Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
“I PRAY THIS St Patrick’s Day that every one of us here has the courage and strength to be fearless ambassadors of hope and charity.”
That was the message of Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland Eamon Martin this morning at Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
Never has such a call to action hit home so quickly, as a mere hour or so later, ex-MMA fighter Conor McGregor was in the White House to meet US President Donald Trump.
The archbishop called on the congregation in the Fifth Avenue cathedral to be “generous helpers of the poor and the marginalised and welcoming friends for those who, like St Patrick, and so many of our Irish ancestors, are forcibly displaced from their homeland”.
Shortly afterwards, McGregor was speaking in the White House press room about a perceived scourge of migration, telling press secretary Karoline Leavitt that the voices of Ireland have been abandoned by the Irish government, that there are no hotels in the country for American visitors and that the “illegal immigration racket” has ruined rural towns.
The juxtaposition of such different messages on a day when the world aims to celebrate Ireland and all it stands for was not lost at home.
No one is of the view that things are in any way perfect on the island, but the questions that came to mind after scenes in the White House are: Who do we want representing us on the global stage? And, do we care only about ourselves these days?
Above all else, when you set the paddywhackery aside, St Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday celebrating St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who – the archbishop noted, not for the first time – was a migrant himself.
He said he was a migrant who “dared to hope”, adding that it “kept St Patrick going in his captivity”.
“That’s the hope which sustained the faith of our fathers in Ireland in spite of persecution, famine and forced displacement. That’s the hope which sustained the Irish who came here as immigrants in famine times with little more than the clothes on their backs. They were inspired to dream, to pull themselves up and to help build a better future for themselves and their families,” Martin said.
It’s a narrative that is often highlighted by Irish politicians that travel to the US on 17 March, and one which former Taoiseach Enda Kenny reminded Trump of during his first term in office.
But McGregor, who says he speaks on behalf of the Irish, didn’t tell the story of St Patrick today. He told a story of fear and division.
The undocumented Irish were raised with the fighter when a reporter asked him what Trump should do with those migrants (obviously the irony of his speech not completely lost on the political press)?
Appearing uncertain in his response, McGregor merely said that Ireland and the US are “siblings” and that America is the “big bro” who should look after Ireland.
Illegal immigration is fine, as long as you’re ‘you’re on of us’ (whatever us means to McGregor) is all that could be gleaned from that response.
There was a packed schedule for Tánaiste Simon Harris today in New York, who said himself when asked by the media that he would rather be talking about the “courage” of Nikita Hand than McGregor today.
In November last year, McGregor was deemed liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand in the Beacon Hotel on 9 December 2018, with the jury in the case awarding Hand over €248,000 in damages.
McGregor’s appeal against the jury’s finding will come before the Court of Appeal this week.
All the Tánaiste would say is that McGregor doesn’t speak on behalf of the Irish people, a sentiment that was repeated by the Taoiseach also.
In fact, rarely are all side of the political landscape united, and indeed much of the public. Members of the opposition, such as Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, politicians in Northern Ireland and former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar were all on the same page today.
McGregor’s remarks do not reflect the spirit of St Patrick’s Day or the views of the people of Ireland, they said.
So what of the spirit of St Patrick’s Day?
While some controversial figures try and hog the green spotlight for themselves this week, the feeling on Manhattan streets today was that of joy, the sense of pride in where we come from and a gratitude for a place, a country, that accepted us and gave us a home.
The streets of New York were green, lined with people cheering each other, no matter where they had come from. No matter if your tastes are above ‘Kiss me I’m Irish’ t-shirts, leprechaun hats and tricolour paraphernalia, it really is a day when we take over for mostly the right reasons.
During Mass this morning, one of the most important markings in many an Irish-American’s St Patrick’s Day schedule, the archbishop said he thanked God for the fact that the beautiful island of St Patrick is no longer making the headlines because of death and destruction on our streets.
He recalled that one young man took him aside this week while he was visiting Washington DC, just a few days before McGregor made his trip.
The young man told the archbishop that we need to speak more than ever about peace and reconciliation and fraternity in the world.
“Because our world at the moment seems more fragile and fragmented than ever. There’s more talk now about rearmament among nations than about the needs of the hungry and the common good. And I sensed in his words, a yearning for hope,” said Martin.
As this St Patrick’s Day draws to a close, it’s a very different message that has resounded around the world from the White House.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Fair play to the Journal for using the correct headline. Both the indo & Rte SixOne news omitted any reference to Sinn Féin in their headlines….do you think if FF had gone up 6% they would have been omitted from the RTE & Indo headlines?
Who even still watches that rte propaganda station anyway.
Nothing new there with the national liar.. Sure they have to run everything thro the Gilmore/ rabbit jaws politburo for clearance. The stickies ain’t gone away ye know ;-)))
Yes fair play to The Journal, “The truth shall set you free”
Absolutely. My granny FFs used to refer to RTE as the ‘GBC’ the Government Broadcasting Corporation, because they always cowtoed to the government du jours message as the minister for communication decided how much of the gravy flowed to them from the TV licence.
It’s just one poll. It’s not headline news really. A general election is years away.
I can’t believe 22% of people would vote for F Failed. That’s the big surprise for me in these polls. It’s incredible.
well said
it’s really sad isn’t it? I told my folks the truth anyway. More and more people are online now too, so f*** you RTE.
SF and Indos are on yer tails Endof, game over!
A general election next year or sooner, come back to me if it Dosent happen.
