FF Gives Cork Another Two Fingers

18th Jan 2011

Martin's seat is now secure.

Micheál Martin is a Cork man and a Fianna Fáil man. The thought that he might become leader of that party, and at some stage the Taoiseach of Ireland, is some interesting food for thought for Corkonians. It was no surprise that it took a Cork man to stand up to those responsible for destroying the economy. Either was the news that Fianna Fáil rejected the Corkman. Yet another Dublin institution to give Cork the two fingers.

Anytime a hard working rebel has made shapes for high office outside Cork the county rows in behind them: Roy Keane as captain of Manchester United, Deccie Kidney as Irish rugby coach and Banger McCarthy as head of North Korea's nuclear programme. We're proud of all Corkonians who make it big.

This time however Leesiders were not as quick to break out the Beamish and drisheen to celebrate Martin's declaration of intent. This passenger approaches the furrowed brows of the check-in desk with heavy Fianna Fáil baggage. The price for his oversized burden could be fatal as it contains some very dangerous items.

Did you pack this bag yourself sir?

The electorate will decide the answer. Most people who have met the tall, dark and good-looking Southsider say they like him. Those are the same sentiments you hear on vox-pops from Brian Cowen and Jackie Haly-Rae's constituencies too (without the good-looking bit of course). Good men. Honest men. Allegedly anyway. But can they run a country? Or at this stage: can they just not make a total balls of a country?

When Cowen does go, presumably after the forthcoming election, Martin will have to be judged on his actions and not just on his endearing smile when he shakes your hand. The side-effects of the heavy localisation of national politics shows that even Ministers spend an enormous amount of time on constituency work instead of their 'portfolios'.

Cowen's economy crusher lives to fight another day

Surveys have shown that when sitting politicians share a constituency with a TD from the same party they spend even more time on local tit-bits because it bolsters their chance of re-election. In Cork both Ministers Batt O'Keeffe and Micheál Martin share a constituency with another Fianna Fáil TD.

COWEN'S SCRAP YARD

If Brian Cowen had paid more attention to his own ministry or spent some time listening to the people who were warning about a growing property bubble instead of making sure that Offaly's potholes were filled and playing golf with devious bankers then maybe the economy wouldn't have been crushed like a condemned car above in the Hammond Lane scrap yard.

The clientele based system that defines the Irish state is finally under scrutiny so Corkonians may caution themselves that a Taoiseach working the parish pump for Cork might neglect to keep his eye on other national issues and mess up the whole economy - thus impoverishing Corkonians who are part of this failing Dublin-centric state. After all you're not as worried about having the potholes filled if you're driving a banger.

PARTY BEFORE THE PEOPLE

One of the main questions for Corkonians in the general election will be: are these politicians more loyal to their party or to the people they represent? In Micheál Martin's case, is he more loyal to Fianna Fáil or to the people of Cork that fill his constituency?

And by loyalty to the people of Cork we doesn't necessarily mean that he has to grab all the infrastructural goodies for his native city and make sure all the potholes are filled but is he representing the collective national interest of that group of people in Cork South Central and not just their smaller local interests?

For example, when was the last time a Cork politician invited you to a meeting to discuss a broad national issue like the structure of the health service, your thoughts about island unity, the electoral system, Irish culture and identity or what you really think about our place in Europe?

We couldn't have put it better outselves.

STEPS TO INDEPENDENCE

Local issues rank way above national ones in Irish politics but we all know those days must be numbered if the Republic of Ireland is to continue as a viable state. The gap between the two has to be bridged or you may see counties like Cork making a break for it. We've been highlighting Dublin's wayward ways for eight years on these pages - there's only so much we can take.

It seems all Cork Fianna Fail TDs with the exception of Cowen's friend Batt O'Keeffe are in favour of Micheál Martin as their leader. If we're genuinely intent on claiming our own sovereignty then we should get Micheál up to the Áras as soon as possible, milk Ireland for everything it has and close the borders as soon as possible.

Noel O'Flynn seems to have a perpetual problem with his leaders, Billy Kelliher wants change, Ned O'Keeffe has no time for Cowen and Michael McGrath's body language alone says 'get me outta here'. They're so pro-Martin that they might be interested in setting up a separate party full of Corkonians.

The island can't keep turning to Cork men to save it from ruin. Unless Ireland sees the light that Corkonians have been almost blinded by for a generation then they leave us with no choice only to head out to Youghal, Mitchelstown and Charleville with the barbed wire and bulldozers.