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AS THE MEDIA gathered in the library of the Royal College of Physicians today for the Labour leadership announcement, nobody was expecting anything particularly dramatic.
It was well flagged that Labour TDs wanted to back Brendan Howlin for the top job and there would be no national contest.
There would be a standard announcement, Alan Kelly would show some good face and we’d all go home.
What we didn’t expect was the conspicuous absence of the deputy leader. By just one of their seven TDs not even turning up, was the party airing its dirty knickers in public?
Nobody had predicted Alan Kelly’s royal political snub. He was not at the podium as the small audience waited patiently for the ceremonials to begin.
The process
‘Who will be the next Labour leader?’ was a question knocking around since before Joan Burton even stepped down.
And today was D day for Alan Kelly who has been trying to woo just one of his Dáil colleagues to be his seconder. As noon approached, the deadline for leadership nominations closed. And the Tipperary man was out of time.
No consolation points.
The media gathered, pretty safe in the knowledge that Brendan Howlin had clinched it.
How would Alan take it?
Alan Kelly made his ambitions for the leadership known in the full spotlight of the Late Late Show last week, so it would be no surprise that having none of his colleagues willing to back him is bruising to him.
As the Labour Party members filed in one by one, heads turned to catch a glimpse of Alan Kelly.
He was nowhere to be seen.
Howlin said in his acceptance and celebration speech that “Labour doesn’t offer theatrics”.
However, that was exactly what was on offer today. The elephant in the room was that someone was missing and you can’t fudge the numbers or hide in the shadows when there is only a handful of you to begin with.
Howlin missed out on the leadership twice before but Kelly’s absence didn’t allow him to revel in his new position.
Following Howlin’s speech in which he hit out at the new government and the ‘left fringes’ and promised to reinvigorate the party, questions followed.
“Where is Alan Kelly?” “Have you spoken to Alan today?”
Howlin said he had sent Kelly a message earlier in the morning but got no reply. No one seemed to know where he was.
Many might think Kelly was right to be a no show. Why would you bother to turn up to a group that didn’t give you a shot at the leadership or allow the membership to decide its next leader?
His colleagues had nothing but kind words for Kelly, saying they hoped he would remain within the party.
“I know Alan to be a friend and a colleague and a man of great passion and ability,” said Howlin.
“Alan will speak for himself.”
During his speech, the Wexford TD also said this was “not a game”. But did the whole leadership debacle play out like one?
“You said you don’t regard this as a game, do you think Alan Kelly does?” TheJournal.ie asked those at the podium.
“No I don’t,” answered Howlin. He said there were people in the room that gave their whole lives to the Labour cause, and who would defend the Labour Party to the death.
“Are you hurt Alan didn’t turn up today?” was the follow-on question.
I am hugely disappointed, but I understand his disappointment too.
Today is not about Alan Kelly, it is not about Brendan Howlin, today is about how we collectively, with the same values advance the system, advance our party…
Today was about Alan Kelly though. He might not have been in the room but the message of Labour having a bond that can’t broken was hollow when one of its members clearly didn’t feel part of the gang today.
So, was this a case of throwing the toys out of the pram?
The mood today was that his no show would be something Kelly would regret as it might simply reinforce whatever reasons were in people’s’ minds as to why Kelly might not be ready for leadership.
Labour sources said there was no mood within the party for a contest, others said they would have liked to have their say. One common thread was that Alan Kelly’s past was too raw and too recent.
“He was damaged by the Sunday Independent interview for sure,” one source claimed.
I think he just needs time, time to distance himself from things. He’s plenty of time for the leadership, he only 40, he’s only been a TD for five years, there’s no rush.
There have been soundings that Kelly is thinking of leaving the party. However, sources say this is doubtful. This afternoon, he took to social media to dampen those reports:
On the Late Late Show, the former Minister for the Environment said he could trace his family in the Labour family for generations. He also spoke of his desire to lead the party. Stepping away now to become an independent TD for Tipperary would be a bitter pill to swallow and there are no leadership contests in that plan.
