There should be a law. Groucho Marx didn’t say that but then he had good judgement: “I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member”. It’s a pity his life couldn’t have intersected with Sinead O’Connor’s. He could have had a word in her perfectly-formed ear.
Maybe Fine Gael put her up to it. Maybe Enda and Co looked round, prayed for a typhoon tomorrow so nobody would come out in protest, and then some bright spark like Leo Varadkar said “Why don’t we get Sinead O’Connor to join the Shinners? That might take the spotlight off us temporarily, but long enough for her to wreak total havoc in the ranks of that shower of nordies.”
Whatever enemy dreamt it up, it’s working a treat. Hardly in the door, Sinead is calling for another revolution, and calling for Gerry and anyone else associated with “horrible things” to resign and let fresh young bloods take their place.
Oh God. It’s not as if we didn’t know that when pop singers stop opening their mouths from singing pop songs and begin opening their mouths to explain what’s wrong with the world, the result is mind-flattening. Remember Sting and his tour of the talk shows, taking with him the South American native with the saucer embedded in his lower lip? Remember John Lennon doing his bed-in with Yoko to bring peace to the world? Remember Madonna (yes, Virginia, I know she can’t sing but she’s still labelled a pop star) going to the developing world to rescue through adoption some deeply unfortunate child?
And now Sinn Féin have Sinead. Listen, guys. Remember those kangaroo courts that Mairia Cahill said you were always having? Set up one of those and kick her out as quickly as you can. Being an open party is one thing, but welcoming a woman with a stunningly lovely voice and a stunningly stupid mind is simply asking for disaster.
Did I mention that Sinead is going to be bringing out a book?
I have to say though that I agree some of the comments that she made else where. Its high time that the ego (aka Gerry Adams) left the stage. To many activists in the south, having Gerry around is like a football forward being fouled by a member of his own team every time there is the chance of a shot at goal.
See my reply to gio above, alex…
alex are you an activist ……i am i dont know every activist .or do you…buit the ones i know i have never heard one not one of them wanting gerry adams to stand down,,,,,can you not understand that,,,,a fantastic leader
Sinead has been involved in a few terrible thing herself, “Nothing compares to you” being just one of them.
Sorry Páid – I think she does Nothing Compares 2 You wonderfully well. I just wish she’d stick to singing. Although I suspect her best singing days are behind her.
Jude
Stunningly stupid? That’s a bit rude. She may be eccentric but I don’t think she is stupid.
And on this I think she is right. It is past time for the dinosaurs to leave the stage, both republican and unionist.
Will any moderate unionist voters be persuaded to vote for SF while Gerry is in charge? Highly unikely.
Will any moderate nationalists be persuaded to become unionists by Peter the Punt and Gregory-my-yoghurt?
Highly unlikely.
The past is an albatross following SF and they need a clean break from it if they are serious about an Ireland for Catholic Protestant and Dissenter.
Or maybe that is just rhetoric.
Ah gio, I love it when you talk leadership. Would you say moderate unionists wish Martin McGuinness would quit too? Yes, it is rude to call someone stupid – but if they keep acting in a foolish fashion over a number of years and saying silly things, it’s hard to think of another word. I think it’s time that non-republicans stopped telling republicans who their leaders should be. I hope that doesn’t sound rude.
I stand by my comments Jude. I think I put enough time and effort into SF election campaigns here in the South to be entitled to call out those who I feel are squandering our efforts. One man’s ego should not be allowed to hold us back. SF activists on the ground in the South freely talk of the need for change at the top. And I also hope that I am not being rude either :-0
Fair enough, Alex – if you’re an active republican of course you’re entitled to a view. As a hurler on the ditch, I think such a negative view of GA is way off the mark. This is the man who took republicans from war to peace, who built a party from zilch to dominance – and people can’t wait to get rid of this liability? Pu-lease…
I’m not disrespecting the role GA played during the peace process. And full respect to him for that. But imho different times call for different leaders. And I don’t think GA has the skillset needed for the current phase.
One activist said to me as recently as last night something along the lines of “when the general election comes all the leaders of the establishment will be debating and who will we roll out but GA who is clearly not up to speed. Watch our vote share drop.”
