Irish Election - Coverage of Irish Politics, News and Current Affairs

One of Bertie Ahern’s home stretch events today was to launch the Dublin Airport Authority’s plan for Dublin Airport City.   Not to put too fine a point on it, this seems like one of the crazier proposals to have emerged over the last year, and symptomatic of much of what is wrong with governance and [...]

Just before the election Anthony Sheridan sent a letter of compliant to Donegal County Council about posters Pat “the Cope” Gallagher had erected posters which allegedly broke litter regulations. He has been for a while trying to get answers.
This is the reply he got.

At the least it seems Sinn Fein are hoping to pick up 6 additional seats in this election. Mary Lou McDonald reckons they can pick up seats in Donegal (not sure if one or both), Sligo-North Leitrim, Cork North Central, Waterford and Wexford. She also suggests seats in Dublin (well she would) though not specifying [...]

Donegal South-West, not wanting to be left out the fun and games in North-East, has apparently seen a power play by FG HQ.  Joining the trend of unretirements, Dinny McGinley says he’s back on the ticket at the expense of Cllr Terence Slowey, who apparently has been persuaded to withdraw [UPDATED 2 MARCH].

From the Donegal Democrat. Labour’s spokeswoman on education, Jan O’Sullivan, angered educators in Donegal when, speaking on Newstalk, she said:
Donegal ended up coming out badly in the guide but they don’t have any, either IT or university, up there.
In response Paul Hannigan, Director of Letterkenny IT: said “The impression that Donegal is the poor relation [...]

RTE reports that FG’s Dinny McGinley TD is standing down at the next election.  Going by the last election results (which you can get to from the blog links above), FG will have little problem holding the seat since their 2nd candidate had as strong a first preference base as McGinley. FF probably have bigger problems, as [...]

Ireland once had what was termed a 2 and 1/2 party system. It might be now said to have a 2 and 7/8s party system.The Irish electoral system has by in large been kinder to the larger parties in terms of seat bonuses when comparing to the smaller parties.. Both FF and FG have benefited [...]

Sorry for the delay in bring this but I blame a certain team in red.
Donegal Democrat
Solicitor Makes Sensational Cash Payment Claim
A LETTERKENNY solicitor issued a strongly worded statement last night in which he claims an attempt was made to pass on a substantial cash payment to his client, Donegal T.D. Niall Blaney.

Local news round-up If there is any stories you have read please drop us a comment.
The Kingdom
Kenny moves to put stop to nasty FG spats
FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny is closely monitoring party activity in South Kerry where a new wave of internal feuding is threatening to destroy already slim chances of winning a seat [...]

“The politician is trained in the art of inexactitude. His words tend to be blunt or rounded, because if they have a cutting edge they may later return to wound him.”

Edward R. Murrow

“The media serve the interests of state and corporate power, which are closely interlinked, framing their reporting and analysis in a [...]

Donegal is probably the best chance Sinn Fein has to gain seats. From this weeks Donegal Democrat “Sinn Fein Vice President, Pat Doherty, has said that Donegal North East and Donegal South West are among the 15 constituencies which his party harbour real hopes of securing a seat in the next general election.” They are [...]