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Updated 8pm
SINN FÉIN LEADER Gerry Adams has said today marks a “step change in politics” as his party looks set to enjoy huge success in the local elections as well as take three seats in the European elections.
Sinn Féin is also on course to become the largest party on Dublin City Council and speaking at the Dublin West by-election count in Citywest this evening, Adams said that the party is “very ambitious”.
He said: “We need two things, one is to be in government – a mandate – the other one is an agreed programme for government. The second could be more challenging than the first. The other parties are now wedded to conservatism, austerity.”
He said that the party wants to see a “realignment of politics” which he hopes would be “accelerated after this election”.
He said he did not know if his recent arrest in relation to the murder of Jean McConville had an impact on the Sinn Féin result but said it galvanised party supporters.
The Louth TD said: “We don’t know. We don’t know who might have voted for us but didn’t.“What we do know is it galvanised our own activists and I would like to think that the way that we responded to those events was positive and that that may have helped.”
https://vine.co/v/Mw6taMmirbQ
Speaking earlier this evening on LMFM Radio, Adams said that he has heard some members of Government condescendingly dismissing Sinn Féin’s gains as “the people giving us a scolding”.
Instead he says what has happened is that the people have given ‘profound notice that that want to quit this type of politics”.
“We’re the largest party in Derry, in Belfast, in Mid-Ulster and perhaps now in Dublin and Meath,” he said.
I keep stressing in my interviews, we want to use our mandate wisely, people are hurting, it’s what I’m hearing when I talk to people…I would appeal to people who seek change. I’d appeal to people to join the party, we’re here to build a democratic republican party across the island of Ireland.
The national picture isn’t clear yet but Sinn Féin are set to have their largest ever participation in many local councils throughout the country with Dublin European candidate Lynn Boylan gaining the biggest voting share according to exit polls.
Adams says that the party didn’t have the “resources, infrastructure or capacity” to run the number of candidates or scale of campaign he would have wanted but that the party will build from their result.
“I think we have been mandated to change, this is a change of the political landscape in this state. Sinn Féin is here and Sinn Féin is here to stay,” he added.
- additional reporting from Hugh O’Connell
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It’s nice to see the political witch hunt against Adams did not succeed.
They said they had proof right? They said they knew…they KNEW and it was all coming
down the sky was falling…where is it then? Gone quiet all of a sudden are they not?
Does the sheer and complete lack of any evidence and the deafening nothingness now that the
campaign is over not convince those of you who believed this nonsense that it was politically
motivated? There was ZERO evidence presented.
Next time someone is publically hung out to dry, be it for charges from troubles, accused of
pedophila like those soap stars that turned out to be innocent, maybe before jumping to
conclusions based on the smoke you could first ask ”what is the evidence”? and base
your conclusions on the evidence or lack of it, rather than on your own tribal political bias.
SF take special note of what happened to labour, contrary to what they’ve said they are being punished for broken promises not ‘hard decisions’, so in 2016 promise only what you think you can deliver, and when you get into office remember everything you say is recorded and noted now and you won’t get away with saying you’ll do something then not doing it.
Don’t make people more disillusioned now than they already are, don’t say you’ll abolish water charges then get in and not do it, because we’ll have no problem showing you the same door we showed labour.
They all ready said they’d abolish water charges and property tax. It’s on the record. Apparently, the millions of billionaires are covering the cost for us…
Not jumping to conclusions requires self control & rational thinking. A quality many do not possess unfortunately.
We told you this was coming O’ Reilly, you Blueshirt troll. Your lot and the Fianna Failures were on this morning celebrating the RTÉ exit poll. Idiots looking pretty foolish now.
Drink the cool-ade. Small kids died crying. Think of that.
But the Exit poll has proven accurate…
Witch hunts? Zero evidence? It could be the abduction, torture and murder of Jean McConville you’re on about. Although I suppose that’s all insignificant compared to paying for water.
O’Reiley who said anything about billionares?
We’ve had no water charges since the bloody 19th century, they’ve been funded by normal central taxation for over 100 years, were quite able to abolish them without any elaborate wealth taxes etc
It’s the same with college fees people on here tend to grossly inflate what these programmes actually cost.
Sammy is that supposed to be an argument?
