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Meeting voters: Grace O’Sullivan with supporters Con Trass (right) and Denis Maher (background, left) [Daragh Brophy/TheJournal.ie]
THE IRELAND SOUTH canvass is going “very very well” first-time candidate Grace O’Sullivan insists, on a rainy Monday in Cashel.
The former Rainbow Warrior crew-member turned Green Party Euro-hopeful is on a charm offensive in the South Tipperary town for the afternoon, and says she’s hoping the personal touch will help shore up votes ahead of Friday week’s European elections.
A recent opinion poll put O’Sullivan on 6 per cent — at a squeak, still in with a shout for the ten seater-constituency’s fourth seat. Considering the electoral wipe-out experienced by the party at the last General Election, it’s an encouraging number.
“I was more surprised than anyone when I saw it,” says O’Sullivan.
I had just been keeping my head down and working away… All of a sudden this positive sense came around me and I thought ‘maybe I am in with a chance’.
The issue of the Greens’ role in the last Government is coming up on the doorsteps, the candidate admits, but “not very much”.
Whatever their voting intentions, the issue doesn’t appear to be too much of a concern for the people of Cashel either — at least, based on TheJournal.ie‘s entirely unscientific research…
[Daragh Brophy/TheJournal.ie]
On Main Street
Joined on the campaign trail by a small band of local supporters, including Denis Maher — son of the former Independent MEP and IFA leader TJ Maher — by the mid-point of the afternoon O’Sullivan appears to have convinced a number of business-owners on Main Street to back her Brussels bid.
Case in point, Donald Walsh — whose family have run Walsh’s butchers in the town for generations.
“Well, I know Denis well — and he’s vouched for her,” Walsh says.
Basically I don’t know anybody else in it — that’s the truth.
And is he put off by the Greens’ record in office pre-2011?…
(Youtube: TheJournal.ie)
Back on the street, O’Sullivan appears to have another two votes in the bag; the couple she’s just met are heading away on holidays, she says — but they’ll be back before Friday week, and have promised their first preferences.
However — a quick chat with the couple in question reveals an interesting insight into the capricious temperament of the Irish voter…
(Youtube: TheJournal.ie)
The candidate and her canvassers have been in and out of shops for the best part of the afternoon — and at this stage they know where the pockets of support are most likely to be.
Fortunately for O’Sullivan, there are no similar sudden changes of mind.
“I think she’s very good, she’s been around the world… I think she’ll do well,” says one Main Street shop-worker.
There’s a similar vote of confidence from Marian O’Dwyer, who runs a small butchers & grocery store with her husband Martin:
She’s a very nice girl. Very committed to what she’s going to to. We’re in the food business of course, so we’d take a big interest.
Around the town
Away from the Green canvass, however, there’s a distinct drop-off in enthusiasm for the upcoming elections…
“I haven’t seen any of them,” one resident says.
I heard Phil Prendergast was around… Most of them leave the Main Street until the week of the elections, because they know we’ll be here anyway.
At the local post office:
“No, no-one’s been in here.”
“No, we did, we did,” the clerk at the next-door counter insists. ”Micheál Martin was in the other week — he was in with the local Fianna Fáil guy.”
The elusive Fianna Fáil leader was also spotted at the far end of the town, it turns out…
“I saw his head going by the window, but he didn’t come in,” says florist Michelle Kenneally — who says she’s still considering all the candidates, but would consider voting Green this time out.
“She’s the only candidate to come in here,” Kenneally says, adding that — no, she wouldn’t base her judgement of the candidate on the party’s past performance in Government.
Marian and Martin O’Dwyer of O’Dwyers [Daragh Brophy/TheJournal.ie]
Back in the street, O’Sullivan discusses the financial challenge being faced by her campaign: the funding gap between the Greens and the more affluent parties is evident all over the consituency, where posters of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael candidates stare down from every second lamppost.
Money is tight, she says, but the party organisation is doing what it can to get the support out “mostly through quiz nights and coffee mornings”.
“There’s not much of a network of Greens in the area,” admits canvasser Conn Traas — who describes his role in the campaign as ‘Tipperary contact person’ .
We only have eight or nine members in South Tipperary.
The canvassers break up shortly before five o’clock.
Next stop on O’Sullivan’s trail is Tipperary Town, some 20km down the road.
