Comments on: Updated: Christy Burke Resigns from Sinn Fein

By: Colm

Colm — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:39:20 +0000

Jer,
There is no spittle or bile on my chin. I’m just pointing out that there is a disconnect between the Northern focused leadership of the party and the public representatives in the Republic who are leaving because they feel neither respected nor wanted and who refuse to be led (and spoken down to) by people who have a track record of being unelectable in this juristiction (and I dare say she wouldn’t get elected in the North either).

Turn a blind eye if you want but the exodus of cllrs from the party is a symptom of a greater problem. If you choose to believe Cristy left purely for personal greedy reasons then so be it. If you choose to believe the mouth without a mandate is the best person to lead the party in this country then on your head be it. Just don’t be surprised when a new political force emerges.

By: Jer

Jer — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:02:54 +0000

Colm,

Please whip the spittle and bile from your chin.

By: Colm

Colm — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:28:58 +0000

At least Christy is elected by the people to represent the people. Remember that the leader of the party in this country is the “Mouth without a Mandate” Mary Lou. What message does it send to the elected representatives within the party when a professional whinger with a track record of being unelectable gets imposed on them as their leader and therefore gets the majority of air time.

It is the UK leadership of the party giving two figures to elected public representatives in this country. Having Mary Lou imposed as national leader ahead of the party’s TDs and Cllrs makes a mockery of democracy both within and outside the party. Imagine the national outrage if we held a general election and the EU went over our heads to appoint Pat Cox as Taoiseach just because he’s one of their mates living on fleeting past glories. I’m surprised more elected members of the party haven’t given the two figures to Adams and the other UK leaders and split. Sinn Fein in the south would be better off as an independent party separate from the UK leadership as under its current structure the entire party focus is on Northern Ireland and maximising Westminister expenses.

By: Leveller on the Liffey

Leveller on the Liffey — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:34:24 +0000

I like Christy and admire his solid record of work over 25 years but not what he’s done. It was underhand to campaign under a Sinn Féin banner with Sinn Féin resources if he had long-standing concerns prior to the election (or did he have an epiphany the day after he was elected?).

I wouldn’t disagree that Christy could have got elected on his own merits and without Sinn Féin – so why didn’t he?

By: my self

my self — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:07:53 +0000

christy burke signed a contract with sinn fein that stated that he would stay for the 4 years if he had to run under a sinn fein banner, fair enough what ever reason he has is hes own bussines but he should hand the seat over to sinn fein and if he was thinking about leaving the party for so long why didnt he do it before the elections, i voted for him wanting to give sinn fein a vote im very dissapointed with him and he has lost my vote my familys vote and every one i can get to not vote for him.

By: Sean Cahill

Sean Cahill — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:53:36 +0000

So what Christy has left SF [an undemocratic party] and in leaving he may have enlisted their election machine to help retain his seat, the seat that he personaly has worked hard for and an electorate that he has worked hard for also.at the end of the day the least SF could do is congratulate Christy and wish him all the best for the future, a future that im sure will see Christy hold his seat and continue to work hard for his people ,unlike those in SF that he left behind who have lost their way totaly the war was about ridding Ireland of Britain ,not administering British rule on their behalf and building holiday homes for themselves with their ill gotten gains .
SF should take a leaf out of Christys book and get back to grass roots and while they are there ,listen to people ,the people who matter not your nodding dogs or your rentamob ceasefire provies

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:36:53 +0000

I agree with Mark, Christy had more than enough personal votes to get him elected and people voted for him because he cares about people and does the job he’s elected to do. They voted for him as he is not because he was in Sinn Fein. In my opinion the people of the inner city will never elect another Sinn Fein representative again, Not without Christy. Also this decision wasn’t taken lightly and was nothing to do with Mary Lou losing her European seat he had been thinking of it long before that. Good Luck to him, I wish him all the best as an independent TD.

By: Stra

Stra — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:19:29 +0000

I’m not surprised that christy has decided to call it a day with Sinn Fein. As a member for upwards of 25 years I decide to relunctantly leave a few years back, again it was no one big thing, but the careerism of some and the lack of democracy in general were key points which came constantly in different forms. Once the party was cumann based around the the local community now it is office based around paid officials. I had many good comrades who give everything including in some cases their very lives. Today if you speak out you’re labelled.

By: Christy Shannon

Christy Shannon — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:45:57 +0000

Carpetbagger! Anybody out there remember the phrase, 32 County Socialist Republic? In 1985, when Christy was first elected, this was the stated aim of Sinn Fein.He was,for a time, the only SF Councillor in the 26 and not for a border constituency,where a core Republican vote will always be garnered, but for North Side Inner City Dublin,the area of the greatest social deprivation in Ireland. His personal standing and successful fusion of socialist/republican activism and ideals made him electable during the war and through Section 31,a period of little impact for SF in Southern polls.This,in turn,paved the way for the outstanding progress of SF in Dublin,culminating in the election of Mary Lou to the Euro seat in 2003.Why has he gone? I don’t know,perhaps it is SF’s increasing disdain for the “S” word that holds the clue. It rarely appears in party rhetoric or literature these days,displaying a fear of the media and lack of respect for the electorate that Joe Higgins did not. For a party with so many activists,who would describe themselves as Socialists,this is a shame.Maybe Christy knows more than many about the direction SF is heading and decided to return to the values that first saw him elected. He could,of course, be mistaken but he is no carpetbagger and Sinn Fein has benefited from his many years of activism when the going was at its toughest.

By: derek duffy

derek duffy — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:55:36 +0000

Christy Burke should not give up his seat. He has worked so hard for it for the last 25 years. He has always being there for the working class people in the inner city as far as i could see looking at the posters around the city SF was pushing all the new young members and it back fired on them and only for Christy Burke they would not have as much support in dublin city. I don’t know why Christy done what he did but there had to be a good reason for him to do it so Christy if you read this keep doing what you do best and you will only go from strenth to strenth. I am 43 years old now and have being voting for SF from the age of 18 but if christy goes from SF it will be the last time SF will get a vote from me or my family. Best of luck Christy and keep your head high