NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish in US Politics Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Sinn Fein unprepared for sudden Irish Republic poll success

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Sinn Fein unprepared for sudden Irish Republic poll success

Posted on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 08:23 PM

Larger Text

E-mail

25 Comments

RSS

Archives

"Vote for the amateur bank robbers, not the professionals" is the suggested bumper sticker for Sinn Fein in the upcoming Irish election by Michael White of the Guardian newspaper.

It's tongue in cheek of course, but the IRA involvement in the bank robbery in 2005 that stole $40 million from Northern Bank pales in comparison to the daylight bank robbery of billions stolen by those in charge of the Irish banks or dispensed to cronies.

Sinn Fein has almost doubled its support form 8 per cent to 15 per cent in the latest Irish Times opinion poll, only two points behind Fianna Fail. That is the equivalent of the Communist party overtaking the Democratic Party in support.

Just a few years back Sinn Fein was at about 1 per cent in the Irish Republic, Fianna Fail in or around 50 per cent. Now they are within hailing distance of each other.

In the process Sinn Fein are taking votes in droves from the Labor Party which has lost eight points in the latest Irish Times poll.

The Labor party had a brief vision of being the largest party after the previous poll showed them ahead but the Sinn Fein surge has put paid to that.

But Sinn Fein may fall victims of their own sudden popularity.

It is no secret that the party in the south has poor candidates compared to their Northern counterparts, most of whom were forged in the white hot cauldron of Northern Irish politics.

In contrast, little attention was paid to the south, where few candidates had any opportunity at being elected and thus,few attractive candidates were nurtured.

Consider that Gerry Adams will run from Louth, a safe seat. he should have been running elsewhere to gain a seat rather than holding one.

In 2011 Sinn Fein were primarily focused on the Northern Ireland assembly elections, but now they find themselves with an extraordinary opportunity in the Irish republic.

They may find themselves, however, unable to fully capitalize on it.

E-mail

25 Comments

See all comments

sheilap | Jan 29, 2011, 07:55 AM EST

'Lazy young barstool republicans" check out Kathryn Reilly SF candidate for Cavan/Monaghan. You will find she is well educated, with a degree in law, politics and european ecconomics. She is 22 years old and is very knowledgable about the issues. It's time to give the younger generation a chance, the career politicans have proved what they are worth for Ireland.

Report abuse

cuddlybuddly | Jan 16, 2011, 10:08 AM EST

there was a time Irish politicians would die for the people and their country, this crowd of fat cats has robbed the people blind and we have allowed it- vote Sinn Fein (how do you put fada in fein?)

Report abuse

Silling | Dec 26, 2010, 10:57 AM EST

I have lived outside of Ireland for 35 years and currently reside in France. Voting never interested me in the past, but now I have registered and I am going home to vote Sinn Fein (Sorry DenisQ, I don't know how to put a Fada in Fein, but I agree with you).

Report abuse

sirpeter | Dec 26, 2010, 07:21 AM EST

barneyjo..a Government of "National Unity"..I think i entertained that thought for about three seconds.we would have a general election three times a year.They wouldn't agree on anything.The simple fact is the Rich are making the ordinary people of Ireland pay for their gamble that went wrong.We need a ruthless left wing government who will go back to Europe and say...It's as simple as this we need a better deal or we are going to pull out of the Euro or if that doesn't work..we say we are going to pull out of the EU.They have the ordinary people by the short and curlies and we got to get their hands away.If this is the way we have ended up,THEN the Euro is not for Ireland.We need a few hard men like Sinn Fein who know how to deal with hard men and put the frighteners on Germany.If the PIGS drop the Euro that's the end of the Euro.Germany does not want that...And in my opinion that's the ace we have.With a bit of guts all we have to do is reach out and twist the boll*cks of Europe and hear the Krauts squeal ..NEIN!! NEIN!! Ze Irish are gone mad..Vee have got to give them vhat they want.