Draw me a line between kids crying and Adams…wheres the connection? Where? THERE WAS NO F$$£$£KING EVIDENCE!!! Does that not convince you? Do you not believe in innocent until proven guilty?
If I thought he did it I’d not be defending him, but if someone wants to convince me of that they need evidence.
Besides…what kids died crying? No kids were killed in that situation a woman was killed, you don’t appear to even know the facts of the situation yourself so how the hell can you know who the killer was when the PSNI, G2, MI5, Garda etc don’t know?
Do you know how small their intel file on Adams was during most of the troubles? They had one picture of him and it was back when he was clean shaven. They once kidnapped his dog (from his mothers I think it was) and drove around the streets with it hoping the dog would identify him by leaping out of the vehicle and going towards him, so how is it they can claim to know where he was on one particular night?
Face it, they fed Chinese whispers to that poor family to use them for political ends. They exploited their greif to try to derail a democratic election process and it totally backfired.
Proven accurate? How many councillors are elected as of now? There’s a long way to go and as we’ve seen every vote counts. Besides, celebrating the fact that a rival party didn’t do as well as you expected is pretty pathetic and desperate. SF now have a platform to build on. FG’s battering has only begun.
Im delighted to see SF doing so well but im very shocked by the amount of people that have voted for FF and FG andd Labour, some people will never learn obviously!
Civil war politics, Eamon. After bankrupting the country, people still blindly vote FF because their family do. Same with Blueshirts.
P.O’Neill – exactly – it was pathetic the FF/FG trolls coming on trying to spin it that SF had stalled. Up from 10 to 17% even more impressive jump than 2011.
So happy that Mary, Gerry and Pearse are being rewarded for sterling performances in the Dail. FF’s silence has been deafening.
Peter, you’ve been polling at 17% for the last two years. You can get yourself excited about lifting from 10% since the last GE but it’s old news to all. Despite all the rage and austerity, you still came in at 17%. No change. A failure to capitalise…
Eamonn try going canvassing, it’s a very very depressing experience. If you’re the candidate it’s kinda fun cos they always wanna meet you and talk to you and if they so much as get a good vibe or think you are a generally nice guy they’ll vote for you, it’s depressing for the campaign team.
One year I went canvassing (I usually work in offices for candidates doing their leaflets etc and overall campaign strategy raather than canvassing so this was new to me) the biggest issue for the council elections was the local school. I was torn, do I explain to the locals that educations a national issue and thats for the general election, that councilers don’t control education, but if they had issues with roads, parks etc they had influence on that
I decided it would be bad for the guy I was working for that year if I pretended we could do things we could not so I told some people councils don’t control that and just as I was in mid sentence explaining what we did control and asking what their issues were in those areas I was cut off with ”then what use are ye” and that was the conversation stopped.
The other really depressing phenominon was (esp as a person without a party) people saying ”DIS iz a FF/FG house” and they won’t let you talk to anyone within the house. Irish voters, when you look at the polls and see them in focus groups, tend to be really shockingly uninformed about very basic matters almost as bad as the US electorate, but that does not stop them holding firm opinions on areas they know nothing about. They will confidently tell you for example that on social welfare you get a ”free house”, with ”free electricity” and ”free travel” (often seeing those pink/grey dart tickets with €0.00 and SOCIAL WELFARE RETURN printed on them and assuming they’re for dole heads (they’re for pensioners and those with a disability). They think tribally , they don’t think much about policies (which is why FF and FG hate each other but can’t say why).
The PDs did some work breaking that up as did the Greens and now it’s starting to come apart with the collapse of FF. I would not declare FF rescued yet, their shocking lack of any policy alternatives and their pretending to be opposed to things they originally introduced is not going down well. SF will lead the opposition next time and possibly the next govt FF will be pushed into NO2, esp if Adams retires and the old IRA heads are dropped out of the spotlight for new people.
From 0 to 2/3 European seats in the south alone. Projected from 50 to 100+ councillors – biggest party in Dublin city council to add to Derry, Belfast and Cork. Oh we’ve capitalised alright and this is just a start.
More airtime – finally FG will have to debate and respect the mandate given.
5% to 10% to 17%.
Ah sure it’s just a protest vote.
As that great Radiohead song goes “stop whispering, start shouting” – well people are and this vote is their cranking up the volume.
