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Martin McGuinness says Irish public don’t care about his IRA past

South's political parties fear a Sinn Fein win

ANTOINETTE KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, October 4, 2011, 8:07 AM

Updated Tuesday, October 4, 2011, 8:07 AM

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Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness

Photo by Reuters

Irish presidential candidate Martin McGuinness claimed this week the Irish public do not care about his IRA past. McGuinness also contends he has not been a member of republican group since 1974, although his assertion is being challenged daily by politicians and the Dublin media.

'I think people see me as someone very much associated with political agreement and, probably more than anything else, being able to build a relationship with loyalist leaders Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson,' he said. 'That's what they see as enormous.'

'I know this is a debate that has been raging, but the media are more interested than the ordinary man and woman in the street. When I went to the all-Ireland football final - involving Kerry against Dublin - I couldn't get away for an hour and a half with people coming up and wishing me all the best. Not one of them said, 'Martin, when did you leave the IRA?' But every one of them knew I was in the IRA at one stage.'

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McGuinness accuses Fine Gael of ‘Black Propaganda’ as election race turns dirty

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Asked if they believed he left the IRA 30 years ago he shrugged.

'I don't think the majority of people - to be quite honest - care,' he said. 'I think they see me as someone who was at one stage of my life in the IRA, but they see me in the round, as someone who was able to make peace.'

In the North McGuinness' claims are bolstered by images of loyalists governing amicably alongside Sinn Fein in the Assembly. But political parties in the republic are increasingly concerned that Sinn Fein are inserting themselves into the political mainstream there, building on recent electoral advances.

While McGuinness is the biggest celebrity among those standing, his selling points are not his republican credentials but rather his personality and the fact Sinn Fein's anti-establishment credentials will resonate with voters sill angry with the political system they feel ruined the country's economy.

Nster.com

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billie061 | Nov 02, 2011, 05:28 AM EDT

I care mr miguinness only I mitched from school i would have been caught up in the Dublin bompings and have memories of the following saturday beeen sheilded under a tank by a soldier beause of a bomb alert I was 11 years old and I was dragged by that soldier underneath that tank. Yes mr mcguiness and I call you Mr very loosely.

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Fergananim | Oct 14, 2011, 09:09 AM EDT

One question never asked amid all this is why, despite living in Ardoyne during the worst years of the troubles, did the current President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, refuse to join the IRA, as did so many Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland?

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BrendanDunphy | Oct 06, 2011, 10:01 AM EDT

An Orangeman defending grammar schools?? Boy, they've come a long way since Ardoyne then!

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sirpeter | Oct 05, 2011, 04:30 PM EDT

Kilsally.There's an orange streak down your back.I'd say you are a DUP man.You defending grammar schools.They must be elitist if Sinn Fein wanted to make changes.I wouldn't use the word ban though.It's a very strong word for making a few changes.

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Towngate | Oct 05, 2011, 03:50 PM EDT

AK: are you all under orders to describe McGuinness as the Sinn Fein Candidate? Remember he is pretending to be 'Independent' - but watch out for his Party Machine!!everyone else just live in hope that a Gubber never falls down on you from a great height!

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GeorgeDillon | Oct 05, 2011, 02:23 PM EDT

"in it their"--What ya talking about, kilsally? Your post is incomprehensible. And why are you screaming Sinnn Fein at me, you dope? Anyone who reads my posts will know I am an opponent of Sinn Fein the Mass Immigration Party. Are you sure you're on the right site, kilsally you nitwit?

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Kilsally | Oct 05, 2011, 02:11 PM EDT

`But only a bigoted piece of garbage dog in the manger would try to tell others what language to speak, or how to educate their children.`` lol stood in it their George since Sinn Fein have made several attempts to ban the grammar schools in Northern Ireland.

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GeorgeDillon | Oct 05, 2011, 12:17 PM EDT

"You have a tiny group of airy fairies who have their children taught through Irish". Ireland produces an unending stream of stupid bigots like this gobdawPiggy. Listen, you chump, if you don't know Irish, that's your business. But only a bigoted piece of garbage dog in the manger would try to tell others what language to speak, or how to educate their children. You're a fascist fool, gobdaw is too mild a word for you, imbecile would be better.

