By The Editor
The Westmeath and Mullingar end of the Longford-Westmeath Constituency, on paper, was fortunate to emerge with two TD after a General Election last weekend that, as we saidc a week ago, can only be compared with the only previous Saturday election in December 1918.
Back then, the Irish people voted for Sinn Féin candidates, rebels who had been seen as untouchables two years before, after the 1916 Rising, but now became the fulfilment of Yeats’ famous ‘Easter 1916’ poem, as his prophecy of “utter change” became a reality.
From this newspaper’s perspective, the 2020 Election has produced results the likes of which hadn’t been seen in half a century….changing not only the local scene, but making a lasting impact on the country that won’t ever return to the same equilibrium.
The big question is, to where will it bring us, as we face into an uncertain Brexit future, but for the ordinary voters, feeling pain in so many quarters for too long, what they voted for was “no more of the same, we want changes and soon” – and it was Sinn Féin who picked up the vibes, and got the overwhelming response. Their problem now will be to try to deliver, while also avoiding the obvious pitfalls that they will inevitably face, and with so many inexperienced newly elected members now taking a place in Dáil Éireann for the first time.
No matter how one wants to view this new scenario, even those most bitterly opposed to Sinn Féin for years, it cannot be denied that the public response on this occasion has totally altered the political landscape.
LOCAL EFFECTS
In Longford-Westmeath on this occasion, the effects of Sinn Féin’s political tsunami was unavoidable, but its impact on the two major political parties was nothing like as damaging as it was in many other constituencies. Neither Fine Gael nor Fianna Fáil saw exactly what was coming, but Fianna Fail’s selection of two candidates, the Longford people’s determination to elect a TD, and a potential high-profile ‘innocent’ casualty, Kevin “Boxer” Moran were the ingredients that left the hard-working “Boxer” counted out on Monday evening of this week. The elimination of Fine Gael’s Michael Carrigy on the final 10th count, dealt the death blow to Kevin Moran when his then total of 6981, gave 774 votes to “Boxer”, but delivered a massive 2,709 to Peter Burke (FG) who had been 900 votes behind “Boxer” on count 9, but in the final round was swept aside. Carrigy actually delivered even more, a huge 2,828 votes to Joe Flaherty of Fianna Fáil, proving the huge importance of the Longford factor, as he burst past the rest, to finish in second place, elected. Robert Troy of Fianna Fáil, who had been left wondering all day if his teammate Flaherty could make it, allowed his being pushed into fourth place on the final list aside, as he satisfied himself by achieving his goal of two Fianna Fáil seats against huge if unexpected Sinn Féin odds.
THE GAME CHANGER
As we’ve said, the 2020 General Election was a game changer. If it’s to be a permanent one, the only people who can lose the ball now and find themselves getting red cards are Sinn Féin. However, if they prove as astute from here on, as they showed themselves to be in making a Lazarus-like recovery in the past six months, it’s doubtful if they’ll allow their remarkable achievement from becoming a battle won, but the victory they want lost. Their future will be decided by their actions, because they’ve raised the expectations of ordinary people, fed up with promises, and people in the Oireachtas not in touch with the harsh realities of everyday Irish life. Too many never had a problem getting a home of their own, or getting the treatment needed for a sick child or a parent needing an operation, and too many had it easy for too long. We’ll live in hope that better things are in prospect, as the country faces into trying to find a Government from the new political scenario, with a new high of 21 Independents, 12 Greens and just 6 Labour Dáil members. Not to mention the battered 35 Fine Gael survivors, and presently punch drunk 38 Fianna Fáil deputies, as Sinn Féin’s 37 now mainstream politicians try to come to terms with the new realities they’ve created.