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Long time at both troughs …
Good riddance. She’s a lot to answer for the way she treated Sergeant Mc
cabe.
No loss at all.
Perhaps the most nothing minister to ever exist
Any hope the Daly and Wallace would join her? Those two yokes are a national embarrassment.
@: Clare Daly and Mick Wallace are two voices of reaon in the trough of the European ‘Parliament’. Just watch them in action on YouTube and read the comments from around Europe where people are praising Ireland for its courageous stand.
@Fearg: Any comments I’ve read from around Europe have not been complimentary
@Fearg: certainly in the aftermath of the Israeli bombardment and murder of innocent Gaza citizens they might be the only two voices of reason in the EU.
@Fearg: what’s Daley and Wallace’s comment on the little Irish girl Emily Hand who’s still missing since Oct 7th……. Nothing but silence. Shame on them.
@Fearg: I wasn’t a fan of Daly and Wallace but I have changed my mind recently.
Are people having a laugh. Daly and Wallace are two absolute fools. Two Russian apologists. They make a complete show of Ireland in europe. If the Irish people vote them back in they deserve everything they get.
@Fearg: Two communists.
@tommy bailey: nothing communist about either of them.
@tommy bailey: I’d take that as a compliment in this day and age …
Fascist running wild in England and Eastern Europe
At least they work for their money, and are well liked by Europe for their stance on real issues. Can’t be said for Francis fitz
Regardless of her achievements, when I see her political colours the words “writing” and “wall” spring to mind… can’t figure out why exactly
Considering she is 73 this is hardly a surprise.
I wish her well in her future endeavours, a brilliant representative of the Irish people
@Reece Dooley: You’re gas
@Reece Dooley: how many pensions does she have
@Reece Dooley: A waste of space.
@Reece Dooley: Maurice McCabe would highly disagree. She is a nasty piece of work.
@brian madden: one short of Jarry Adams
@Reece Dooley: I was asked: “which one is she?” and I couldn’t think of anything. Now that’s some legacy.
@brian madden: about the same amount as laptops and phones “lost”
@brian madden:
Irish TDs (and MEPs) now can only claim one public pension, whichever one is the highest, which is inline with all public servants.
The law was changed in 2011 by the FG lab government Francis Fitzgerald was a member of.
@Liam23: how many is that?
I’m devastated. I just can’t go on after hearing this.
The writing is on the wall for Fianna Failure , Fine Grabbers and the Greedy Greens……
I’m not a supporter of any political party but if they don’t accept the results of the 2020 General Election then we we’re hitting turbulence with the current shower…
I am devastated, crying a river here and we are doomed.
Any chance Frances might be setting the stage to take a run at a final payday in the next general election, having served her time in the wilderness of the EU after her resignation in 2017?
@Dvsespaña:
The Aras?
@P.J. Nolan: She might chance it
@Jp Cleary:
Reckon it’s between her and Mariead McGuinness for the FG nomination.
That said, I highly doubt either would be moving to the park.
Is she any relation to Dee Forbes!?
Thank god, she done nothing for clondalkin
Very, very very damaged goods who was certainly strongly involved in smearing Maurice McCabe, John Wilson. Shame on Dublin for giving her this seat
A useless waste of space – a waffler
@Johnny:
You just discribed every politician on the planet
A disgrace to her country.
Seanad here she comes
Why would she refuse to run for the European Parliament, where the salary and perks are multiples of the Seanad?
Now if she had run and lost, that would be different, although the Seanad is more for disappointed Dail candidates.
Whatever its state, thank you for Tusla and for beingt he Minister responsible for the Marriage Equality referendum, for your work as Chair of the Council for the Status of Women (National Women’s Council) and the Women’s Political Association. That said, it was her actions (or inactions!) in justice, the whistleblower that came, went and returned to haunt her!
@Tom Dillon: Tusla is not fit for purpose and is responsible for daily misery on a level somewhat comparable to what me and others I’ve known have gone through, suffering in -certain- public services of this statelet
Got her big fat pension from Europe, job done
Frances is definitely going to run for next President. That’s what this is about.
She’s not running again as an MEP because she wants to run in the GE in 2025. Can read her like a book.
@Ian:
No chance
She going to make a run for the general election.
It’s going to get dirty in Dublin
have your say