Mayo politics: Lisa is in the fight of her life
By Dr. Richard Martin
"The best bit of us has always been and always will be when our backs are against the wall. All we've got is us."
Paul McCartney was at his wits end in January 1969.
The band he loved so much was falling down around them. He was trying his best to keep the band together.
John Lennon was addicted to heroin and was in an intense, all consuming relationship with Yoko Ono. George Harrison was tired of being a 'junior' Beatle. He wanted more songs on albums and more artistic input.
Ringo was drained of the constant infighting, tension and pressure. The band was falling apart.
By January 1970 the dream was over, but not without a fight. They still produced great music. Let it Be. Abbey Road. They were both forged under the anvil of adversity, and McCartney swung the anvil and drove the others to the bitter end.
It will always be the way. It is the human condition. We find the best of ourselves in adversity. When it's backs to the wall and there's no way out, only to clinch the teeth and fight.
Lisa Chambers’ back is to the wall. This is it. She is in the fight of her life. She wasn't elected in 2020. If she had've been elected on that occasion, it's highly probable she would've been awarded the justice portfolio.
Castlebar lost out on having a senior minister. Only she and she alone can answer why she lost in 2020.
She was a candidate in the recent European elections.
She was the most qualified candidate in the field, but she failed to be elected. It's true, she performed admirably, but admirable doesn't cut it in politics. Bottom line is she has lost out twice.
If the people of Mayo reject her in the upcoming GE, and she isn't elected to the Dáil, her career in frontline politics is over. National politics doesn't do sentiment or emotion. It's cold and ruthless.
She knows that now. Her team know it. We all of us need to fall short in life to appreciate what we once had.
A new office has been opened on Tucker Street. The complacency is gone.
I was walking down Tucker Street recently, and I saw Lisa's right-hand man, Conor Smith, painting the front door to a fine polish. I put my arm around him and we exchanged pleasantries. Conor knows this is it, and he's in it ‘til the bitter end. If they are going to come up short, it won't be for want of trying.
Senator Chambers is at every dog fight going. There is a perception out there that she is an 'aloof' individual. I haven't found that to be the case. She is reserved, educated and deferential.
I find it somewhat bemusing and amusing when I hear some local say 'I passed her in Tesco, and she didn't say hello and blah blah blah'. I mean, what do they want from the woman? A therapy session on the aisle itself?
The job of a serious politician is to legislate.
It is not the job of Lisa Chambers and Alan Dillon to be hanging around funerals glad handing, backslapping and performing like a circus act. They are politicians, not funeral undertakers.
Do we want a Willie O'Dea type TD in Castlebar? Someone who's always returned to the Dáil and a perennial backbencher? And is never a major player in public life? Or do we want cerebral, ambitious politicians who have hunger and ability. I know what I want.
This town sent 3,000 votes to Belmullet in 2020. We sent 2,000 votes to Westport. What return did we get from it? At what point do we back our own?
We are sitting on a winning lotto ticket in Senator Chambers and Deputy Dillon. Both are senior cabinet minister material. Both are the right age profile. They have youth on their side. They tick all the right boxes for senior positions in Irish public life.
But, they need support. They need a mandate. It's probable that FF and FG will form the next government. We could be in the enviable and unique position of having two cabinet ministers staring across at each other as cabinet is in session.
If the people of Tullamore or Thurles were in our position, what do you think they would do? They'd send them both back to the Dáil.
Personally, I'd prefer to have senior cabinet ministers in the town who are at the seat of power and are effectual and can deliver major projects to the county.
There has been lots of talk recently about how Castlebar is a 'depressing' town and there's no 'nightlife'. All negativity. How many of these merchants of doom will actually back their own people? If they want change, they have to vote for it.
The equation is very simple. By keeping the vote in the town, you're keeping money in the town. A TD in any other part of this county is no good for Castlebar, and well we know it.
Michael Ring delivered two million to Westport United. I've been watching Pat Gavin, Fergie McEllin and others at the gate of Celtic Park for the last 30 years. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year. Continuous service. No agenda. No motives. Just a love for the club. Collecting fivers and tenners. Small money. I think it's time these men and others got the backing of serious politics. Celtic needs a greenfield site. It needs to grow and expand.
Westport and Ballina have moved ahead of Castlebar. We're standing still and blaming others instead of looking at ourselves.
If the people of the town can't get out in the next few months and back Chambers and Dillon, we should hang our heads in shame.
I was at the FF convention. Senator Chambers and Deputy Calleary both spoke after being selected unopposed.
I didn't hear folksy pothole populist rubbish. Instead, it was about developing Knock. Developing infrastructure. Solving the housing crisis. After all, FF is the construction party. Intelligent cerebral politics.
Deputy Calleary spoke for 15 minutes straight. No notes. Fluent Irish. His speech was interspersed with detailed facts pertaining to finance, business, housing and tourism. He is formidable, of that there is no doubt.
Beverley Flynn was present. The meeting finished. She was mobbed. It was fascinating to see the people gravitate towards her. She was the Pied Piper of the Ivy Tower Hotel. No pipe in hand, just a heavenly smile.
Wherever she moved, heads turned. The diehards watched and followed as she worked the room. Her charisma was conferred divinely.
Her daughter Caoileann was also in attendance and the crowd approached her with curiosity and eagerness.Will she lead the revival of the House of Flynn?
The legend of Pee has passed into myth and lore. If Beverley were to return to frontline politics, she'd top the poll. Bookmakers wouldn't lay that bet.
Mind you, if Lisa were to persuade Beverley to become her director of elections, she'd be halfway home. That might just be the move to make.
(Dr. Richard Martin is a regular columnist with The Connaught Telegraph).