Report abuse

pilib04 | Dec 25, 2010, 09:55 PM EST

Niall writes "In 2011 Sinn Fein were primarily focused on the Northern Ireland assembly elections, but now they find themselves with an extraordinary opportunity in the Irish republic." Is it already 2011. Hmmm. I wouldn't worry about Sinn Fein, they have had no problem operating as an All-Ireland party. If you want to worry about something, Niall, worry about your proofreaders!!!

Report abuse

pilib04 | Dec 25, 2010, 09:35 PM EST

sinn fein represents the working class of ireland. of course, SF is taking votes from the gombeen men of the labour party. labour would form a coalition with the devil in order to rule. oops, they have, after all, what is fine gael (blueshirts) if not the devil incarnate?

Report abuse

barneyjo | Dec 20, 2010, 06:59 PM EST

@sirpeter - I am sure it has occurred to you, as it did to me that not one member of the "Body Politic" in Ireland has suggested the formation of a Government of "National Unity" so as to allow all parties (including Sinn Fein - with a sufficient mandate) to plan a strategy for recovery for the country.It occurs to me that Sinn Fein are no different from FF FG in that their lineage can be traced back to the physical force separatist tradition which, I would argue, still prevails on a large segment of Irish Society. The country has the expertise necessary to do this but the problem is that the men and women needed are outside of Irish Politics. The serious challenge for any government has to be to bring them in and get them working towards the given end of recovery, instead of allowing them to jump on planes, trains or whatever in order to get them away from the problem.

Report abuse

sirpeter | Dec 19, 2010, 12:05 PM EST

barneyjo..Do you think Sinn Fein could do a worse job then what the shower of economic traitors has done? Who are we to vote for? You tell me? I'm all ears!! Are we to vote in the same people who made the mess in the first place and their plan that seems to be a bit worrying.Your comment on the days of old is a bit silly..But at least in the days of old..every generation had it better then their parents..We are going backward..but only because we were to far forward in the first place...Too rich for the rich.

Report abuse

barneyjo | Dec 19, 2010, 10:12 AM EST

@Redhand32 - so when the bills fall due and Ireland cant pay its way, what then? Perhaps we can resort to days of old when people with nuthin to do can gather at cross roads or intersections and dance irish jigs to remind them just how great it is to be penniless and without hope!! Good thinking by Mary Lou when she let slip what Sinn Feins position should be in respect of the ECB/ IMF. I wonder just how many scholars of Micro and Macro economics within Sinn Fein will come to the aid of the next Dail?

Report abuse

redhand32 | Dec 18, 2010, 05:16 PM EST

Sinn Fein is the last voice for the working people and poor in the 32 counties. The election is "last call" before the new absentee owners, IMF and EU take over the country.

Report abuse

sirpeter | Dec 18, 2010, 04:52 PM EST

Georgy...Stick to the poles eating our swans and horses,and the nutritious cheese scrapings from our discarded pizza cartons.

Report abuse

GeorgeDillon | Dec 18, 2010, 10:10 AM EST

DennisQ wrote "Tir gan teanga, tir gan anam". DennisQ, would you please put the fada over the /i/?

Report abuse

GeorgeDillon | Dec 18, 2010, 01:16 AM EST

Once again I remind readers that Sinn Fein has adopted a Wide Open Door policy on Mass Immigration, which places them exactly in line with their Fianna Fail buddies and the Irish capitalist class. And it puts them four square against the interests of Irish workers.

Report abuse

GeorgeDillon | Dec 18, 2010, 01:14 AM EST

"Civi War rhetoric spewed out to get the blood of the pro and anti "treaty" camp" Barneyjo: You really don't know what you are talking about. Irish people today have absolutely no interest in the Civil War, in fact most of them couldn't tell you who fought it, or why. You're living in the past.

Report abuse

DennisQ | Dec 17, 2010, 11:00 PM EST

Would you please put the fada over the word Féin? It's a small thing to do but necessary, given the commitment they've made to the Irish language. Tir gan teanga, tir gan anam.

Report abuse