soc dems

Social Democrat TDs Stephen Donnelly, Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy with new candidates, including Anne-Marie McNally (right)

Dems your first candidates.

This morning.

The Social Democrats unveil the first slate of candidates who will contest the upcoming General Election for the party led by Roisin Shorthall, Stephen Donnelly and Catherine Murphy.

Five YOUNG (ish) men and women, neither tarnished nor afraid, from Dublin, Limerick and Galway.

Niall Ó Tuathail (30) will contest Galway West; Sarah Jane Hennelly (27) will stand in Limerick City; Gary Gannon (28) will run in Dublin Central; Anne-Marie McNally (35), no stranger to Wednesday ‘sheet readers, will contest Dublin Mid-West;  Independent Senator James Heffernan (35) will contest the Limerick County constituency.

FIGHT!

Pic: Mick Caul

Previously: ‘We Are The @SocDems’

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22 thoughts on “Who Dem?

    1. Spaghetti Hoop

      The rise of the Nutters ;)

      They talk about launching candidates as if they were scud missiles.

  1. Mr. T.

    I’d like to see Fine Gael eliminated but there’ll be enough sneering self interested middle class conservative castle catholics to keep them from oblivion – just because they were looked after over the last five years at the expense of others.

    Soc Dems are a possible alternative though. Catherine Murphy is a breath of fresh air.

    1. Declan

      To be fair, I believe you’ll find most people are self interested. It just matters with whose interests you a line ; )

      1. Mr. T.

        Yes but it’s a short sighted view to take. If one part of society is a winner at the expense of another, then the economy is not working for the citizens as a whole. It’s not sustainable and leads to crime and civil unrest.

        A country like that will be constantly battling with the effects of inequality instead of preventing it in the first place.

        1. Declan

          Inequality will always exist – doesn’t matter what world or utopia we live in. There will always be a first one equals.

          I don’t support inequality but I support a progressive tax system and redistribution of benefits to give people a fair chance at life

  2. ColintheDachshund

    A party called Social Democrats posing for photos outside Certus. Off to a classic start there

    1. ollie

      Just thinking the same thin Colin. The party that will (supposedly) shake up the system outside a debt collectors offices.

        1. ColintheDachshund

          Dont be so cynical, merely pointing out a facepalm PR moment, all smiles outside Certus. Need i go on?

          1. Declan

            I would of thought you were been cynical???

            I presume will be equally shocked when it’s discovered the SocDem candidates actually took a drink when they weren’t even 18!!!

            My point been while I can appreciate optics are important, to criticise them for standing and having a photo taken near something “bad” is at the level of political spin Alastair Campbell would of approved.

            I like the guy but that type of politics has helped in it’s own way to dissolve bonds of trust in the body politic by the public

  3. Anomanomanom

    I’d have loved a chance to run for this party. And it genuinely has nothing to do with the pay or perks, I’d do it for what I’m paid now. I genuinely think this is what we need, a new party with young blood. They may be small but it’s a start and Catherine Murphy is probably the best if the relatively new TDs people said we’re only protest votes. Let’s prove them wrong and vote all these guys/girls I’m.

  4. DoubtingTomás

    Further confirming my suspicion that this party is a thinly veiled liferaft for younger Labour Party members hoping to jump off the Joan-tanic before it sinks.

    Heffo’s about as ‘independent’ as Shorthall but at least Rosin got elected for her current job. 2nd worst voting record in the whole Seanad too. Now that is an impressive claim to fame.

    Catherine Murphy’s is a very impressive TD but I wouldn’t take much stock of the rest of them.

    From Wikipedia:
    “James Heffernan (Irish politician)

    James Heffernan (born 3 October 1979) is an Irish politician.[1] He was elected to the 24th Seanad in April 2011 on the Agricultural Panel for the Labour Party.[2] He was previously a member of Limerick County Council from 2009–11 for the Kilmallock electoral area. He was an unsuccessful candidate at the 2011 general election for the Limerick constituency, polling 7,910 first preference votes (17.5%).[3] He was also a candidate at 2007 general election for the Limerick West constituency.

    He is a primary school teacher by profession.

    He lost the parliamentary Labour Party whip in December 2012 after voting against the government on the Social Welfare Bill.[4] In September 2013, it was reported that he only attended 23% of all votes in the Seanad; the second worst record.[5]

    In February 2015, he claimed he was forming a new political party in order to oppose Sinn Féin.[6]”

  5. John Cassidy

    None of these parties that I would consider voting for ever field candidates in my constituency of Wexford. As much as I admire Mick Wallace for sticking it to the government, despite intense personal attacks by them on him and other Independents, he is still an independent who has little sway unfortunately.
    When are we ever going to banish the political legacy of the Civil War and have credible parties and candidates fitting for the modern age. No more conservative school teachers please.

  6. Mr. T.

    “When are we ever going to banish the political legacy of the Civil War”

    Fine Gael and Fianna Fail abandoned that in the 1950s. They just pretended to keep it going so they could pretend to be different from each other and control the governing of Ireland for generations. The greatest con job of the last 100 years.

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