At last - a victorious homecoming
By PT O'Hare
Smoke filled the air from numerous bonfires, children squealed,
cars were forced to stop by residents blocking the road and
everywhere were the flags and posters that demarcate the
political landscape. Cameras moved forward to record the action
as the temperature and tensions rose but it wasn't the Garvaghy
or Ormeau Roads, it was the homecoming of West Tyrone's adopted
son, Donegal man and Sinn Fein's Vice President Pat Doherty, to
his native Gortnabrade.
Locals noted it was Upper Gortnabrade as opposed to Lower
Gortnabrade. But parochial political difficulties aside there was
nothing going to stop the people of Donegal celebrating in style
Doherty's Assembly victory.
To his suprise and obvious delight a huge convoy of cars with
sirens, music blaring and draped in numerous tricolours awaited
his arrival in Strabane for the last leg of his victorious
campaign trail. It is the first victory in ten outings but as was
noted during the long often torturous two day count in Omagh
Leisure Centre, he has a long, long way to catch up on Francie
Donnelly of the Workers Party who has lost more deposits than he
has fingers and toes to count them on.
With the exclusion for the first time of media from the counting
rooms, a very negative step in terms of entertainment alone, all
and sundry were cooped up in a stifling canteen/TV studio. This
guaranteed that Willie McCrea will both dance and sing. He dances
round politically hostile tables loaded with republican quiche
and the ubiquitous and incessent mobile phones. Everytime one
rang it was like the Gunfight at the OK Coral as electioneers
with lightning reflexes went to their hip to cancel the
embarrassingly corny versions of the Marseillaise or Hi Ho
Silver.
Funny when you're drunk but not when you're trying to look like a
Republican Growler in front of the DUP's wimpy bigots.
While Willie was doing his dance Sinn Fein's election team were
doing a complete and as it transpired very accurate tally of the
votes from Fermanagh/South Tyrone, West Tyrone and Mid Ulster.
Martin McGuinness, John Kelly and Francie Molloy's combined vote
was within a dozen of the Westminster result and in West Tyrone
the estimated tally was an amazing close eight short of the
actual total of 16,000. With it Sinn Fein absolutely lay claim to
the seat taking it back from the erstwhile Offical Unionist
Willie Thompson. Michelle Gildernew refused initial
congratulation in spite of a massive and deserved 30% increase in
her vote until it was official, having been pipped at the post on
her last outting.
Barry McElduff with typical aplomb and astuteness was convinced
from an early stage that their canvass had been accurately
recorded so he passed around a copy of ``The Little Book of Calm''
to eager readers.
As on long journeys, strange friendships were made. Jim Dixon of
the UK Unionists confided in a Shinner that he had two houses in
the Canaries and it was much more conducive to his condition.
``I'm not a politician, why would I want to go up to Stormont and
watch them boys argue,'' he added. Maybe you should have told
that to the four thousand people who wasted their vote on you
before you stood.
The RUC tried to foment trouble with snide remarks and
provocative behaviour but nothing could alter the professional
focus of, and it can't be repeated often enough, the Sinn Fein
election strategists. Once they got over the actual number
crunching they moved quickly onto what Ministry each should have
given that Gerry Adams claimed Silly Walks. The Shinners were
momentarily dismayed as they had in an act of international
solidarity (we believe you!) supported Colombia against England.
The live game was watched by the media only.
Then real politics and some would say clientelism took a final
grip on Sunday as celebrations ended and Derry moved into the
Ulster Final against Donegal. Who was the best source of
tickets, McGuinness or Doherty? Could they possibly sit
together, would there be compromise, would a joint statement be
issued, would the losers be invited to the winners' party and if
so did they have to bring their own drink? Crucial questions.
Sinn Féin and nationalism were on the rise. The inevitability was
written all over the faces of the RUC and the narrow minded
bigots. The road there was very much like that from Lower
Gortnabrade to Upper Gortnabrade, full of twists, memories,
potholes, steep hills and sharp turns but there's a warm welcome
from kith and kin at the end and a spectacular view of the future
of a united island. It is a view Pat Doherty enjoys more than
anything and why wouldn't he?
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