A failure to capitalise? A whole host of
new candidates, many young and more women candidates than your Blueshirts stood. We are now dominating new areas across the island. Dublin, Belfast, Mid-Ulster, Meath and more to come. Very close to getting a European seat in every constituency. 2 haw topped the poll here. How many polls have the Blueshirts topped in the European elections?
P, Peter. You’ve been polling at 17% nationally for two years. Today’s result confirms that so your gains were widely expected. The fact that you could not surpass that figure at the height of austerity and public anger shows that SF have not capitalised. Doesn’t help that a lot of your supporters haven’t the motivation to get to a polling station…
Your a clown
Oh dear , Fionnán won’t be happy with this turn up for the books
Fantastic
Ryan, he is what he is, he had a great escape not Sinn Feinn,they were going to do well regardless. There was no witch hunt against him, since those tapes were handed over I’d say he has been shitting himself, and questioning him was always going to be on the cards. The shinners will be found out like the rest of them, unfortunately this country does not have a better party to elect so were going through them all until one of them get it right. The day will never come where this country is led by a party with a terrorist as it’s leader.
Sinn Fein going from strength to strength, people will be watching how they perform on the councils now. A very positive election.
A wonderful day Jamie :) Puts the likes if O’Reilly back in his box!!! Rahoo rahoo!!!
Rahoo?
‘Ra-hoo…
SF are benefactors of anger. Just as FG were at last GE. The politics of either were not a factor in many voting for them. FG have the labour lapdog as protection just now so are better off. Next government will be a another coalition; two of FF, SF and FG.
Ger, That’s a very generic comment, if people wanted to vote out of anger, why did they not vote independent. There was plenty of other parties to use as a protest vote other than SF. Or here’s an option spoil your vote. If i wanted to express my anger against the government i certainly would not vote for a party no matter what their position just for the craic.
Rahooooo rahoooooo :)
Kathy I voted for SF in EU as a thank you to Martina Anderson for requesting ECB letters to be released. That’s it. Their policies when implemented are unknown to us. Most people are reacting during periods such as now.
It is Clear SF want to whats best for Ireland as a whole and the people as a whole. Unlike those in power and controlling the coffers.
I feel quite happy and safe knowing they are gaining support.
How is it clear Karen?
I am not answering you Charles. You have no open mind to give an opinion to and not even bothered to try.I have seen your clear agendas on journal over the time you comment and how you comment.
It is clear to those who voted and are listening and paying more attention.
Yes Karen, I agree. I feel this shake-up can only be good for the entire country. Nice to see Dublin and Belfast and possibly Cork with similar representation; will surely contribute to greater dialogue and discourse.
My clear agenda? I only asked because I don’t share your clarity and insight into all things sf. How silly of me to expect a straight answer from one of your sort…
Sounds like you can’t answer the question Karen.
Oh i can indeed but i dont feel right to waste my time with an complete troll on journal.ie and who shows every other day their agenda.
Having a different opinion i have no issue with(but when clear even if showed SF are the best party) Charles wouldn’t want to listen in anyway.
One of my sort shows exactly the condescending hatred you have for anyone who doesnt have same views as you.
Classic. I’m a troll because I question sf and gerry adams? ( and all other political parties)
Disappointing cop out.
Nope classic i am not going to answer you cause you asked a question you really have no interest in.
And i have seen your previous comments (your fault i have come to conclusion you made up your mind and would never change it)
I could care less if you question SF party policies. Your prerogative, as is mine to believe in them.
Correct Karen.. Don’t waste your breathe.. ‘Them kind/sort have egg on their faces now!!!fantastic support for SF ..
Thing is i would answer Joan if it wasnt falling on deaf hears who could care less that SF are the right party. They hate them regardless.
Funny how SF rise in polls and popularity when Gerry came down on board for Ireland. Yet people claim he is bad for the party. The logic they use is so illogical. lol
Happy days for Ireland SF Socialist and Independents getting a look in instead of usual same old same old.
Hey Joan it really is good day for SF and the people. Thing is i would if i thought wouldnt fall on deaf ears of someone who shows hate for SF and voters who vote for them. So no point in answering him.
Funny how they keep trying to say Gerry is damaging SF in south of Ireland,yet SF popularity gained when he moved down to us. Their logical is illogical lol
I know, I agree with you… I’ve always kept an open mind when it comes to politics.. some don’t and like to stir the shit so there’s no point engaging..