Panic stations at The Sindo tonight.
Numbers aren’t credible compared to a slew of consistently steady poll numbers over the last six months.
I think after the revelations this week about the secret deals to protect on the rund SF numbers will collapse.
Simply SF are a party that can’t be trusted.
I don’t think that Sinn Fein can be attributed with the responsibility on that particular debacle.
Pretty surprised that SF are getting such a boost in some ways. I guess I could be surprised for the same reason around FF getting any support (short memories).
But then, FG, FF & Labour are hardly representing real choices when it comes to credibility.
@Bruce..And who do you trust??!?..I’m no Sinn Fein Supporter but f*ck me Between FF and FG they’ve managed to take a wreckin ball to society in this State over the last 20 years especially..You trust FF and FG do you?!?!?!…Sweet Jesus
No political party can be trusted
Nope Anna – they can’t – but public reaction to a constant air of suspicion is a major part of any republic.
Lifetime labour voter here voting SF next time out. After labours silence these last few weeks in relation to ther scandals that have been front and center its time for my vote to count.
Include FF,FG and Labour they also
can’t be trusted.
Oh yea but you can trust the parasites in Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail I suppose. Dream on……
If there was an election next week then FG FF & Labour would be worried, but there isn’t & they’re not.
Unfotunately no politician can be trusted. It is the nature of politicians.
Anna thats the plan ,no party elected ,in come the Technocrats from Germany to run our little country.This was tried in Italy Three years ago ,it failed ,it will fail in Ireland too
I see. But we can trust FF, FG and Labour?
SF in the driving seat. Hmmmmm. I think the party is a bit too protective of the gurrier element for my comfort zone. They appear to want to protect the non working class a bit too much.
The tax paying public cow can only be milked so much before it runs dry.
Ah come on Bruce as against fg/ff
@harry I never said trusted FF or FG.
My point was that this poll was taken before the story about secret deal arranged by SF to protect IRA people from prosecution.
How could you trust a word from SF about truth and reconciliation?
Bruce, you’re totally right. Individual people were offered terms that actually adhered to the Good Friday Agreement, by the British Crown, and yes, as a result SF should fail. Yes Bruce. Just yes.
And tell me, who can Bruce?
Plus the revelations by former IRA , Garda killer, peter Rodgers , that Adams and Mcguiness personally ordered him to take a can load of explosives to England, could prove extremely hard to deal with considering Adams assertions that he was never in the IRA..
Fergal what’s not Credible are the dishonest actions of the past two governments. Still no answers as to why the Irish working people are paying Unguaranteed bank bonds to the rothchilds, the Germans and the french. We are on our knees to the IMF and Brussels.
Enough is enough with the bullshit. It’s time for Sinn Fein and an entirely new socialist and democratic republic.
That’s the irish people Bruce put them out the front door and they will come in the back. I wonder do they think of all the robberies and murders that were committed when they are interviewed by these interviewers. Look at the Sunday independent today re the murder of Guarda Seamus Quaid and the fellow that murdered him and the people that gave him the orders to take explosives to England
Fianna Fail will be back in with a coalition guaranteed, Irish people are inherently thick when it comes to politics
Could we have the first FG /FF coalition in 2016?
Boy would they hate that!
But they may have little choice.
Ah shur it’s grand
There’s no alternatives in politics. Declan Ganley was a genuine, fresh guy with a new voice and the political establishment shot him right down. There’s no turkey voting for Christmas.
Declan Ganley was and is a clueless tosser
Or maybe enough Irish people remember what it was like in the 50′s and how FF dragged this country out of the shi55ing in the field and no electricity.
Seanie, wasn’t it your God, Dev who plunged a newly independent Ireland into an isolationist agrarian theocracy in the first place???
Very arrogant point of view Paraic Cannon , are you not Irish and if so are you also thick when it comes to politic,s ?
And a right wing catholic nutter, don’t forget. He too receives the “support” from the USA.
If ff and fg go inti coalition ,whats happening in UKraine comes to mind ,just an honest opinion
Seanie will u ever grow up and get a real hobby your old enough now to face reality f.fail for f-/k sake every f fail leader has ended in disgrace fianna ashamed cop on take up golf r something and grow up
Country people seem to be most thick when election time comes around.
I can’t see FG in the next government.
Fair play to you Jason with your street smart just like your city slicker representatives Bertie and Claire your spoilt for choice.
It could have been phrased differently but the man has a point
The responsibility and reality of Government seems to be on the way for Sinn Fein.
They would hate that!
Typical Labour-speak there Paddy. Repeat after me: There Is No Alternative, There Is No Alternative, There is….
I’d give them 2 years in a Coalition before they’d eat themselves
I feel violently sick at that thought.
What’s the maximum amount of seats Sinn Fein would get? It will be interesting at the next Irish election the permutations; will there be a big coaltion between the 2 right wing parties or will SF go with either of them? Considering their socialist policies, what will they have to concede to the other party?
Good. You’re not the only one who feels sick at the thought of SF coming to power. All the white collar criminals do too. Do you think SF would have burnt the Irish taxpayer and raised taxes up to ridiculous levels, introduced water/property/refuse taxes? No they wouldn’t have. It’s about time we had a shake up around here. If you don’t like it piss off to England, you’d love it there.
There are 43 constituencies.
It would be tough for them to return more than 1 TD per constituency.
Coalition would be certain.
But with who?
