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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Irish media claims that Sinn Fein live it up in the US are far off the mark

Posted on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 05:51 AM

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Sometimes you have to laugh at the Sunday Independent in Ireland and their attempts to continuously denigrate Sinn Fein.

Their latest effort comes today with a lurid story about Sinn Fein spending massive amounts of money in America on their annual fundraising efforts here.

The two funniest descriptions are of the Astoria Manor in Queens, which everyone knows is a very basic down meat and potatoes outer borough catering hall where humble Irish organizations such as county associations pay about 100 dollars a plate for events.

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This is transformed into the "luxurious elegance at affordable prices" Astoria Manor which will come as a great surprise to those of us who frequent the Irish dinners there every year. As the accompanying photograph shows it is hardly the Ritz.

The other laughable one is the description of the Manhattan Club catering hall upstairs from Rosie O'Grady's as 'ultra swish'.

It is an honest to goodness venue for many Irish organizations who cannot afford fancy Manhattan prices. To describe is as 'ultra swish' is downright hilarious.

Then there's the dinners that Sinn Fein personel had at Bobby Van's the upmarket eatery.

A quick check would have revealed that Bobby Van's is owned in part by Joe Smith, one of Sinn Fein's biggest suporters in the US and a Belfast native.

Likewise with the Harbor Lights restaurant which is owned by the Delaney family, long time supporter of Gerry Adams.

The Affinia or Sheraton Hotels where Sinn Fein personnel stay are decent mid market hotels in Manhattan, far from the depiction of them as luxurious.

As usual the devil is in the details in these stories.

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seamusryan | Dec 22, 2011, 04:07 PM EST

The issue shouldn't be the sort of establishments in which they're doing the fundraising - the issue is that foreign political donations are allowed at all.

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seanomelbourne | Dec 22, 2011, 05:39 AM EST

Maryanna pollyanna!!! living in her own little ignorant world how sad.

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mcdolan | Dec 20, 2011, 11:12 AM EST

I don't know how Chuck Feeney's name got dragged into this muck, but I know that he is a quiet, generous soul who has helped more people than the public will ever know.

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newnation | Dec 20, 2011, 09:16 AM EST

ha, congratulations on proving how little you know dillon! let me guess you had one guided tour of Dublin and you think you now know it all? Get off this message board you have no links with Ireland and telling yourself otherwise is just a joke! No one cares for your nonsensical comments and by the way, your going to have to learn what racist means, me thinking that you are a waste of space and filth of the worst kind doesn't make me a racist, however your comments to me below are.. shut up shop and get lost!

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maryanna | Dec 19, 2011, 06:57 PM EST

Sin/f are sociopaths -full stop.they have a lot to answer for-they let the hunger strikers die for what.

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seanomelbourne | Dec 19, 2011, 06:27 PM EST

Spies usually have a bad ending such is life.

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maryanna | Dec 19, 2011, 02:53 PM EST

who are investigating the disappearance & murder of mother of 10, Jean McConville by the IRA. The treaty is I've requested by the US which has seen some controversial cases in the UK too such as the Scottish hacker John? McKinnon. Ate you going to tell the family that the police should drop the investigation? Seems you have a rather one sided view of justice, that it is wrong for the SAS to shoot armed IRA men on their way to shoot people and should be investigated, but it is not ok to seek the killers of an unarmed mother of 10 who was abducted and taken to some remote beach and shot in the back of the head

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maryanna | Dec 19, 2011, 01:57 PM EST

Well they don't come across too poor to me! Armani suits - Look at their lavish life styles and their families are living it up and pissing it up! Look into their fbs its all a joke! They own most of NI, South of Ireland and holidays business- everyone. War is big business - and tell everyone that they are on an industrial wage - don't insult peoples intelligence!Mafia wannabees bes!

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ciaradexy | Dec 19, 2011, 12:54 PM EST

Newnation-so Dublin is the most un irish county? Dublin is the most culturally rich city in Ireland. Its where all the magic happened and still happens!

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IrelandNorth | Dec 19, 2011, 06:31 AM EST

The stark contrast between the Windsorphilia of the Partitionist Press/Montrose Media & the witch-hunting of Martin McGuinness in the presidential election would cause me to question their objectivity in this regard. No free press in this increasingly unfree state.

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seamus60 | Dec 18, 2011, 08:58 PM EST

Regardless of where they stay or eat, they are very privilaged to get entry into the country unlike most irish republicans, never mind receiving large sums of money whilst they`re there.

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cillowen | Dec 18, 2011, 07:23 PM EST

don't disabue them of such grand notions - it elevates the freedom seekers. great craic.

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seanomelbourne | Dec 18, 2011, 05:20 PM EST

Keep the cash coming my Irish/American brethern.

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seanomelbourne | Dec 18, 2011, 05:19 PM EST

George at times you are an ignorant bufoon. The Independent is the sad remnants of a once great newspaper run by a a right wing brigade of liars and deceptors.

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newnation | Dec 18, 2011, 03:45 PM EST

don't listen to him Murph he knows nothing about Ireland, he had one ancestor from Dublin the most un Irish part of Ireland 150 years ago and he thinks he has a connection now..

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