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sirpeter | Oct 05, 2011, 11:34 AM EDT

Legislation is first written in Irish because it's much harder to misinterpret it's meaning when written in Irish.Like any piece of Legislation written in English it turns into gibberish,which is why a person needs a solicitor to interpret certain documents and find out it's true meaning according to the law.English is constantly changing Pig Latin.It shouldn't even be called English.The proper term should be Pig Latin.But the piggy noises are just jargon really and as a language it suits crackhead Negros and West Brits.Example:Gubberish which isn't even a recognised word.Plonker!! That word is however.

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Towngate | Oct 05, 2011, 08:29 AM EDT

Well said, Gobbie: Seemingly Legislation is first written in Irish. So ... it starts off as gubberish written by gibbering idiots and is then translated into even more gibberish by even more gibbering idiots! Nice! No wonder the country; etc, etc.~ ~ ~ As for the TV 'debates' being broadcast in Irish, I wish they would try it just once to record the numbers of viewers who instantly switch over to Eastenders or Coronation Street!

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sirpeter | Oct 05, 2011, 07:24 AM EDT

Fallsers.I firmly believe that a UI is the best way forward for this island.I can even understand why the Unionist's wanted separation from the south in 1920.After all the north was the power house industrial wise on the island.But ALL that has changed.Your right in saying nothing is quite what it seems.We already know what a bunch of liars politicians are.It's just a question of what that liar whats to do if elected.McGuinness and company sorted out a big problem in NI.Full stop.The problems in the North were there long before McGuinness was born.So he was not the cause.I also DON'T care if he was Maggie Thatchers toy boy.He helped deliver peace and Sinn Fein managed to persuade the Unionists to share power.That's progress for the ORDINARY PEOPLE on this island.The rest don't give a damn about NI.The Brit politicians are always going to look after their own.And that means England mostly.Down south England at that.But as I stated in another article.AND THIS IS FACT.NI is the poorest part of the UK.That's BAD for everyone on the island.NI needs unity and Ireland as a whole needs unity.It's about time we all move forward together.When it comes to the UK.England is only loyal to England.Look at the price NI has payed.We need a guy like McGuinness to keep our crooks in place and the fact they hate him is a great start.By the way!! Everyone should get real.There is NO SUCH THING AS A TERRORIST.He/She is just a person/persons getting revenge for bad deeds done to them or their country.Export justice and you won't import terror.

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gobdawpaddy | Oct 05, 2011, 06:14 AM EDT

Trealach finds it a little disturbing that so far only one candidate has spoken as gaeilge and believes that any president should be fluent in Irish. What percentage of the Irish people would be able to understand their president speaking in Irish. I recall when i was getting ready to leave secondary school I was interested in becoming an air traffic controller. I had spent my early schoo years in the USA and started learning Irish a little late so I struggled with it. ATC was ruled out for me back then because of a civil service Irish requirement. Ludicrous! The Irish language is costing this poor country far too much. Every time a politician breaks wind in Ireland or Europe, his/her speech has to be translated. A bar recently fought a late drinking charge because that law had not been translated into Irish. You have a tiny group of airy fairies who have their children taught through Irish - what use is this going to be to them when they are forced to emigrate to Frankfurt, London, Syney, New York etc. etc.?

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macalister | Oct 05, 2011, 12:31 AM EDT

Leopards do not change their spots.

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antoman | Oct 04, 2011, 07:16 PM EDT

Mitchell won says one headline in tomorrows newspapers..me ARAS! The hollow man won? And these polls..is someone pulling the hairs from his arse and counting them? Ya know guys, my gut tells me that when the people go to vote it will be McGuinness that will clinch it. No one gives a rats ass about shootings and killings in the North, shure both sides were at it and the British government supplied alot of guns and money to further the grief. Did they not burn Cork to the ground before being run out of town? McGuinness can sit down with Loyalists, Unionists and Catholics. The same can't be said of the other candidates.

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Trealach | Oct 04, 2011, 07:14 PM EDT

What I find interesting and a little disturbing is that there have been two TV debates, and only One Candidate spoke very briefly in Irish. To become a Teacher, they have to have Irish; To become a Gardá they have to have Irish; To become a commissioned Officer in the Forces, they have to have Irish; to become a Judge, they have to have Irish - is it too much to expect that the President of Ireland should have fluent Irish, after all, it is still the First Official language of the country - Legislation is written in Irish and then translated into English, but in all cases the Irish interpretation takes precedence. N'fheadar conas is féidir go leor de na hiarrthóirí Gaeilge a labhairt?

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