Well they seem to detest Fina Gael more than Fina Fail so I’m guessing that their preference is FF. For a such a socialist party it will be a hard to swallow entering govt with any right wing party though. I will be very interested to see how some of their more extreme fiscal views are accomodated – luckily they will be the minority partner so they won’t be allowed go too crazy.
Danny worked in England while the IRA were bombing the crap out of it, would love to live there again. But Ireland is my home.
The most encouraging element is the massive 5 point drop for FF.
imagine them bombing England while English soliders were murdering irish people in ireland
SF are little more than a populist protest party. Opposition is their natural habitat. If they actually achieve government they will become just as ineffectual here as they are up north.
sinn fein if they are to believed can never go into government without an overall majority as they will never break an election promise
Juergen, the concessions would come mainly from the party SF choose to go into coalition with, not vice versa.
Anyway, it’s a moot point. SF are unlikely to go into coalition with either of the FF/FG duopoly. It’s far too soon for SF. I suspect they’ll continue slowly increasing their vote in the Republic as they have done in each general election since they came south.
James, nice twist on reality. Silly, but nice.
nah sure we’ll just sit back and listen to more bs from alan, richard, endof, rabbitte, hogan, yea, great.
we’ve put up with this and FF, i think we could put up with SF and Indos, be great! Something new for a change, even if turns out to be more BS, sure aren’t we used to it? aren’t we well able to take it lying down?
yea, great.
If all of those who have never voted before voted -FG would be history. Await the risen people. Get registered and storm polling booth LE14. Empower yourselves- no vote- no voice.
Wha?
I think she meant “Brits out”
Says a sinn feinn councillor.
No thanks luv.
I don’t usually vote SF but I’m seriously thinking of giving them my vote next time around
Good point.I wish the young and excluded voted.It would change Ireland.
Change that account name and avatar Jeremy. Mr.Osbourne would be ashamed. Who you gonna vote for out of interest?
Donnelly in 2016.
In May, no idea.
Yourself?
Will they lead us out of this monster European union,hopefully yes,and then jail those who have fed our country to the wolves
So an independent? At least the guy has an education and isn’t just a poxy primary school teacher who had a relation in politics. The sad truth is he’ll never be able to make a real difference. I must say I like him though. SF appeal to me because I know for FACT that they have the balls to shake things up. If O’Reilly or Shatter were SF members they’d well be out on their arses by now. Sick of the bollox we put up with in this country.
That’s such as stupid comment considering they’re the largest party in the history of the state. The people who don’t bother voting are those that don’t give a rats ass about politics.
Largest Govt majority, not the largest Party in the history of the State
Great news. I just hope it continues and indeed, for the first time in the history of the state, have a government without FF FG or Lab. Sinn Féin and an independent coalition would be a good alternative.
Not easy to have a coalition of 30+ Indies though.
Nightmare scenario!
I totally agree. But if the independents were to rotate their share of ministerial positions, agreement could be found and maintained.
Do you think so ? a rag bag of independents and subversives running our country, one thing I could guarantee you is that our country would be destroyed with such an alternative
A coalition with independents and Sinn Fein? bahahahahahahahaha
Good luck with them agreeing on anything.
and what about the rag bag lying shower of fu====s that is running it now
Ah sure Donal Clifford. There’s no evidence that SF would ruin the country, on the other hand, if you study Irish parliamentary politics since independence, there’s a history of FF ruining the country and FG always being elected as a rash reaction to too many years of FF abuse of power. We need a real alternative and given the fact that every party in the state has a history within Sinn Féin, only to have broken away over the national issue, maybe it’s time for the mother of all Irish political parties to once again, wrench the country from the hands of the oppressors, this time of the home grown variety.
Well john I suppose labour may challenge you on they having a history within sinn fein also I don’t think anytime fine gael got elected it wasn’t out of rashness, the people had plenty of time to deliberate on it and regarding fine gael/labour being oppressors well that’s dependent on your political and ideological slant.
faux pas there with don’t and wasn’t , double negative. it should have been don’t and was.
Labour are currently being run by former Democratic Left/Official Sinn Fein- The Workers Party.
The only party with no violent background is the Green Party.
@Donald… And the country is ruined now?????
Labour grew out of the citizen army. Citizen army along with volunteers became IRA day the Republic was declared.
Independents and others being at 22% highlights the need for a new political party. The country lacks a socially liberal party with sound economic policies.
We had that, but they were crushed.
I too would love that niche, but its not likely to ever happen.
Oh did we yea….?
The Labour Party? Is socially liberal and has sound economic policy. (If your a socialist , or social democrat)
Fine Gael? Is socially liberal(Oh er getting there) and has sound economic policy (If your a Capitalist)
The labour party is the party people want… except its in coalition with a right wing party and cannot get its policy through, if there ever will be a labour government then people would see the work it can do! but for now its still civil war politics.
The Labour Party can never work while the dregs of Democratic Left control it and allow the Blueshirts free reign to implement neo liberal policies. Rid itself of them and most of it’s contaminated TDs, eg Stagg, and it might survive and fulfil that role in the future but rebuilding the trust of workers and the middle class will be an uphill struggle.
The Labour Party hopefully will be history after next election.
@Damia Moran … So you want the only alternative to right wing policies to be wiped out? And be replaced with what Sinn Fein! a fantasy party filled with ex-terrorists… I wouldnt mind Sinn Fein if they were less (Up the RA!) but the current Sinn Fein with Adams at the helm will never be an alternative..
