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SINN FÉIN LEADER Mary Lou McDonald has said that it is “obvious” that her party ran too many candidates in the local elections, but said that she is still of the belief that people want change.
Sinn Féin under performed in this year’s local elections, retaining some seats and losing others, and, according to early tally figures, there is a possibility that the party might not retain their Midlands-North-West seat in the European Parliament either.
Speaking to reporters, a day after the majority of local election results came in, McDonald said that last Friday was “not our day” and admitted that the party ran too many candidates.
She said: “You go into electoral contests you have some great days out, you have disappointing days out, and Friday was a disappointing day for us. But we’ll regroup and we’ll be back out at it again.”
After 24 hours to reflect, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says:
— Muiris O’Cearbhaill (@muirisoc) June 10, 2024
“To answer your question directly, yes, it is obvious that now that we ran too many candidates.”
She says the Party needs to be “clear” on their stances in the future. @thejournal_ie pic.twitter.com/RGQUKM6PIf
“For perspective, it was not the day that I had hoped for, but we did make gains – we have new councillors up and down the country – and we will have a better a day out, I believe, in the general election.”
Asked if she believed voters were apprehensive to vote for Sinn Féin over continued allegations of “flip-flopping” on their policy stances, McDonald said she believed the terms and accusations were Government “attack lines”.
“Where there has been any level of confusion, we need now just to be clear on all of our positions,” she said. She added that her party’s position, particularly on immigration, has been consistent for as long as she has been a member of the party.
A big question for Government has been whether or not Taoiseach Simon Harris will call an election in the short-term now, as the results of the local elections put the coalition parties, particularly Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, in a in a stronger position than they may have envisaged.
Harris has so far ruled out going to the public any time soon but McDonald said her party would welcome a general election “at the earliest possible date”, and is still of the belief that there must be a change of Government.
“When the Taoiseach calls the election is anybody’s guess. He seems to be indicating that it might go to next spring, I rather suspect that it will happen in the autumn. But that’s my speculation,” she said.
“We’ll be ready whenever it happens. Bring it on.”
She told reporters: “We need to come back at this again with vigor and with energy, because whatever happens at this stage, we’re not too far off a general election and that’s the big contest for us. And I’m very determined that we will be ready for it.”
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When they changed to reduced sugar it was the end….. Lilt has never been the same.
@Shane McGrath: Exactly. I’ve been cutting down on soft drinks because I’m allergic to aspartame. It used to be my only reason for ordering regular instead of diet drinks.
And the other artificial sweeteners aren’t doing any favours to the taste either.
If they had reduced the sugar, and left it at that, I wouldn’t mind, but trying to compensate by using artificial sweeteners is wrong on so many levels.
@Shane McGrath: Blame the sugar tax for ruining lifes small pleasures.
If you don’t have Lilt and Cidona as your Christmas softdrinks are you even Irish????
@Fi Wyse: or Tanora if you’re from Cork
@Sara McS: Tanora and a chicken fillet roll. Gift nyom
Rockshandy rules this isle!… Victory!
@thesaltyurchin: The Mas with the flat 7up might not agree with you…..
@Fi Wyse: or the boiled red lemonade. A legendary cure-all! :)
With the cost of living these days lilt might be the closest we get to the tropics.
More than the product itself, I liked the original advertising campaign. Everytime I drank it, or even now when I just think of it, I think of the West Indies and that ‘totally tropical taste’.
I’m sure Fanta will reconsider their decision on the results of this poll, so get voting everyone!
After a sweaty hot day in the bog bringing home trailers of turf, there’s nothing like going to the fridge and opening and downing a can of lilt……..
Who
The
*
Cares
Don’t drink it, but I’m outraged anyway. Is there a protest arranged or maybe an online petition? Anyone know the number for Joe Duffy?
The Aldi version is very nice!
@Gareth Miskelly: no it’s not it’s mank
Fanta was created by Coca Cola for sale in the Nazi market during WWII. That was the company’s way of getting around federal legislation banning trade with Germany. Germany was the only production base for Fanta until the parent company started global sales. It’s a small world, really..
Yes, it’s totally tropical
Just YUCK
Listing the ingredients for fun :)
Carbonated Water, Fruit Juices from Concentrate 5% (Pineapple, Grapefruit), Sugar, Citric Acid, Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid), Sweeteners (Acesulfame K, Aspartame, Sodium Saccharin), Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Flavourings, Stabilisers (Acacia Gum, Guar Gum, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Glycerol Esters of Wood Rosins), Colour (Carotenes). Contains a Source of Phenylalanine.
Total Carbohydrates 4.6g
Total Sugars 4.6g
Fair enough, I’ll be trying the Fanta version.
Never liked the stuff but I have a mate that’s addicted to it. He’ll be freaking out
Always dreamed of being “ The Lilt Man “ – not the same on courtown beach though :-(
Shrugs shoulders and walks away…
have your say