921, that reunification is inevitable and the pen rather than the sword, is the way forward. Collins paid for his belief with his life. Adams was almost assassinated himself. In his biography of Michael Collins, Tim Pat Coogan recounted that, when Lord Lieutenant Fitzalan remarked that Collins had arrived seven minutes late for the 16 January 1922 ceremony, Collins replied, "We've been waiting over seven hundred years, you can have the extra seven minutes".

• NYCsheridan | May 28, 2012, 12:23 PM EDT

  Poll: Who is the bigger troll, 'ciaradexy' or 'bythebay'? Or, as is often the case with pathetic little trolls, are they one and the same?

• ciaradexy | May 28, 2012, 11:51 AM EDT

  Murph, so you can read? Well done! Im irish, born and bred and I live here. Adams has no idea whata in the best interest of the people. Hes so preoccupied with NI that he doesnt know whats going on in the Republic. Hes spent all his life in the North. He has to change currency going to work everyday and hes happy to take a salary from the British yet hasnt worked a day for it! The man hasnt a clue! Please, worry about your own people, you know the ones murdering and raping young irish girls in Japan and the ones eating peoples faces at the side of the road in Miami and leave my people to do their own thing. Nothing here affects you even a little bit.

• Murph46 | May 28, 2012, 11:41 AM EDT

  PhlutiePhan-I think you would agree we see eye to eye on several issues (byethebay),but I honestly believe that for all I have read and researched for a book that Adams has at heart the best for the Irish people,and I respect your right to disagree.

• PhlutiePhan | May 28, 2012, 11:32 AM EDT

  To "Murph46", the people believe in a charlatan like a bunch of lemmings. He is a radical socialist and has links to Iran and China for guns and explosives. His first target is to exploit the moral lapse in the Catholic Church and to destroy all respect for religion. After all, that is what his "Uncle Joe" taught him.

• SeamusMor | May 28, 2012, 11:32 AM EDT

  Terrorist to TD. Paramilitary to party leader. Soldier to statesman. This is a life full of irony and paradox. Deputy Adams seems simultaneously headed towards taking power and uniting Ireland, at the same time he may be indicted and put on trial for conspiracy to murder Jean McConville. This smacks of a Greek tragedy with the greatest fall from grace since Parnell as the potential final act.

• Liam3494 | May 28, 2012, 10:17 AM EDT

  Try and be consistent on the spelling. It's the Labour Party in Ireland.

• Murph46 | May 28, 2012, 10:07 AM EDT

  Congrats and good luck Gerry,you were an integral part of the peace process and people believe in you!