I agree with this, though the mix of independents in the Dåil this time round has been refreshing. I can see (yet another) right wing block emerging with Lucinda & Co, but we have never had a left-led government in this country in the history of the state. People are “you can’t trust shinners” but to be fair, everyone else we trusted made a haims of things, may as well give the gurriers a shot, they can do no worse than Bertie, Biffo and friends.
@ Robert o Donnell
Do you seriously consider Labour a left wing party. Get real champagne socialists ….
Independent the only way forward
Greedy political party’s all corrupt.
@Damian Well if Legalising Contraception, Holding a referendum and campaigning for Same sex marriage, Campaigning for divorce, Placing the blocks for Universal Heath care isn’t Left Wing i’d love to know what is!
Robert,
I see the trendy appeal, but supporting Shatter, introducing LPT, Water Charges, voting against changes in upward only rent reviews, silence on Bank bonuses etc. say otherwise.
@Robert all the top brass in the Labour Party only interested in their pensions if you can’t see that you are blinkered .
@ Paul .. Well water charges would be a socialist thing to do, maybe not the best way to introduce them but a Water Tax is not something a capitalist would implement to its sorta funny seeing the socialist party and sinn fein fighting it.
@Damian .. Its pointless debating against you because your only a bigot who is blinded by arrogance, It wasnt the front bench of the party who decided to go into government it was the members, the people who gain to financial benefit to labour being in coalition.Come back to me when you want to have a proper debate rather than the same rubbish your always saying.
Robert.
NO water charges would be the smart thing to do.
Poor Lordlarry/ironman
He won’t take this news well at all I hope he was sitting down when he read it
That will take the wind out of his cough alright.
Call the multi named man an ambulance ease – what address is he using this evening ?
I’m sure he’s under some bridge inconsolable banging his fists on the ground saying never never never
Haha…. he/she/it’s having a sh*t fit row with the voices….
Classic !!
Yep, I’d say his teddy bear with the angela merkel mask sellotaped to it is having its stuffing knocked out right now.
No election so no relevance. Ya really do have to laugh at the shinner the harp on about polls as a means to celebrate epic failure. Are they in government? no. Will they be in government? Laughable. I mean when you celebrate the complete normalisation of British rule in the north as a success, one really is left to wonder at their complete stupidly. But is doesn’t matter as they are irrelevant and will remain so until they learn manners
The group masterbation and back slapping must be over and the hyped up trolls are out.
Just another shinner troll not worth worrying about
I’s was waiting for youse ..lol lol lordlarry-10 Thank youse ..lol lol lol youse must have had one huge handkerchief on your knees last night watching the great leader ..lol lol lol youse heard the fantastic news from the polls ..lol lol and now the poor handkerchief is being used for your tears ..lol lol lol
“Just another shinner troll not worth worrying about” |But it is very obvious that YOU are very worried Lord Larry.
Shouldn’t fianna fáil be on 1% (taking into account the people in the party). How could anyone not be ashamed to even say they would consider voting for them.
Seanie.
lol
The same FF that gave ye wasters good dole and other goodies I didn’t hear ye complaining then eaten bread etc etc.
Sean I am a classed as a higher professional, what about you? Thought so fool..
At last we get a poll which is a lot closer to the truth than a good few previous ones,this government has very little support from the majority of the Irish people.and the European elections will verify it.
Lets all be on the safe side and vote fianna fail this election then fianna gael next election and so on so forth
And that’s exactly what will happen when the time comes. We never learn. My problem is I don’t like any of them.
Brilliant.
Good news, need to keep up the hard work till May 23rd and beyond.
They’ll get at least one more vote in Donegal thanks to the SF postal service
“Keep up the hard work”
You’ll go down well lookingf for votes in Tallaght with that line. ;)
seanieryan, you are a mouthpiece and nothing more.
Your divine shower of arsewipes put us where we are with ahern and biffo .
You are doing more harm to your gods with your stupid blind comments .
Seanie it’s one thing to come on here and defend Fianna Fail knowing you’re gonna get for hammered for it, that’s kinda admirable, in a deluded sort of way… but to suggest that over 100,000 people don’t know what hard work means, makes you come across as a bit of a prejudiced plonker.
Mike
If you want to see who is responsible for putting you where you are then take a long hard look in the mirror.
What a pretentious stuck up little pr!ck you are. What the hell would you know about Tallaght and the work ethics of its populace? You judgemental bottom feeding low life. All those fine attributes you have will find a lovely home in your political party of choice. The very party that stole the jobs and lively hoods of the people you have the gall to look down on.
As bad as tallaght is you wouldn’t wish a shinner on them that’s just cruel
Apparently most of those who support SF are statistically the least likely to vote. Mega-LOLs.
Link to those stats please.
How does a poll of 967 ppl in a country of 4 million give us an accurate snapshot
Interestingly, we were canvassed by a local labour candidate yesterday and she admitted she was getting it hard about Shatter and Gilmour. This poll seems to reflect that.
Will – major wishful thinking on your part ?
May Council and Euro Elections are becoming more and more interesting – especially with the total paranoia , hysteria and panic setting in with Labour – who are going to be wiped !
While FF and FG look likely to be hanging on by threads .
SF and well placed Independents , with their credibility , could finish up with almost 50% of the Council votes .
Most of them can’t figure out how to get out of their council house, or can’t get out of prison.
Emlyn google inferential statistics. 967 people chosen randomly will give you a good idea of how people will vote, with a margin of error of about 3% Opinion polls are generally quite accurate.
