It's time for Mayo senator to assert her authority in county town

Fianna Fáil in Castlebar has never needed leadership as badly as it does now

by Dr. Richard Martin

Schadenfreude - enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others.

Around the town and bumping into people, I have never met as many from the blue side of the house in the past week or so who have been so gleeful at the state of FF in Castlebar.

Watching their age-old rivals in a state of confusion and disarray following the bizarre, populist decision of Blackie Gavin to defect from FF is compulsive popcorn viewing.

It is like watching a great movie in the cinema - a widescreen. Surround sound. An XXL Coke. A large box of popcorn. Some candy. And a few hours of pleasure and escape - an escape from the mundane realities of life.

There is still a great deal of unspoken hurt in the blue camp about how Enda Kenny was treated by some in the town during his tenure as Taoiseach.

In 2013 there were protests about the Sacred Heart Hospital. Due to the austerity measures brought in after national bankruptcy, investment in public services in this country inevitably took a huge hit.

Our economy in 2013 was on life support. The IMF called the shots. At the time in the Sacred Heart Hospital, the long-stay bed complement was reduced from 300 to 120.

All of this was the inevitable result of the disastrous governance of successive FF governments during the Bertie era. Most thinking citizens in the state would understand this.

Some were fearful and concerned that the hospital was due to close. A community rally was then held in support of the retention of the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar.

A Facebook page was set up called 'Save the Sacred Heart'. All of this was understandable and acceptable. Patriotic citizens should protest. It is their inalienable right.

It is what good democracy is all about. Having a protest rally and in tandem a social media presence was a good idea.

The protests were coordinated by some of the local FF Cumann. A relative of mine was at the protest and if I’d been living in Castlebar at the time I would’ve been there myself. I’m a proud Castlebar man. I want the best for the town.

However when a comment was posted on Facebook that said “If they close this hospital il [sic] shoot Enda Kenny JFK assassination style.” it crossed a line. It was not acceptable. It isn’t acceptable.

There was never an apology. From anyone involved in the protest. To Enda Kenny, his wife or family. The blue family were deeply wounded at the time.

It happened. It’s over. But, it’s not forgotten. And it never will be. Councillor Ger Deere reported the matter to the gardaí. He was left with no other option.

Tensions were running high in the town but there was no excuse. An apology would’ve poured oil on troubled waters.

In the minds of many the waters are still troubled.

Eventually, the matter was put to bed when Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced funding of €11 million for the Sacred Heart for the necessary refurbishment to bring it up to HIQA standards in time for the 2015 deadline.

During that period some in Castlebar FF felt that it was a good idea to christen Enda Kenny with a nickname ‘Not a penny Kenny’ about the fact that they felt he was not doing enough for the town during his tenure as Taoiseach.

Enda Kenny was a politician. He’s entitled to be praised and criticised for his political actions. But this was a low blow. This was personal.

‘Not a penny Kenny’ suggested sinister undertones. That he was miserly and didn’t care about his people. Whatever is said or isn’t said about Enda Kenny or any of the Kennys, they’re classy people.

I would be critical of some of his political decisions, a lot of his political decisions, but as a man, he’s a decent honourable man. He has integrity. That integrity was crucial when our country’s economic reputation was in the gutter.

We needed honest, decent people representing our country in Europe when we were in the clutches of the Troika. His strong personal relationship with Angela Merkel was vital to Ireland’s recovery. She trusted him. She trusted Ireland as a result.

When the coalition of FG and Labour came into government in 2011, 10-year Irish bond yields were at 13 per cent. The equivalent German bond yields were at two per cent.

Bond yields are a useful metric to gauge a stable healthy economy. Falling bond yields may not butter parsnips. But you need the bond yields to fall to buy the butter and the parsnip. If they rise, there is no butter or parsnip on the kitchen table.

By the time Enda Kenny had left office as Taoiseach in 2017, the Irish 10-year bond yields were at one per cent. The markets saw Ireland as a safe place to do business.

A clean bill of health. It’s a safe place for multinationals like Allergan, Baxter and Coca-Cola to domicile. Stable government. Stable economy. Highly educated workforce. Low corporation tax. EU single market. Low bond yields.

At the time of his departure, Enda Kenny left this nation in a far better place than when he came to office in 2011. Lemass is the gold standard by which all Taoisigh are measured. I think even Lemass would’ve been impressed with how he handled his tenure in high office.

A safe pair of hands, which was badly needed in a time of turmoil and uncertainty. He restored honesty, integrity and professionalism to high office in this country.

So in light of his major achievement in restoring international confidence in the country’s economy having some FF supporters from Castlebar chanting petty personal schoolyard rhymes was hugely offensive and insulting to the blue side. Many felt it was motivated by nothing other than base jealousy.

Begrudgery. Jealousy. Ignorance.

Not everyone in FF went down this road. Most didn’t. That kind of politics would be an anathema to a real Republican like Al McDonnell. So all in all it’s fair to say that lately, the schadenfreude in Castlebar is blue. Very blue.

FF are now feeling the very same hurt that FG experienced. Betrayal.

So what’s next?

Is Blackie going to be expelled from the party? What is Senator Chambers’ stance on the issue? She hasn’t made any public comment.

Silence. No good. She is not showing leadership. In this life, you have to make things happen. In other words, grab the bull by the horn. Burying your head in the sand and hoping it will go away is weak politics.

Senator Chambers simply can’t afford to have him involved in her upcoming GE campaign. He has no credibility as a FF representative and any attempt to say otherwise is futile.

Make a statement. Ask him to resign from the party.

And challenge him. That’s strong politics. It would only enhance her standing in the town. I would go so far as to say it would be a massive step in the right direction towards winning back her seat in Dáil Éireann.

The longer Blackie stays in the FF party the longer the confusion will reign.

His profile has been taken down from the FF party website but no affirmative action has been taken as of yet.

FF have a very real chance of getting two seats in the next GE. A solid campaign with a three-candidate approach with Paul McNamara, Lisa Chambers and Dara Calleary would ensure that.

Castlebar needs another TD. Senator Chambers is senior cabinet minister material. A potential Taoiseach. Let’s hope that FF do what they have to do to get her there.

(Dr. Richard Martin is a regular columnist with The Connaught Telegraph).