A nice testimonial dinner and some token title might be the place for him. He needs to be called to the sideline if SF are to reach full potential in the next general election. Lets not loose the present and future because we are busy telling tales of yesterday.I for one, am not happy to loose the current historic opportunity because of this personality cult. It is not healthy for the leadership of a party to stagnate like this. Churchill was a brilliant war leader for the British, the people were grateful and he assumed hero status, but by God they didn’t wait long to send him out to pasture once the need for a war leader had passed 🙂
So I guess we’d better follow the lead of our betters, then…
But you are totally ignoring the fact that Adams is the man who not only took the struggle forward but he also made SF what they are today. If any of the other leaders have the courage to debate him in the run up to the next election we will see who still has it! And to somehow compare him to Churchill is an insult to Afams!!
Jude
Do you not do yourself a disservice by describing yourself as a mere “hurler on the ditch”.Jugding by the tone of most of your blogs,you’re hardly neutral where Sinn Fein is concerned and are very quick to defend the party from even the mildest criticism .Maybe my understanding of hurler on the ditch is different from yours.
Indeed, Argenta, I paused before using the term. I chose it to stress that my involvement remains at the level of these pages, as distinct from one of the people commenting who said he was an activist republican. I should have thought was obvious but clearly not. I’ll try to do better – wouldn’t want to do myself a disservice, whatever that is…
Alex, Nor do I wish to be rude to “activists in the south?”, but spare a thought for the numerous reactionary elements throughout the country who have rigged this game from start to finish, not least the brave men and women in the so called military reaction force.
Jude
So Sinead is entitled to her view then as a member? A perfectly valid view that it is time for new leadership. Should they throw out anyone who deviates from the cult mantra?
Also as I have said before Sinn Fein is part of my government. Why should I not have a view on who should lead them?
I am a potential SF voter, expressing how the party might make itself more appealing to people like me.
It is stunningly stupid to tell me I should not have an opinion.
As for Martin my guess is that moderate unionists find him more palatable than Gerry, perhaps because he seems more honest, but I think all these old men (and women) need to move on. The sooner the better.
Do you think they are in any way appealing to those who currently do not vote for them, or indeed for anyone?
Gio, gio, gio – I guess there’s no way we can stop you having an opinion – but it does seem to me presumptuous to tell the party to which you are opposed who should be their leader. I have my own views on who should lead the DUP and the UUP but I wouldn’t presume to advise either party. It stinks too much of the Orange Order who would speak with nationalist community representatives that THEY chose. So opine on, by all means, but don’t be presumptuous.
Jude
We are here to discuss opinions surely? Yoiu are not addressing my points at all.
Again; SF are part of my government. Why can I not have an opinion on their leadership?
Public Servants represent not only their parties but all their constituents. Surely all their constituents have a right to express an opinion on them?
You did not answer my point about hoping to persuade people to vote for them. Do you think SF and the DUP might do better in that respect without these old men so tied to the past?
No flannel now!
Jude
Thanks for letting me have an opinion. Sadly you did not address my points, to my great surprise.
As SF is part of my government why would I not be entitled to have a view on their leadership?
How long do you want these old stagers to hang around? They, both unionist and republican are too caught up in the past to have any appeal to voters other than their own support base. Do you not see that?
If they were in any way sincere about attracting new votes they would be saying “Thanks lads now off you go to your holiday homes in Donegal”.
Ah gio – sometimes I despair of you. But for now I’ll keep trying. I’ve already said you’re entitled to a view on their leadership, just as I have a view on Robinson, Kenny, Cameron et al. But I don’t have a vote on their leadership since I am not a member of their parties. That’s a matter for the party. You’re entitled to think of them as old men (do I detect a note of ageism there??) but clearly their record to date has reaped astonishing electoral response. So while you may not be persuaded to vote for them, obviously an awful lot of people who didn’t vote for them -I mean their party, which in turn elects them – are now voting for them. If it ain’t broke – in fact if it’s humming along, gio – why fix it?
So you are a potential SF voter who is supposed to decide forifong Republicans who their leader should be? Are you serious??
Gentlemen
I am simply expressing an opinion. This is a forum for exchanging opinions.
It seems you and Jude would prefer to challenge my right to have an opinion rather than actually discuss that opinion.