What they don’t do however is take into account the political bias of those carrying them out, the Green Party are running less candidates than People Before Profit or AAA, yet they’re included, but the left-parties are not.
So you end up with some people concluding the “independent” vote is homogenous, it’s not, not at all.
Ciarrioch- further, she was far more interested in talking down SF and PBP, which would support your assertion about their paranoia.
She also stated the only consistent positive she was getting was about Quinn and his determination to provide a balance of religious studies in schools.
Guys anyone have an opinion on the Blanket bailout,and the Promissary note deal ,me personally they were both acts of Treason,Ireland must leave this monster EU ,we cannot pay these Debts of gamblers from outside our country ,further this utter invasion of our country must be REVERSED ,what say you all ,should we Boycott these European elections and send a real message to Germany and Brussells
Paul kindly refer to Ruari Quinn as the minister for muslims,ty
@ Will. You have little faith in your fellow man…I pity you
@ Emylyl….that’s a silly statement
Cheers. That gave me another LOL.
“Michael” – a person with multiple fake names – but always the same fascist thread – really let’s himself down even beneath his basement level with his shocking and snobbish right wing comment !
Enough said really , but he looks likely to lose yet another “name” should he continue with this gross ignorance, one suspects ?
you mean you are controlling who should say what you only approve of ,what you call Fascist i call nationalism ,its you who should wake up my friend ,our country has been utterly fed to the wolves and you dont recognise free speech soon to be outlawed in Ireland ,im quite sure you would very happy then
well f.g will be too cowardly to canvas in these council estates. they have always supported the highest earners and biggest farmers. they have been consistent again in their punishment of the poorest to the benefit of the richest.
P.Stap – you might take the time to read the gross ignorant comment of “Michael” and comment on IT ?
But maybe you are “Michael” too ?
With 35% undecided, and independents gaining 6 points also, this far out from an election I wouldn’t read too much into the poll.
I do however get a lot of satisfaction on seeing FF suffer as their support is already believed to be flighty as is. On election day they know they’ll get a hammering.
SF’s gain support is likely reactionary and I wouldn’t be in any way confident the support is solid.
No im actually Joe mate
That’s actually a true statement
I once met a shinner, I would say they are about 40% human, 60% evil monsters
I obviously notified the police that there was a shinner on the lose
I’s am laughing out loud at Lordlarry-10 lol lol lol
Youse notified the police whilst they were re-padding the cell ..lol lol lol lol lol lol
Rise in support for SF – god us all.
*God help us all
Your children and your children’s children will be paying their hard earned taxes to that flag of yours for a long time to come.
They can only do better than the other two parties. look at the mess bith of them have us in.
EU flag?! Complete arsehole…
Your comment says more about you than it does about me.
I wouldn’t worry, Sindo polls are rarely accurate, eg what they gave Provo for President vs actual result
“Irish Republican” – you should know well about the Indo Group as a dyed in the wool Blueshirt – whose fake account is an embarrassment to everyone- especially you – would you ever wise up, you complete eegit ?
Martin did get his arse handed to him alright and squirmed back to Londonderry – fantastic
Lord Larry, why do you, who claims to be an “Irishman” and a Fine Gaeler, keep referring to Derry as “Londerryderry”?
Londonderry is the name of the city :)
B’fhéidir go bhfuil a n-lá ag teacht!
Just home from the Dubs match feeling down. Instantly felt better after reading Gilligan got shot on the can and SF are on the up and up. Happy days. Fantastic news :)
More evidence on Gerry and Martin directing crimes against humanity released today. A prison cell awaits these animals :)
Lord Larry, you must be really worried about the pending demise of FG to make that libelous statement.
Lord Lardy, for someone who says they’re not worried about republicans, you don’t half protest too much!! So how was the march last night? Did your brave orange men get down the Ardoyne yet? “No” you say? Ah well, I hear the Buckie’s on special offer down the local offie. And tayto are doing 50% extra free :) So at least youse won’t starve.
Ps Did you mark the wonderful occasion of the 1st anniversary of Jamie Bryson’s hunger strike yesterday? Such a brave mawn going a whole 7 hours without food till someone slyly slipped him a chicken biryani!! How proud you loyal loyalists must be of young Jamie who starved himself for his convictions for a whole 7 hours, whilst you make jokes about the IRA hunger strikers who saw their convictions through to the death. But that’s the difference someone like Bobby Sands and Jamie Bryson. Bobby knew he was right.
This good news must have the loyalists trolls choking on their cheap lager. Bring it on!
Fianna Fáil in real trouble. Sinn Fein taking their vote
sinn fein our knights in shining armour, pardon the pun, NOT.
@Donald clifford:
My apologies, Donald but the pun must have been over my head!
well john i’m glad you said over your head and didn’t make a Freudian slip and say through your head, ah sure i’m getting mixed up with knee caps APOLOGIES .
If publishing polls sells newspapers, it is a good job that politicians in this country don’t own the newspapers and tv channels.
They do
Where is Dr T o Reilly …. Owned the newspapers of the world
Here we go, SF mentioned anywhere here in a negative light and a suspicious number of red thumbs follow. They were stopped taking free ink cartridges are they creating false email accounts to troll sites like this?
No. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Never considered voting Sinn Feinn before but that’s all changed after the bollox I’ve been through over the past 8 years.
They have absolutely no plan, they just say what they think people want to hear and no actual thought put into it.