Now you’ll actually have to be constructive and make real decisions locally. Like budgets. It’s going to be hilarious…
Why would they be any less capable of making budget decisions than any other party? They’ve had to do it in the north for years when they didn’t control the actual size of the budget, which is exactly the case with councils, and they just got re-elected today so they must be doing a decent job.
Well they can’t do any worse than the gang that are currently in (and the previous shower). Lets give them a chance.
Do you just stay on here all day waiting to rag on SF?? Its pathetic at this stage. You dont even have any evidence to back up your points you just spout nonsense.
Im not even a SF member (voted for the 1st time yesterday) but this constant drivel spouted by members here on every article concerning SF is just annoying at this stage.
Donegal town co, remember that…..
Giving that all there Tds are surviving on the average working wage I would say they are good at managing money
Well if you’re starting with a 13 billion sub from her majesty, raising money locally isn’t quite as onerous. Still the place is in a mess. I’m not encouraged but your example of norn iron at all
Ryan, you lot spent the last few months claiming not to have budgetary control and that the British government were pulling the strings.
Now you say you’re making decisions. Typical flip flop shite…
Not as hilarious as your comment O’Lielly. Go have a drink and drown your sorrows. I’m off out to celebrate!! SF abú ;)
Roland/were Jammin, what are you celebrating exactly. You’ll come in nationally at 16/17%. Where you’ve been for two years now. Today’s result was expected. In the midst of all the anger, this is the best SF can do…
Well oreilly, your shower aren’t exactly a glowing example are they… except if you are a banker or a bondholder.
Funny that as soon as o reilly stops commenting John gahan starts. Better known as Richard etc etc. So sick of your bulls*it troll. Piss off.
I’m sick of this notion that not believing in FG-FF policy is the same as being irresponcible or disconnected from reality.
Just because someone has different political views from you on economic issues does not by virtue make those views illegitimate. Besides, what possible clout or credit do either of them hold on economics? The biggest crash in the countrys entire history happened after a giant bubble that neither party saw was going to burst and both parties were in full agreement on the policies fueling it.
Now FG were disasters on economics in the 70s and 80s as well so I don’t know what he hell kind of cred they think they have and what it’s based on because this country has never enjoyed stable sustainable growth and low unemployment during any FG led govt, so they’ve no right to talk.
O’Reiley…there is no ”YOU LOT”, I am not a member of any political party, and while ive been a hired gun helping various parties I myself have not been a member of one since 2007 when I was basically still a kid.
Charles my point was exactly that, the UK central govt sets how much they are allowed to spend, they don’t have taxation and revenue powers, they are just told ”X is what you can spend’ now operate within that” , it’s not a blank cheque it’s the opposite they are given an amount they can spend for matters the NI exec has control over and thats that. Which is the situation they are going to have on councils, so they’d be well used to it. Although in theory they can veto the budget as a whole which they may do as a protest method.
Also would those of you who are regular posters please get past the assumption that taking up for a party in one particular situation = you being a supporter or member.
I’ve been accused of being a FFer, a SFer, a socialist and a right wing lunatic all on this same website it’s not hard to understand where I’m coming from, my brain does not work with party tribalism and even when I was a member of one I was quite happy to publically disagree if I felt that way, I go with who I think is right, thats all.
In deciding what policy to support I go with what the best practice has turned out to be elsewhere and here, policies based on good social science. In deciding who to support in situations like the Adams case I simply ask what does the evidence say. It should not be that hard to understand.
Keep munching on those sour grapes O Reilly. Sinn fein have made a great big hole in the prehistoric ice that personifies Irish politics.They sure as shit won’t be bending over for Enda’s old friends in Europe when they get there either.
I’ll have them any day over the insipid spineless selection we have in place at the minute.
Ryan, get off the cross…
Tell us more about how You feel there Ryan. Those lengthy self-absorbed posts are fascinating and add substantially to the debate.
Well if you believe that meanicalrat you’ll believe anything. Mug!
Roland/were jammin? Methinks o’lielly is imagining reds under the bed!!
Which decisions will they be making precisely O Reilly? It would appear local councillors don’t have a whole lot of decision making power..
Bock the Robber was nice enough to put it all into some perspective for those who were unaware;
http://bocktherobber.com/2014/03/local-elections-2014-what-powers-do-local-councillors-have/
MEPs are going to be working on pan European legislation rather than local issues.. So what precisely are you expecting O Reilly?
