Republican News · Thursday 2 May 2002

Moving South

BY JIM GIBNEY

Bertie's campaigners were putting up posters with the slogan, 'Fianna Fáil-The Republican Party' and we responded, 'Sinn Féin-The All Ireland Republican Party'

My first encounter moving south for the election was an hour's delay on board a CIE train at Portadown station on Sunday night at 8pm. Two excuses were offered: either the driver jumped a red light and had to be replaced or there was masonary on the rail line due to an accident which had to be cleared. I still don't know the truth.

My second encounter, also related to trains, happened later the same night on a platform at Connolly station. Standing amid a squall of rain and wind, we passengers bound for Howth discovered (ital) ourselves (ital) that we were on the wrong platform. No official told us and as we scampered loaded with baggage to catch the train with seconds to go, I thought of the debate dominating the South's election, 'it's the economy, stupid'; for us weary travellers 'it was transport, stupid'.

Elections turn one's body clock on its head. At 6.45am on Monday morning I was introduced to the world of radio, Dublin style. Gone were the harsh and hostile tones of Radio 'Ulster' but could I find David Hanly and 'Morning Ireland'? No way. Music of all sorts. Yes, and not an English lilt clipped or otherwise caressed my ears.

After 30 years of alighting with ease in and out of Black Taxis in West Belfast, I took my life in my hands clambering up stairs in a moving double decker bus as an invisible 'G' force pressed down on me. There's a lot to be said for my old mode of transport.

A bus ride from north Dublin is an experience. It is the equivalent of travelling around Ballymurphy on a double decker visiting practically every street and wondering all the while will I ever get to the city centre. But I did and en route I was consoled by the smiling faces of Sinn Féin's hopefuls, the avununcular Larry O'Toole, the energetic Francis McCole and Nicky Kehoe, as we passed from area to area marked out by their posters. I thought to myself that look alikes Nicky TD and Assembly member Alex Maskey could alternate between the Dáil and the Assembly: now that's what I call real all-Ireland representation.

Unlike Belfast, Dublin's shopping centre is like other European cities; it has dwellers. O'Connell Street has been declared a poster free zone and woe betide the first party that breaks that environmently friendly convention. But lamposts in the side streets are festooned with election posters. I can't imagine Belfast's Anne, Fountain and High Streets so covered in this way. Although in recent years Sinn Fein posters have broken through this hitherto unionist-imposed no go area for nationalists.

There is another obvious difference between the two cities. Dublin has a noticeable immigrant population from all over the world seeking a living. It is a far cry from the city 20 years ago, when people left to work abroad. Now they stay and some come home to share in the new found prosperity. It would be churlish even in the middle of an election not to recognise this as one of Bertie's achievements. But it would be wrong to assume that what you see on O'Connell Street reflects a multiracial society. It's moving that way but it's hardly an 'invasion', as one racist caller described it to an angry Gerry Adams on Pat Kenny's election phone in radio show on Tuesday morning.

I noticed from on top the bus that Belfast and Dublin nestle in a lush collar of green mountains. I also noticed that Croke Park rises towards the sky like a giant flying saucer. The recent renovations have produced a stupendous stadium and I thought soccer supporters are entitled to the same but not at the cost of one billion Euro for 'Bertie's Bowl' when health, education, housing and infrastructure need funds urgently!

'A Tale of Two Irelands' is how Gerry Adams at his first election press conference described economic reality for people here. Sinn Féin is seeking to represent those workers who the Celtic Tiger have helped and those yet to enter that band but are entitled to it or its benefits.

This mix of people, one hundred strong, turned out to listen to Cllrs Nicky Kehoe and Christy Burke in a hall in Ballybough on Monday night. The troops were being rallied to deliver, in Nicky's words, "an upheaval in the political system the likes of which hasn't been seen", by electing him TD.

This is my first direct involvement in an election here. The difference between here and the Six Counties during elections is like night and day. The political consequences of partition and 30 years of conflict bubble well below the surface for the politicans. They respond if asked but only if asked. It is Sinn Féin's presence in the election that forces politician and punter to face that particular reality.

Fianna Fáil's operation is impressive. They not only set the public debate and dominate the news, they also dominate the poster and hoarding battle. With Bertie's face benignly greeting you on lampposts, billboards, bus shelters, buses inside and out and trains it is easy to see that they still harness, after 80 years, much of the popular movement that fought for this country's freedom and they shaped into Fianna Fáil. That is why he is feeling the pressure from Nicky Kehoe in his own constituency. Bertie's campaigners were putting up posters with the slogan, 'Fianna Fáil-The Republican Party' and we responded, 'Sinn Féin-The All Ireland Republican Party'.

But all credit in ensuring that Sinn Féin's message is heard loud and clear amidst the fog generated by the economic statistics debate of the first week goes to the party's press team. Their 8am meetings have produced some sharp phrases. Micheál MacDonncha described Mary Harney's economic proposals to sell off government supported industries as 'pawnshop economics'. Michael Nolan's phrase of the week summed up the other parties' manifesto row as a 'squabble among accountants' and Gerry Adams on the same issue said it was 'price is right' policies.

d as I was preparing this article, Joan O'Connor, Martin Ferris's election agent, brought good tidings from North Kerry. Martin in the latest opinion poll there is set to come in first. Even if he doesn't, as long as he wins we can bask in the warm glow of the 'Kerryman's' findings.