But then again, maybe Kelly would like to be a lone wolf in the political landscape.
The party remains hopeful today that Kelly – their “good friend” – will return home to them. Howlin said:
Alan Kelly’s heart is in the Labour Party – he told the nation that this time last week.
His place is at the heart of the Labour Party. He described his parliamentary colleagues as family, his brothers, his sisters and his cousins . His family is open to him always, I am hopeful and confident in the future and that his roots are still in the party.
Today is a disappointment to him, he wanted a different outcome. All of us have gone through that before, in some shape or form. At the end of the day, the bonds that bind us and the values that combine us together are infinitely stronger…
Before leaving, Howlin said he would be ringing Kelly again this afternoon, then one journalist spotted him looking down at his phone.
He asked if Alan has finally replied to his text. Howlin said it is him and read out the content to the room. It contained best wishes plus a nod to his achievement:
It’s a great day for you and your family.
All’s fair in love and war, as they say. Is the same true in politics? We’ll have to wait and see.
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Wonderful response from the supporters.
Cistercian College Roscrea, built in 1905 is one of only two monastic colleges in Ireland.
The school has a national and international reputation for sporting achievement. Sporting facilities include extensive playing fields (rugby, hurling, gaelic football, and soccer)
An all-weather pitch, Heated indoor swimming pool,Basketball court, Tennis courts and .Gymnasium.
Past pupils include Brian Cowen – Former Taoiseach. Willie Mullins – Racehorse trainer and former jockey. Conor Brady – Former editor of The Irish Times.
A great history.
@Emmet O’Keeffe: eh… do you work there or something?
@Emmet O’Keeffe: maybe the congregations could do the same whip around to pay for rest of the catholic church’s abuse bill
@The Throwaway:
What sort of an ignoramus are you?
@mark foley:
My guess…..an atheist ignoramus.
Oh Shut Up Shane Bradley.
People donating money to an institution the love, an institution which probably does more good for future generations than you or I know about, that is good in my book.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: i am not doubting it is a good school but it is elitist.. That’s all I am saying and in our unequal society, the advantage always prioritise their own.
Elitist how?
And so the elite of our land look after themselves!
@Shane Bradley: How do I unlike this gimp?
@Shane Bradley: You , my dear friend, have got a great big ” plank” on your shoulder . Just get on with your own life , and don’t be so narrow minded.
@mark foley: I certainly do not. Why is it you make your comment about me and not about my comment. When you attack your opponent and not counter his/her point, you have already lost the argument. Such an approach is a classic fallacy of logic called ‘argumentum ad hominem’.
I actually had a high standard education and am very grateful but I also recognise many, due to no fault of their own, are not so privileged, as educational resources are unevenly divided.
@Shane Bradley:
Actually educational resources are perfectly equally divided, with the government giving the exact same ‘capitation payment’ to every school in the country, according to the exact same criteria. In fact the inequality lies at the lower end with far more state funding being pumped into ‘DEIS’ schools.
With People Power, anything is possible. Bualadh Bos all round.
It might help then stay open if they stopped paying for people to come in to play rugby.
@Alex Denby: Mr Denby, you just get your facts right . Typical begrudging, small-minded attitude.
The power of the old boys network!
Well holy god!!!!
Am I concerned that a private Catholic secondary school is in financial strife and might
have to close?
Not really.
I had to emigrate without a secondary education because the Catholic Church in the 1950′s-60s controlled and owned all the secondary schools in my county and charged
like a wounded bull.
My options then was Killnacrott or Blacklion and the Brotherhood and I consider myself
very lucky that I did not succumb to either sexual honneypots.Instead I took my Grade 12 after 4 years of night school in Canada.
From my experience , I couldn’t give a rats about Catholic secondary schools being in financial strife; in fact its poetic justice, IMO.
I am sure the past pupils of this boarding school have a lot of wealth alright. I am sure also that they are grateful for the money the state provides to them to run an elitist Catholic school.
Well played Cistercian College Roscrea, well played!
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