Shanti, setting out budgets for a start…
I lost total respect for you went you referred to the six counties as norn iron. Can I have “sit-ye-ation” too O’Reilly.
Go and pander to your stronghold – old rural farmers- you might find a few online @ the farmers journal.
Do they even have that power O Reilly?
I can’t find anything that suggests they do, I see that they are answerable to the government, and that policy decisions tend to rest with the local TDs rather than councillors.
Haha true Peter. O’ Reilly is like a lost pup on here. Devoid of intelligent argument and continually spewing the same FG rhetoric.
Try starting with honesty
They are doing that up the north for years and here in the republic. I’m not Sinn feinn myself but let’s be honest they have an awesome election machine and appeal to ordinary voters. I’m sure they can manage local election issues.. They have the momentum
Oh look.. I got 16 red thumbs. 1 from each of the troll’s accounts!
Whinge whinge whinge
Congratulations Sinn fein, keep. Your promise to the people. And I for one will continue to give u my no vote.
Number one vote. Well done sinn Fein.
Great day for Sinn Fein up the republic
Shinn Fein should learn what a balance sheet is, because their policies will not make the books balance.
Already did Padraig and cleared by Finance dep in the dail.
But that has been the problem since the Fianna Fáil fiasco in 2007, the books don’t balance; so let’s try a different approach. We can’t keep voting for those who seem intent on breaking the backs of every working person in this country in an effort to ‘balance the books’!
Give us your policies so, Mr McWilliams….oh wait.
Ha ha padraig f failed and f gael done a great job balancing books
`Padrig….jesus where to start…
1. We didn’t have a balance sheet / accounting problem we had an economic growth and financial sector stability problem, that problem caused the balance sheet issues. Ever since the crash the economically ignorant conservative minded hacks have talked as if balancing the books was the soloution to the crises, the deficit was a RESULT of the crises not a cause.
2. They have a budget in the north every year that they cannot much exceed, they do just fine with that so why would they have a problem down south?
3. None of the centre-right or centre parties have balanced the books since 2006 and before that they had only started balancing it at all in the late 90s with a deficit being normal for decades before that.
4. I’ve read their economic policies, they’re all costed,and since no FF or FG administration has balanced the budget since the crash (because the cuts to make that happen would send us into a deep depression and anyone with a lick of basic economics would understand that..) nobody gets to throw mud on this issue. Economic competence, if you look at Irelands history, has not been a feature of FF or FG-Lab govts with the possible exception of the 1960s and a breif sliver in the late 90s/early 00s, so you can’t really throw mud at a party that’s not yet even been given a shot.
I also can’t help but note you have not named any specific policies…so really isn’t this just trash talk playing into urban legends about SF having communist policies (which they’ve never had…with the republican movement they came from actually being fanatically anticommunist..)
I am staggered by the SF celebrations. They are behind FF, FG and the mass of Independents who will be elected.
They are transfer toxic and they know it.
To have a shot at government they would have to be the larger party.
Never going to happen.
Now just watch the disappointment as those who voted for them realise that they’ll still be paying property tax and water charges.
The fact that FF are getting 22-24% tells you all you need to know. We forgive even the unforgiveable. FG benefitted in 2011. Sinn Fein did today. Someone else will in 2014.
What a load of absolute shite, Alan. SF have stood a huge number of new candidates, many young and a lot of women too, whilst the Blueshirts are standing the second lowest number of women candidates. Saying we would have to be the largest party in an election to gain power is pure ignorance. You think FF/FG can form a government? Or a FG with 30+ independents? Because that’s what would be required. Most people realise that SF cannot be excluded as FG/FF will inevitably lose support, along with the Labour Party. But keep believing your rubbish, if it helps you sleep at night.
Do I think FF/FG can form a government? Absolutely I do and that’s exactly what will happen in 2016, especially if it means keeping SF out.
The fact is that despite everything SF couldn’t manage even one in five votes in this election and that’s about as good as it’s going to get for them. EU parliament means nothing. A joke protest vote. But sure enjoy the night. Because it’s the best one SF will ever have.
And if anything it’s the by-elections that tell the real story. SF unlikely to win either with a government party winning one, something almost unheard of in the middle of a term.