So I ask again; is there any serious intent by SF to appeal to moderate unionists or nationalists who had misgivings about the armed struggle?
Or would you prefer to just keep it to a cosy club, ourselves alone reminiscing about snipers or the great escape?
Gio – how do you know some of our correspondents aren’t women (as distinct from ladies)? I note you’ve shifted your emphasis. Originally you were choosing who should lead Sinn Féin; now you’re concerned they may not be increasing their numbers efficiently enough. It’s always good to meet a convert. Welcome, comrade…
Jude
‘Gentlemen’ referring to yourself ( a stretch admittedly)and Mick Early.
My very first post on the topic included my point about appealing to other voters, so what change of emphasis?
Again no engagement with my point and in general a great deal of personal attack on Sinead (not just from you) on this thread for her daring to have a view.
This is closing down the debate, a tactic beloved of the new wave of feminists for example, who declare that men should have no opinion on abortion.
I don’t know why shinners (and yes I know you are definitely not a shinner)are so frightened of discussing this issue.
Gio – what in God’s name are you doing, up at this time of the morning? And on a blogsite? Surely your life isn’t that thread-bare?
The change of emphasis is from Get-rid-of-Gerry to Stop-attacking-Sinead. I agree with you that it’s absurd to argue that men shouldn’t have a say in abortion – sexist to the core. I don’t think Shinners are afraid to discuss ‘this issue’ – Sinead. I got lots of response to my blog on her. She’s entitled to her views too, even entitled to join Sinn Féin (as far as I know). Just as I’ve my right to consider her (once) a wonderful singer and a shallow-to-the-point-of-absurdity thinker.
Jude,
I wonder whether Sinéad knows any popstar she could encourage to join the DUP and on the same day issue a press release announcing they advocate the DUP support reunification of Ireland 🙂
I’m overwhelmed by these altruistic voices supporting Sinéad’s right as a fledging Sinn Féin member to advocate the party ditch the leaders who’ve relentlessly contributed to the party’s continued growth across this island.
Alas, Sinéad, stick to sharing with us your magically singing talent e.g Sinead O’Connor – Oro Se do Bheatha Bhaile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sje2VYw99A
Despite what our enemies say ,Gerry is the nearest thing to an international statesman that Ireland has.( check out Mandela’s funeral if you dispute that).If ousting him would help SF, why do those who despise the party constantly demand he go?.If the sindo and it’s allies demand something it’s safe to assume that the direct opposite course is the one to follow.Sinead does a brilliant version of “the foggy dew” but if she goes beyond that there is no doubt that the whole thing will end badly!
Dr C
I might perhaps be the only unionist (small ‘u’,natch) that wants to see sf do well down south sooner rather than later (for completely different reasons to yourself I’d imagine) but I see this kind of celebrity endorsement as a natural part of the ‘ascension’.
A G – welcome back – always good to hear your measured tones. But hey – ‘celebrity’? Must be the D list, then…
Oohhhhhhhh, burnnnnnnn…..
Am Ghobsmacht
Why do you want S.F to do well in the south ?
Well Gio.
First of all I have to declare that I dislike SF (I also dislike the DUP and TUV and increasingly despair at the UUP).
Everyone else’s attitude to SF is to throw dirt at them all the time oblivious to the fact that this is galvanising them and making them stronger.
I believe that if/when they get into government they’ll have to change their tune.
It’s very easy to criticise from the sidelines, different whenever you’re running around silly in mid-field.
I believe that the sooner they get into government then the more difficult it will be for them.
The south’s economy has made an impressive recovery so far and (as far as I’m aware) SF have opposed many of the moves that have facilitated this painful recovery.
So, if they get in sooner rather than later they’ll sink or swim even faster as the delicate state of the economy means that it can’t be tinkered with too much. (Think of whenever Blair took over control of the government and went on a spending spree).
IF they do a good job, well, fair enough. So much the better.
So yes, I am a bit mean, but that’s why I want them to get in sooner rather than later.
I am Antonio not Gio – how dare you slander me lol
Well they have been criticising the government pretty much constantly for everything including the genocide in Rawanda, but that is the nature of opposition. The day an opposition parliamentarian praises the government publicly is the day Jim Wells converts to romanist catholicism.