@Michael, FG/FF/Lab never did anything similar did they?
here we go f.g members finding it hard to believe that irish people want to vote for the the only truly irish party. a party that will stand up for the voters best interests.
Watch out the ‘conspiracy’ deepens lol get a life
hahahaha and Endof had a plan? Yea, they really put those promises to work.
Some muppets talking like nothing happened.
I agree. This site is so ridiculously biased towards Sinn Féin it’s absolutely laughable. If someone even slightly criticises SF they get crucified here. SF supporters are even worse in the North. If they ever got into power in Ireland they’d be our very own ZANU-PF.
They’re attracting more support because nobody likes the morons in government now. If by chance they to got into government I’m sure ppl would hate them too after a while.
All they want is power and money the lot em. Feck them all I say.
Bread and circuses. There’s only one poll that matters and it’s not for another two and a half years or so.
Might come sooner than that.. well hopefully anyway. Can’t wait to see this shower get ran.
Let’s just see what the next GE brings. Mid term polls generally meaningless.
Sinn Fein would be about as effective in government as the greens. Like voting for a dead Hugo Chavez.
Sinn Fein possess something which is largely absent in Irish politics… Namely a set of balls and rock solid principles…. FF/FG/Lab are and always have been witless cowards. I never cease to be amazed by the tired old sindo spoonfed crap spouted by the brainwashed sheep on this site, they’re on another planet…
exactly, balls. Default all the way, we’d have never paid a penny out. It was never our debt anyway. A corrupt deal. Theft and FG finished it off like the lying b@s**** they are after promising they would get a deal, what deal? No one should be taxed on their homes, WELL FIRE HOGAN THEN!!! FIRE SHATTER WHILE YER AT IT, THIS COUNTRY ARE SICK OF YE!
‘Rock solid principles’ lol
Ye they terrorists
I don’t see why Mary Lou doesn’t cut the flack and start her own centre left party.
Gerry & the gang are holding her back.
Is it true Mary Lou entered a Diana Ross lookalike competition and won the mike Tyson competition?
Lordlarry-10
Youse are a funny guy ..lol lol
Mary Lou is a beautiful woman inside and out ..lol lol youse are nasty to make that remark about any woman ..lol lol
I’s could say that Enny Kenny entered the ugliest donkey competition and the donkey’s complained that they didn’t stand a chance ..lol lol lol lol hee haw hee haw hee haw ..lol lol loll lol
Good one OGGIE3rd!!
Lord Lardy, people who make comments about someone’s appearance are generally very insecure about their own. Isn’t that right Fat Larry? Lol
I don’t see why people take these polls in any way seriously, let alone use them as the basis for analysis.
About a month ago Millward Browne and Red Sea conducted polls in the same week and the results were so different that their margins of error didn’t even overlap.
How tall is Jane?
Millward Browne : 5 foot plus or minus one inch
Red Sea : 5 foot 6 plus or minus one inch.
There are methodological differences as to how they include undecided voters. These are not, by the way, differences as to how they present the data but fundamental differences as to how they collate it.
One treats “don’t know”s as just that, while the other asks about past voting behaviour and assigns that respondent as half “don’t know” and half to the party they last voted for. It is junk research either way.
It is psuedo-science that journalists never fundamentally question, as it provides easy material to fill column inches without having to think too much.
Who pays these pollsters
I refer my esteemed fellow contributors to an explanation I gave regarding polls, some time ago…
Em. Newspapers. Who then endlessly whitter on about the results while never questioning the methodology or professionalism.
970 or so respondents in a weighted sample is not a whole lot. I’d also like to know if they asked them their voting intentions as part of a longer list of questions for a basket of clients.
“Do you shop in Centra?”
“Have you placed a bet on a horse in the last month?”
“If so with which bookmaker and why?”
“Finally, and thank you for your time, who will you vote for at the next election?”
Just about sums it up, really!!
Amphroaí, I wouldn’t say LordLarry10 was an “esteemed fellow” He would be more like like a steamed fellow.
THE DIRTY DOZEN
12 cuts that TD’s of Labour and Fine Gael sat back and let happen.
Remember a vote for either party is supporting the unfair Cuts.
Property Tax.
Water rates.
Loss of community welfare officer in South kildare.
Loss of children’s Dental services in our towns.
Closure of country Garda stations.
Fire services completely in disarray
Ambulance services over an hour average wait
Child benefit cut
Medical cards cut.
Dramatic Cuts to social welfare
Jobsbridge and now gateway scheme are really yellow pack jobs
Horrendous Removal of telephone allowance for older people
To name only 12 there are scores of serious cuts
Pat Rabbitte said on TV recently on making election promises that never happen
“Isn’t that what you tend to do during an election?”
Pat Rabbitte is a senior Labour Party Td
On the 23rd of May make sure you get representation that will listen you and your family. We in Sinn Fein believe our local community and people have been forgotten about. The IDA have only been to kildare twice in over two years, how can that be selling the South of the county. The Southern Distributor road was promised again in 2012 and we learn last month from Minister Howlin it’s not the biggest road priority as we were led to believe.
Sinn Fein Candidates won’t make promises we can’t keep.
Sinn Fein candidates are available 24/7 to you and your family to help.
Our manifesto accepts that Fine Fail have put us in this mess but others have just took the easy way out.