Enjoy.
You seem to think the election is over? It’s far from it. SF can only be kept out of government for so long and even you know that.
I shudder to think what a FG/FF coalition would do to this country. If such a coalition were to occur, we would see the worst corruption, cronyism and negligence ever seen in a Western Democracy. Besides, prominent Blueahirts came out recently against such a combination. The Blueshirts and the party that bankrupted this country is your best solution? I’d rather take a rag bag of independents than have that situation.
A first time candidate Donnelly gaining a huge vote. The Blueahirts time is numbered, come election time they’ll be back to 2007 figures. SF are the only major part rising and will continue to do.
P, Donnelly is a second time candidate. Which makes him a two time loser. This is the second by election to be won by a sitting government – something previously unheard of….
Alan as to the water and property charges…agree or disagree with them this is a democracy, 3/4 people oppose them both and the electorate giving 30% of the vote to indos and 20% to SF has been a demonstration of that opposition.
If Labour want to survive they’d best go to Kenny and ask for a renegotation of the PFG based on their 2011 election promises, water charges, property charges and college fees need to go, thats the only way for labour to survive now, if they pull that off they might recover.
This is a democracy, there is NOTHING inherintly inevitable about one set of policies over another, and there is further nothing that makes that set (water and property) more logical than the other way those same areas have been funded before (from central taxation), policies change all the time, nothing is inevitable, it’s only in the interest of the govt to portray them that way because then it lessens the heat on them for introducing them.
Policies change all the time, water charges was scrapped before, college fees were scrapped before, we survived decades without a regressive property charge just relying on simple progressive taxation, we can do so again. We have major policy shifts all the time, nothing is inevitable. If labour don’t get these things scrapped the next govt will.
And not a wisper out of mr rodgers today! Crawled back under his rock hopefully we wont hear from the man for a while. well done SF.
No Janette he was on other articles lol I am sure will be in here soon.
What has Derry and mid Ulster got to do with people living in Southern Ireland? It’s a different country!
They have a different administration, not really a different country. We’re all on the same island, we’re all interconnected through family, culture and trade. You’re talking about Derry, not Dar-Al-Salam.
EMMM!!!! the Provence of Ulster contains Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal all in the republic Micheal surely if you went to school you would know this.
Thankfully idiots like you are few and far between in Ireland now. Only bigoted partitionists from FF/FG have such a shameful outlook. Mid-Ulster and Derry are as Irish as Cork, Kerry and Donegal. Many of Ireland’s greatest patriots such as Thomas Clarke, Sean Lyster and Eoin MacNeill. However your bigoted Free State mentality blinds you from the fact that the people of this island are one, and always have been. Separated by British divide and rule tactics, enforced willingly by Free Staters, such as yourself.
What is a “partitionist” Jamie?
Is it supposed to be some sort of IRA slur?
I assume he was trying to be clever by saying that, throw a bit of bait out there to get a ”NO IT’S NOT UNITED IRELAND ALL THE WAY..UP CELTIC” remark from the Shinners..
There is a serious answer to it though, leaving aside the wish for a United Ireland clearly expressed by 70% of the people of this island in 1998:
1. SF have been in govt there for a long time now, and have been forced to work within a budget. Their performance, at a time when anyone in govt anywhere is being tossed out no matter what side of the spectrum they are on, says it all, they were re-elected today by landslide in a time when every govt is a pox on their houses so that says they can successfully govern with maturity
.2 We share a lot of common aspects on this island there are a lot of areas of policy that are all island which is why we have an all Ireland ministerial council to coordinate them.
It’s not a different country in the same way France and Spain are, the difference is more like that , esp with the EU now a days, between Texas and Colorado.
Jesus, people are still using expressions like FreeStatist and blueshirts?
Depressing how little progress we have made
You fool Michael. That is the onky response to your foolish comment
A partitionist is someone who actively reinforces the partition of this country. Our people were divided by the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, in which no Irish person voted for. SF won 73 seats in the 1918 election yet a boundary commission was decided upon against the will of the people of Ireland. Many people in the 6 counties are as Irish as you and me. To treat them differently, based on the fact that the live North of an artificial British created border, epitomises this partitionist attitude. I hope you are not a subscriber to this mentality, Jeremy.