Unfortunately due to the very poor standards of journalism in the republic of Ireland it is difficult to come to an informed decision about whether Sinn Fein are entirely correct about their criticisms of government policy or are opportunistic economically illiterate marxist loons who will destroy the economy upon taking office.
An educated guess tells me the reality is somewhere in between.
If they get into government down south they will either do a good job or a bad job. If they do a bad job it will be because they are economically illiterate according to the media. If they do a good job the Irish media will explain it as due to Sinn Fein reneging on their previous leftist principles and ideas.
Most likely they will get into power and simply reintroduce public spending for the more vulnerable sections of society which should be realistic presuming growth continues and tax revenues increase accordingly . Toward the end of their term in office and presuming the recovery is secure then significant public spending increases will likely ensue so they can present themselves as more caring for society’s vulnerable than previous right wing governments.
The planet will not fall off its axis although Mike Nesbitt will still not have made his mind up whether he wants a liberal or a reactionary U.U.P
That would be the same sinead oconnor seen recently helping fraud geldof promote his scam Ebola song then? Tut tut, I despair sometimes I really do : )
I think she is a train wreck, someone who likes the sound of her own voice. She is a perfect fit with Geldof and Bono, although you would need a very large manse to contain the vast girth of their combined ego’s. It wouldn’t surprise me if she is nothing but an agent provacateur
Everybody has their part…
This woman is not Stupid Jude,
or maybe I am.
I think you discount her at your peril.
You may be right, Eoin. In which case she’s been doing a terrific job of hiding it for a lot of years.
Nothing compares to that reply, Dr C great one
grma, Paul
Crush Candy, Champagne and Cuts
Given a choice between Sinéad or Nigel Mills and Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, Ms O’Connor would get my first preference vote. The House of Lords is a glaring anachronism. Many of its unelected members eat tripe and some talk tripe.
In the current era of austerity it is difficult to listen to an individual berate poor people about a perceived lack of culinary skills. This same individual is a member of the House of Lords refreshment committee which declined to merge catering services with the House of Commons because it would mean peers drinking inferior champagne. The House of Lords has a catering budget of £1.3M and a ring fenced budget of £65,000 for champagne.
Anyone in receipt of Disability Living Allowance must be green with envy given peers receive £300 per day attendance allowance plus expenses. Dá mbeadh a fhios aici cad ba ocras ann, if she only knew what it meant to be hungry.
Give Sinéad a chance to build bridges in our divided country, a country divided by relatives of some of the incumbents in the House of Lords, after all it is said that a pier is a disappointed bridge.
Jeezis!!!!! i turn my back for five minutes and Sinead has joined the Shinners and caused a whole new kerfuffle…..Well…that’s a bit of a novelty alright.
Is she still a Rastafarian Catholic priest too?I remember her tearing up a photo of one of the popes a few years ago and getting herself booed off stage at that big Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary love -in back in the early 1990’s.Kris Kristofferson put his arms around her and helped her off stage .. She enjoys stirring it up alright….
Yep….she’s a damn fine singer and opinionated to the maximum , but she has a few problems too. She’ll be painted in as the crazy pop-star who joined Sinn Fein.Maybe Van the Man will join up next . He probably knows as much about politics as Sinead. She did a damned fine version of Prince’s “Nothing compares To You” …real tears too in the video. She’s a sensitive sort of a girl… not a good look in politics though…
there is not ONE politician on the island who has given more and sacrificed more than Adams. He has the loyalty of the rank and file and always will. I’ve heard too often that he must move aside for SF to really move forward, but the obnes doing the spouting could’nt spell Republican! We move forward together.
You don’t possibly think that Sinead meants that Gerry and anyone else associated with “horrible things” should resign and let fresh young bloods like “her” take their place?
After all, these celebrity rock/pop star types have their finger on the pulse don’t they?
They can really empathesis with the people on the ground because they are there living the same financial hardships of trying to make ends meet in a sea of poverty while the rich accelerate their pace in accruing an ever increasing proportion of the nations wealth!
