Archive: 4th May 2024

Coasting through North Dublin

4th May 2024

Today began at the Marlay Park market quaffing some of Bryan’s brilliant coffee and ended at Floraville in Skerries where a 24-hour static cycle was in progress in aid of Skerries Youth Support Services. Well done to all the participants. Donate if you can!

Now that the posters are up (and causing heartache to candidates!) there is an awareness that elections are on the horizon. But it’s not always clear who is running for what, and still less what they stand for. We have to find ways of engaging people more in the political and electoral process. Baldoyle was certainly showing the way today. Cllr.Brian McDonagh (Howth/Malahide) and I were pleased to be at the Community Centre to mingle with other candidates and record a short video pitch.  I bumped into local elections candidate, Jimmy Guerin, who attended the same school as me- Chanel College Coolock- back in the last century!

We have many new candidates standing for Labour in the local elections across Dublin, over half of whom are women. I am proud that the Labour Party has always led from the front on gender equality. Seana O’Rodaigh is our candidate in Balbriggan. She is an exceptional person and will make a terrific councillor. I was delighted to make a short video message with her during our canvass.  You almost feel like a TV reporter doing these pieces-to-camera but I think it’s a great way to spread the message and keep a focus on the issues people are raising. Earlier I was with Shane Folan and his team in in Donaghmede. Shane is a big hit on the canvass trail and we received a warm welcome in Greenwood Estate.

In Donaghmede this morning with Shane Folan and some of his team.

Quote of the day is Seana O’Rodaigh’s observation that “Balbriggan is the fastest-growing, youngest, most diverse town in Ireland”.

 

Come the revolution?

3rd May 2024

Question: does capitalism have to be overthrown before can we tackle climate change?

Some at least of my fellow candidates think so. I respect their view, but I think it is unrealistic. My politics is about reining in the worst excesses of capitalism. That’s why I am for regulation, for State intervention, and for laws that protect the rights of employees. I am for what Joseph Stiglitz has recently described as “progressive capitalism.” I am for social democracy. I do not believe that we will abolish the market. But we definitely need to control it, and we need to recognise the potential of the State as the great progressive force it is in the economy.

Tonight the Environmental Pillar organised a hustings debate, attended by many of the Dublin candidates. The idea came up that climate change could not be tackled without abolishing capitalism. How that can be achieved in the next twelve years (the time everyone agrees we have to deliver radical action on climate change) was not explained.

We must fulfil our commitments on the Paris agreement. This can only be achieved through an enhanced role for the State. But we cannot exclude the private sector; not when you consider the levels of investment required - for example in off-shore wind. And we risk creating despondency amongst a generation of motivated young people if we tell them that progress can’t happen without the revolution.

It was a day that began early at the Red Cow LUAS with Robert Dowds, our excellent candidate in Clondalkin, and former TD. The most engaging experience all day was at Westland Row at teatime. Lots of warm good wishes. Will they translate into votes? Three weeks to go before I’ll know.

            

Coffee infusion with the boss before the Enviro hustings; Westland Row earlier

Indo interlude and a spooking in Phibsborough

2nd May 2024

The days are getting longer - in more ways than one. First business this morning was at Leeson Street bridge to meet commuters coming down the canal on foot from Charlemont LUAS, together with huge numbers of cyclists. They all converge at an area adjacent to the old kiosk at the junction Adelaide Road and Lower Leeson Street. At peak time there is a big build-up here of people waiting for the lights to let them cross the road on foot or by bike. We are very slowly accommodating our city’s streets to the bicycle. As a regular cyclist I recognise this, but so much more needs to be done to make Dublin truly cyclist-friendly.

With Kevin Doyle and Philip Ryan

My next appointment was at Independent House in Talbot Street to be interviewed for The Floating Voter podcast hosted by Group Political Editor Kevin Doyle. We were joined by Philip Ryan, Indo Deputy Political Editor. I was certainly put through my paces! Naturally they were interested in how the election might go, and especially how Labour would do. I recounted my experience of positive canvass outings in recent days - a complete contrast to 2014 and 2016. I also got a chance to discuss elements of my ‘Vision for Dublin’ pamphlet. I am making the case for fair treatment and adequate pay for creative workers. Freelance work has always been a feature of this sector. But at least in the past freelancers had some face-to-face relationship with the employer. Now it’s more a case of uploading your work into an amorphous digital space.

After the Indo it was on to Northside shopping centre with Alison Gilliland; then to Blanchardstown with Joan Burton; onwards to Phibsborough for a short on-street canvass; then to the Beacon Quarter for a presentation by Sandyford BID; and finishing up in the Marlay estate with Peter O’Brien.

Quote of the day: I’m told in a text from a Phibsborough resident of my acquaintance that I must have “spooked” someone when I was there earlier: “because Paschal Donohue is out canvassing us here tonight”.

Lovely hurling

1st May 2024

Our last two general election campaigns were in freezing cold winter weather so it’s a joy to be up and at it early on these lovely spring mornings. The city is always full of promise and expectation at 7.30am and so it was this morning in Dun Laoghaire. There are human surges just before each scheduled DART and the idea is to get a few seconds’ face-time with as many people as possible and at least get the leaflet into their hand. A good number of people stop - especially those I know. I wouldn’t describe the prevailing mood as cheerful at this hour, but there is a reassuring sense of respect and even admiration for the two candidates - me for Europe, and Valerie McDermott for the Council.

I spent most of today on the north-side. There was a lovely moment when I called to Kay Lyons and her sister Joan. Kay and another now-deceased sister Connie were famous All-Ireland camogie champions in the 1950s and 60s. As a young child, I lived next door to these great sporting pioneers until moving a short distance away in 1971. At that stage we had grown to a family of nine. Marino has always been strong GAA territory and of course remains so. The estate was one of the first public housing schemes built by the Free State. It’s amazing to think that the Lyons family must have been among its very first residents in the late 1920s.

Sisters Joan and Kay Lyons, neighbours from my childhood in Marino

It was an honour to be invited to the launch this evening of ‘Live While You Can’ - Fr Tony Coote’s memoir. Tony Coote was 53 when he was diagnosed a year ago with motor neurone disease. His fortitude, grace and humour spill off the pages of this inspiring work. The Church of St Thérèse in Mount Merrion (where Fr Coote is PP) was the somewhat unorthodox venue, but it was packed to the rafters.  It’s hard to imagine another venue that could have accommodated the crowd of more than one thousand. The book sold out.

Quote/moment of the day: realising that I must have picked up some early lessons in ground hurling from the lovely ladies of Marino.

 

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