28 thoughts on “Ask A Broadsheet Reader

  1. ahyeah

    And while you’re at it, can someone explain why there’s no shame among politicians in appealing to the gombeen mentality… “the Gregory seat”??

    1. Bobby

      She did run on the Gregory ticket, he asked her to do so and some of the same community links and activist base still exist from Gregory’s days as a TD. Maybe it seems a bit weird now but it still resonates with people from the area. Mauren herself worked a lot on the campaigns with Gregory and the locals and is very much highly regarded by people from the area.

      Also, I think when it says the Gregory Independent seat, it’s a reminder of the ‘Gregory Deal’ and the influence a single Independent can hold in the parliament. Anyone other TD claiming Gregory links is sad.

      1. ahyeah

        I know he asked her and I know it resonates with people in the area. And I know too it will be an effective strategy to get elected.

        I’d just prefer her to campaign and promote herself on the basis of herself, what she stands for, what she intends working towards etc, and not on the basis of her connection to a former, much-loved representative. That second strategy isn’t altogether unlike what we’ve been (rightly) slagging the Healy-Raes off about for years.

  2. Jack

    As far as I know, there’s no censorship on ads you take out in a magazine or pay to push through someone’s door. If you want to take out a “Vote for me” ad in a paper or on a flyer, you can do that anytime.

    The restriction is around when you can clutter up lampposts.

    1. Vote Rep #1

      That’s what I thought. You are only stopped from putting up posters. That said, I’ve seen political posters masquerading as informing people of a meeting or debate popping up. 90% of the poster is of the face of the politician with details of the meeting in small writing underneath.

  3. Sinead

    They’re not allowed to in public. They’re only allowed to advertise if it’s for an event or meeting. There has to be a clear date and the poster can only be up 7 days before and after that date, afaik. Outside those rules it’s litter and the warden can fine them.

    That looks like it’s inside a window, though. If it’s inside a private building (maybe a house or shop) then it’s ok.

  4. IrishElectionliterature

    Funnily enough Noel Gregory the brother of the late Tony Gregory has backed a different candidate , Christy Burke.
    Politicians can produce newsletters, leaflets have public meetings etc at any time. So there is nothing odd about getting the likes of that from Maureen O’Sullivan.

  5. ahjayzis

    The Gregory Seat me bottom. It really shows the dearth of quality in a candidate when the first thing she says in argument for re-election is how great her predecessor was. Where has this one been for the last 5 years? Even actual hereditary TD’s stop using that card after the first election.

    1. Bobby

      I think you’re missing the point. It speaks more to me as a reminder of the ‘success’ of the Gregory deal. But I also take your point below.

          1. ahjayzis

            You actually devalue the accusation immensely and make yourself look either extremely dim, parroting something you heard from smarter people arguing in a more apt context or just exceedingly paranoid, man. I can’t stand FG and their politics are not my cupan tae.

            Just saying, it’s a really weak thing to throw at people you don’t agree with and makes you look foolish.

          2. Oh Dear

            “Just saying, it’s a really weak thing to throw at people you don’t agree with and makes you look foolish.”

            Pot, meet kettle.

  6. DubLoony

    She worked with Tony Gregory for years. An odd angle to go with though.

    It strikes me how we are forever looking back in this country. We’re not future focused at all.
    I can’t remember there ever really being a public debate on what we want to be in 5-10 or 20 years time. Unless it was to fob off present problems.

    1. ahjayzis

      Gregory’s success was a by-product of being needed by FF to support their minority government. He did great things, things that needed to be done in a real black spot of a constituency, but blackmail by independents in favour of one constituency is a freak accident – not the basis for an election campaign. For every Gregory there’s been ten Lowry’s and Healy-Rae’s building a personal fiefdom.

      The off-chance their vote might need to be bought. It’s real old-school independent politics, which is pretty lacklustre compared to the newer, more national-focused form practised by the likes of Daly and Murphy.

  7. DubLoony

    Even those with national focus needs to be elected by local people. Old school guys need to be see to be looking after the seat. Healy Rae’s know that all too well.

  8. Bruncvik

    I’m wondering whether the lady will last the months until the election. Putting her face on the posters so early may turn out to be a waste of money.

  9. JoeO

    I voted for her the last time. Then I read that she was going up to Northern Ireland “supporting” a prominent dissident republican who was on trial for painting a slogan on a wall. A dissident republican from the faction that brought us the Omagh bombing among other things.
    I will not be voting for her the next time.

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