Gerry and Martin have gave their whole lives to the cause of Irish freedom they put themselves out there in the firing line when things where hard and big mistakes where happening they have brought us this far there is still work to be done they are the people to lead us into a new Ireland where all our people will be proud of what has been achieved they will make sure that what our people fought and died for is delivered not handed over to people who have forgotten the men of 1916 not handed over to those who sold our people out to save the banks so Ill stick with Gerry and Martin and co for now and when the hard work is done then we can hand the mantel to our young people its all about trust and when it come to negotiations I know who I want in the room and Sinead in not one of my choices maybe its her ego I dont know .
Can’t anyone see the tattooed gal is doing an excellent job of making Gerry seem to be an old timer?
People don’t want to be led by youngsters or hipsters, and GA still seems a little young for Ireland’s leadership.
Are the grey hairs real, I often ask?
So up pops Seanead, timing just right to build an image of GA that almost gives him the halo of the 1916 heros ahead of elections!
My guess he’ll start using a walking-stick soon to show the breadth of experience he brings to the table.
“New young tattooed leaders indeed!” I can see the fence-sitters say.
And she with tattoos and all a great devil’s advocate saint-maker …
Eh, little too much analysis here me thinks. She’s a singer who has joined a political party, that’s the story and pretty much that’s the end of it, but for anyone in any doubt ( that’s you Jude
Ha haaa , Barry – glad you identified me – I could have missed me. Of course she’s just a singer – that’s the whole point. She’s a singer, joins SF and promptly starts telling them how to run the party. Stop squawking Sinead and go back to singing.
Sinead rant is a bit like a pagan joining the church today and calling for a change of Pope. Holy Christ is there noting they will try, to get rid of the greatest Statesman this country have ever produced.
Wee Bearded Gerry’s Heir Apparent?
Sinead’s last hubby lasted all of one week
A long time in her new hobby, so to speak
Quick bootleg hair restorer
For this egg-baldy signora
Else she’ll fail to scale the Sinn Fein peak.
`I think you have defamed the President of SF…He’s quite tall…
I think she needs psychiatric help, she is obviously a very troubled woman as witnessed by her antics over the decades. Has she a cd or book coming out?
Gio, whats wrong with reminiscing about “the great escape”? The film of that name is one of my all time favourites and I salute those allied forces who took part in the actual escape on which the film is based.Similarily Gerry Kelly ,Bobby Storey and their comrades have a fascinating story to tell about their escape and having gone to one of the events where the escape is recalled,I would recommend it to anybody.
Hey jude dont make it bad , you are spot on pal , as a ardend supporter of the sinn fein strategy I am amazed that they allowed sinead to join their ranks , gerry adams is a stalwart of our struggle who was at the cutting edge of republican politics as was martin , now I am not suggesting that they should stay forever but its a bit rich for sinead to come out with this rant , cant believe she was accepted into the party , when bobby sands was elected an mp in 1981 gerry an co saw that the alternative to armed struggle was electoral strength , now It took them 13 yrs and a lot of convincing and sacrifice to bring the ira to a cessation in 1994 , but they managed it very well , now the biggest party on tbe island are going to be dictated to by a person who hardly has warmed her behind on her sinn fein chair , I,m sorry , I never really would criticise but this one is just amazing ,
Jude, I feel you let yourself down with that “follow our leaders comment”.
Like it or not there is a certain amount of dissatisfaction with Adams leadership in the south among SF activists.
It’s the elephant in the room for republicans on the run up to the next general election. Personally, right now I don’t think Gerry has the strategic or tactical nous required. This project needs to go forward with the best team available.
Those enthralled with the cult of personality who wish to sweep this issue under the carpet do a disservice to the project. Gerry has done heroic work in the past but in my opinion is time for him to be called in for a performance review.
Interesting views, Alex, to which you’re perfectly entitled. I don’t think, however, you’re entitled to believe that those who believe he’s the best leader Sinn Féin has or had or will have are engaged in a ‘cult of personality’. I’d say they’re judging by his record and present performance. Certainly there weren’t too many at yesterday’s water charges protest who were discontent with him.
I disagree entirely. Adams not only has the nous to move forward but he has been the main architect behind the current successes we have had. It has absolutely nothing to do with a cult of personality! If I thought he was past it Id be happy to see h retire to Dinegal or where he might like. He is still the most dynamic personality in the political leadership anywhere on this island and the fact that he scare the establishment so bad down south only endears him all the more to me! Beir Bua!!