As for mentioning’IRA’, please specify, as there were at least 12 groups that have used (and still do) that name.
Eh, Ryan. Sinn Fein support actually declined in the North…
Declined? You reading Willie Fraizer propaganda or something? SF has taken a seat off the SDLP in Derry/Strabane and have a majority of seats in Belfast. Then again, I though you didn’t care about the 6 counties? Blueshirts using the 6 counties as a stick to beat SF with is sheer desperation.
P, SF support is down about 1.5% on the last election. It’s a fact…
RTÉ App shows that Sinn Féin have won more council seats than FF, FG and Labour combined. It’s the results that count!
Jeremy I made a different comment. You weren’t implying I was P O’ Neill? Although I don’t mind if you did, I’d nearly take it as a compliment.
We had a vote in 1998 and 86.54% of the people of the island voted to accept partition temporarily as long as XYZ was in place and it could change in the future (power sharing, police reform, the issue being decided by the people of the island alone)
We have a deal that’s working so lets not go around talking like it’s 1972, it’s 2015 nearly the worlds changed, and European integration will eventually (imo when it becomes federal down the line) will make the whole thing a moot point anyway.
IMO P’ONeal, while I think a lot of people in the south, esp in the better off areas, are totally detached from just how bad it was up the north in the darker times, with entire streets being burned to the ground and the police and army on the side of the people doing the burning… terms like free state are exactly the kind of language SF people need to drop if they’ve any serious hope of breaking into the middle class vote in the south.
The association with the bad old days needs to be forgotten that means speaking to present day issues not constantly harping back to the past.
Please back up this fact it doesnt add up ??
Eh no its not
Ryan this wee island has had manys a fight. People vote or don’t. Truth is, the biggest issue facing the country is the National Question. Not economics nor immigration. The mayhem that is the North during marching season (all year round) needs to be tackled. The potential for bloodshed is huge, but not only is it ignored, it’s almost encouraged.
Didn’t we have a referendum to give up the claim on the six counties and didn’t 97..% of those cast a vot agree that we would do so. So given that percentage gave up on the idea it would suggest that the remainder are clinging to and ideal that the population of the six counties don’t want and nor do the remainder of the 26 counties.
So partitionist is incorrect. Realist is more appropriate.
Significantly poorer performance from Sinn Fein than my worst fears.
Agreed, even if they got one extra seat that before they would big it up. Obvisouly their red thumb police were to busy on sites like this to actually go out and vote, or are to young to!
On course for 4 European seats. Dominating Mid-Ulster, Belfast, Derry, Meath and Dublin. We’re not finished yet, not by a long shot. Just look at Dublin, where we wiped out the Blueshirts.
Interesting choice of words
P, Matt Carthy won’t be taking a seat. Voters didn’t seem to value the valuable contribution of child killer Thomas McMahon…
Killer of children. He killed 2 boys amongst others that day. Gerry thanked him for his campaign support.
Shinnerbots red thumbing 2 facts. Makes sense strangely.
Not red thumbing 2 facts…red thumbing 2 d!ckheads
Successful politicians are basically liars and anyone who trusts them are idiots. Human nature is concerned essentially with self preservation and the political system has been designed ti ensure that those who become part of it cannot lose. Pensions, grandiose severance pay etcetera all ensure a life if ease and luxury for any and all politicians. Win lose or draw they win. You pay the price. Homelessness, bankruptcy are not a politicians lot.
At last we have a party which will fight austerity, build the economy and protect the poor.
Love seeing the blueshirt community rushing to the internet to bash SF being voted for democratically, are you all that terrified of change?
Lol at the blueshirt community running to voice their displeasure at democracy giving success to SF….lololololololololololololololololol.
Donnelly and Sinn Fein Inc. USA are throwing a free bar at The Bell Pub tonight. Free food, craic and music for all.
Well done SF !!! I stupidly voted FG & labour first time round because I believed all those election promises. Fool me once, shame on you .. Fool me twice, shame on me ! Won’t be happening again, And I’d also just like to say to FF ….. Toooooo sooooooooooooooooon !!!
I can’t wait to see your face If SF do get into Power. I have a feeling you’ll be fooled again.
Gerry Gerry Gerry
Gerry’s kids had a great day.
Here’s a tune from my home town. Listen to the words.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DveP543x1I
Change the party name like Dev I think 1939
have your say