And that is why people laugh at you idiots
Youse were right to green thumb yourself ”lol lol lol only idiots do that ..lol lol
That’s a fine list. Now, list how SF would have done things starting with the bailout please…
I think they were going to plant magic beans and everything was going to be fantastic
They couldn’t plant those beans Lardy because you ate them all along with 200 bags of tayto. Jaysus, the Twaddell Portaloo must be an environmental hazard at this stage. Smell ye later :D
Sinn Fein ……. Second largest party on both sides of border =. Most supported party on island of ireland
Cathal Bruath (burgess) can finally rest in peace
Obviously can’t count either :D
11% of the total electorate on both sides of the border voted for Sinn Féin in 2011. You seriously don’t live on the same planet as the rest of us!
Sinn Fein are the fifth largest party in Ireland after Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Labour and the DUP. Go and count their votes if you don’t believe me ;)
A lot of people can’t take the truth lol
Chickens home to roost
Sinn Féin are the only HONEST party out there. The rest are lying, money grabbing Mé Féiners. Virtually every major promise made at the last election has been broken. I look forward to these fools coming to my door looking for votes. SMITHERS, RELEASE THE HOUNDS!!!
Last nights drugs haven’t worn off yet :D
In my area I always give my vote to Brian Stanley when he was councillor and he will always get it now he’s TD cos he’s hard working , passionate and reliable, but I can’t stand Martin ferris , since he collected the lads from castlerea jail who were convicted of murdering an on duty detective , ferris was a member of the dail showing he’s support for Garda killers . Sad sad day that dirt like him is in a party that someday will be in power … Sad and scary !!
There’s the reason why SF have a glass ceiling – likes of Ferris/O’Snodaigh/Ellis/Adams/McGuinness are simply unacceptable to the vast bulk of normal people in the Republic of Ireland
And yet these same men are at the helm whilst SF enjoys its higher ever ratings. Brilliant logic there IR.
Just shows what a vile organisation SF really are, an affront to democracy but no one pays a blind bit if notice to the nobodies of the terror group
You’re not allowed to criticise Sinn Féin with people like Jamie around. Shinners really are such bitter, hateful people. God help the Republic of Ireland if they ever end up in charge.
God help us all is right , we will all be knee capped by cowards in balaclavas
One can always tell by the thumbs when SF have mobilized the “troops”…….
labour are fooked
Any government forced to cut expenditure and raise taxes as a result of an economic crisis is bound to struggle in the opinion polls at this stage of the electoral cycle. Recent controversies will not have helped but they will have been forgotten by the time of the election and as the economy continues to improve. Fine Gael remains the most popular party with 27 per cent and with Labour on 8 per cent the Coalition has 35 per cent. Fianna Fail enjoys 21 per cent support so Fine Gael and Fianna Fail ( the original Sinn Fein Party) together enjoy 48 per cent support – enough to deny the left -wing parties any role whatsover in government should that be in the national interest. Provisional Sinn Fein has gained support but no party can form a Government with only 22 per cent support. Neither Fine Gael nor Fianna Fail nor Labour would include Sinn Fein in any Coalition. Sinn Fein will remain in opposition after the next General Election.
you are deluded the power mad parties in f.g and f.f would crawl trough pig shit and kiss Gerry adams ring piece if he held the balance of power in the next general election.
making predictions Giles? bit of a Nostradamus are we? take the support up there with SF and Indo combined, thats 44% to 48% FG/Labour, not much between them and FG will drop more and more after this years performance. Nobody knows what could happen.
David I was commenting on a journal article last week about an alliance of some of the socialist grouping and I asked the question many times as to why Irish people consistently vote for the 2 right wing parties. Apart from the usual socialist rants, nobody was able to give me a reasonable answer. Do you think Irish people will ever vote in Sinn Fein or any other socialist party for that matter as the majority party in govt? Their fiscal policies are crazy, increased Gains Tax, Death taxes, tax on savings etc. I believe they will attempt to increase corporation tax right up to the full 12.5%. Ultimately these policies will damage Ireland.
And do you think there is any prospect of some grand coalition between the left wing/socialist parties? Like practically any other country in the world the left is very fragmented, but it seems especially so in Ireland.
Truth is a lot of Sinn Fein supporters that I know don’t vote , this is true , they moan about this government and Fianna Fáil , fly the Irish flag & sing sad I’m a loner rebel songs :) ., then election time comes , there not registered .. Ha ha. Also uneducated.
Things have changed Mitch, young voters will be out this time – Ireland’s day has at last come – true freedom is in the air – and how dare you brand our youth as “uneducated” This is so typical of the Fat Cats in FG.
Our revenge will at the polling stn
What freedom are you talking about ,?? Is there slaves in Ireland ?? Stop talking thru your arse , vast majority of Irish has enough of that bullshit .. When the 6 counties do return to us , we have political leaders to thank , likes of mcguinness & Adams , not the animals in the RIRA who murdered 30 innocent ppl in omagh or the cowards who murdered a prison officer on he’s way to work. Shut up with that scutter , yes you are uneducated!!!
Id rather vote for Putin
In that scenario, you would have no choice.
Moving to Moscow then????
SF always do well following any government controversy. Enjoy the day. Now they’re mired in their own shite with their double standard dirty deals. The next poll will have them back down…
‘Government controversy’?
No, cover up. Its a cover up.
Jurgen, you are of course right. The good people of Ireland will never elect a left-wing socialist party like Sinn Fein to power. I once told the late great Noel Browne TD precisely that in the context of the Labour Party and he did not disagree. Consequently the Irish Labour Party, like the British Labour Party under Tony Blair, moved towards the centre. That has left a vacuum on the left which Sinn Fein is attempting to fill. But the size of the vacuum is small – about 20 per cent of the electorate at the most.
Suspected as much David. It seems they just have the angry vote for now, but this is also split with the variety of other socialist parties and who will ultimately take votes off each other.
Still, I think they may enter govt one day when they realise the rhetoric and nutter left policies have to be scaled down. And it’s ironic they are in govt in North Ireland with what I presume to be very right wing party, yet seem afraid to speak of coaltion with either right wing party. I think it’s Catch 22 for them – drop the more extreme policies, rhetoric and move to centre – but then they lose their base.
@Jurgen,Sinn Fein are only in government in Norther Ireland because of the peculiar power sharing arrangements there whereby the government has to be shared between the largest party representing the unionist majority and the largest party representing the nationalist minority. And the Northern Irish Government, like the Welsh and Scottish Governments, is merely a regional administration exercising the limited power devolved to it by the British Government. It is a glorified county council with less powers than the states of the USA or Australia, the provinces of Canada or the lander of Germany.
Sinn Fein only enjoys part of the power in Northern Ireland allowed to Northern Ireland by the British Government. In contrast, the Government of Ireland is a sovereign government within the EU.
Thanks David, always informative. So the govt in North Ireland has less power than a US state. Not much for SF to boast about there then!
Mr Giles, as a member of the British Conservative party, and a Thatcherite, do you really believe you opinion is taken seriously here?
Click click click is all you hear from the SF terrorism office around the island
And in the coalitions offices all youse hears is ..yes Angela lol whatever youse say Angela ..lol lol lol
Vox populi, vox Dei, it’s just as well I’m an atheist.
Ah, deos enim religuos accepimus, Caesares dedimus!
The poll reveals Shatter is the most unpopular of them all, he’s single handedly destroying Ireland with his immigration policies and he’ll single handedly bring down the government because spineless Kenny has not got the balls to get rid of him .
SF/IRA are actively recruiting women as the perception is that the women get less press for their involvement in terrorism. Not a lot of reporting in the media about the women’s part in luring soldiers to their death or their assistance in planting bombs etc etc.
My My, there’s some angry people on here today, especially from the twin ugly sister party’s of FG & FF.
How dare 22% of voters announce that they wish to dance with a shinner at the May 23rd Ball, and how dare they again make that announcement while ugly sister Enda was trying to address the nation and beg for someone to take him and the rest of the ugly family to the ball.
Are the ugly twins going to have to sit it out – or will one of them take a deep breath and ask a shinner for a dance? Will the shinners accept, or have they got their eyes on a better class of potential partner – someone who can actually dance!
So what do we really have here on this site – Shinner Trolls and Anti Shinner trolls? and who gives a hoot one way or the other as the 22% of sensible people who I have been meeting on the doors are not into the politics of the troll. They are hungry for change and cant wait for May 23rd!
Why should anyone be surprised
Can’t wait for the labour liars to come knocking at my door
They will never get into power unfortunately..
I live in hope that your 100% right or we are all screwed
We all got screwed and they never got in!
More shocking evidence in the Sunday independent about mcguinness and Adams directing terrorism. The terrorist empire is crashing all round the shinners and everyone is delighted
The Sunday independent hahaha – might as well read the Beano or the Dandy!!
As FG have 0% support in the North, SF are now the most popular party across Ireland
God who would support this money hungry government maby same idiots who supported fianna fail both trouble one let banks through money at people other want all your money is no party who know what to do in this country
So while harping in about the evil of collusion with the state, the shinners colluded with the British government all along getting their get out of free cards. Shinner hypocrisy has hit a new low just when we thought things couldn’t get worse for the shinners. Not to mention the evidence in the indo of Adams and mcguinness directing crimes against humanity. The demise of this vile organisation will be celebrated globally
I’s am not a Sinn Fein supporter ..lol lol but ..lol lol lol I’s am loving every second of this wonderful news ..lol lol lol I’s can imagine Enny Kenny eating his German muesli this morning ..lol lol lol lol
Who do the people if Ireland prefer? The baron or the queen? Ouch that must really hurt :D
Enny Kenny is a queen ..lol lol lol did youse not know this ..lol lol so is Noony ..lol lol
I’d like to see a Sinn Fein & Eirigi merger, given they are fundamentally the same ideologies. Together 30%+ of the vote is a real possibility.
Coalition with any other party would jeopardise Sinn Fein’s credibility with its supporters.
Seems logical two terrorist organisations uniting
Was d pole for 135% cause percentages don’t add up
Squeaky bum time for the warlords north and south, evidence of both directing terrorism revealed today. The past has finally caught up with these monsters :)
Bye bye ..lol lol lol lol
Youse are clutching at straws ..lol lol lol youse are now dangling by your fingertips ..lol lol did youse get this information from Shatter ..lol lol lol he’s as credible as Rebecca Brooks ..lol lol lol lol I’s didn’t know lol lol lol
All credit for FG and FF for providing the Irish people with this alternative choice. If they hadn’t made a bags of it, we wouldn’t have this option.
But Gerry, stand aside please, we don’t need socialist ideology, we need pragmatic ideas, socialist with a small s, please.
22% or not in this State,let’s not take our foot off the Gas, carry on with our campaigns.
The people of our island will have there say from Belfast to Ballydehob to ballybane to Ballymun.
have your say