Laois local elections 2009

[Trans-Siberian]

To be honest I didn't know O' Brien was running in Portlaoise - just presumed he'd be running in Mountmellick because it seemed like the logical choice?? I don't get home that often - I'm in college and it seems next to impossible to find out which local candidates are running from the party websites - at least it was when last I checked.

Back to O' Brien - I already said he's been active in local organisations in Mountmellick and quite well known. Also, the mojority of the votes he got in the last general election were attributed to Rosenallis/Mountmellick. Is there a major reason he's not running in Mountmellick? The only one I can think of is the fact the Labour don't tend to do well here....

Lets not forget the Irish political adage that all politics is local - our local FF councillor Paddy Bracken is the man to go to when you want your potholes filled in. Can't see there being to big of a backlash from FF voters there...

O Brien has no track record on the ground in portlaoise and is not well known despite his coverage of late in the local press. I think he would of stood a better chance in the mountmellick area.His canvassers are not even well known.

You see hes up against a strong SF vote in the area and its left against left in this battle.SF in portlaoise have mostly broken through that suspiscion barrier so will get a midddle class vote as well as from the working class areas.That is purely down to hard work on the ground.No substitute for that this is what o Brien is hearing on the canvass by all accounts!

He will do ok but IMO his vote will be plit between the town and council area sufficiently to loose out on both seats.BTW hes running in Portlaoise because it has an extra seat this time.That is why michael moloney is supposed to be running there.

[Trans-Siberian]

Ah but don't forget the local mentality, and it's unreal how often I've heard this one down through the years, that better a government TD in the town than not. Whatever the chances we have with one, there's absolutlely none without.

thats my point they will be doomed until they wake up and see how they are been screwed by mostly useless public reps. I admit Bracken is a grafter and sound enough.He will suffer a bit from the FF tag but but will be able to deflect that and should make it.

[Swinging Door]

Here lads, I wouldn't rule out Bowe this time from taking a council seat.

[mmrebel]

Here lads, I wouldn't rule out Bowe this time from taking a council seat.

Very true but where the hell does he get his vote from, the mellick inn ?? he gets nothing done terrifies the life out of the people working in the county council so much that they have been told if he is not civil to them they are to ignore him.
How he bounced back after he was thrown out of FG all those years ago is one of the enduring mysteries of montmellick politics.

[Sean-Bhean bhoct]

Very true but where the hell does he get his vote from, the mellick inn ?? he gets nothing done terrifies the life out of the people working in the county council so much that they have been told if he is not civil to them they are to ignore him.
How he bounced back after he was thrown out of FG all those years ago is one of the enduring mysteries of montmellick politics.

Bowe is an absolute crazy person - how he gets successively elected is beyond me. I remember him calling to the door at the last elections and his idea of canvassing was to say, in a voice as gruff as his scruffy appearence: "Pat Bowe here runnin' for council, give us a vote" and walked away.

I just stood there wondering what had just happened!!

[Lottie]

On Easter Monday there was an IRA march down the main street of Portarlington. Chilling stuff. Sinister looking types in black berets and dark glasses. Rather disturbingly, one of the marchers was a young girl who could have been no more than seven. I thought this was against the law. What is the Sinn Fein stance on this? It surely could not help their election prospects. These guys scared the life out of me, as they did with other observers.

[Trans-Siberian]

On Easter Monday there was an IRA march down the main street of Portarlington. Chilling stuff. Sinister looking types in black berets and dark glasses. Rather disturbingly, one of the marchers was a young girl who could have been no more than seven. I thought this was against the law. What is the Sinn Fein stance on this? It surely could not help their election prospects. These guys scared the life out of me, as they did with other observers.

That was republican sinn fein id say.Your sure it was Easter Monday? I would'nt dare try to give you a history lesson here but the two organisations have very different politics.

The mainsream SF ( for want of a better term ) had a commemoration in Port on Sunday with Aidan Mullins speaking. The two organisations are very different.

Basically Sinn Fein do not support Republican Sinn Feins attempts to achieve a united Ireland by violent means.

Republican SF are also very critical of SF sharing power with unionists and are completely opposed to the good friday agreement.

Not sure if that is what you were asking for. Im no authority but what exactly do you want the SF stance on?

[Sonic_exyouth]

Whats the Candidate list?

[Lottie]

That was republican sinn fein id say.Your sure it was Easter Monday? I would'nt dare try to give you a history lesson here but the two organisations have very different politics.

The mainsream SF ( for want of a better term ) had a commemoration in Port on Sunday with Aidan Mullins speaking. The two organisations are very different.

Basically Sinn Fein do not support Republican Sinn Feins attempts to achieve a united Ireland by violent means.

Republican SF are also very critical of SF sharing power with unionists and are completely opposed to the good friday agreement.

Not sure if that is what you were asking for. Im no authority but what exactly do you want the SF stance on?

I find it disturbing that an illegal paramilitary display can be mounted at will. Can I assume that the Easter Monday march in Portarlington was the RIRA? Does Sinn Fein condemn this group?

[Trans-Siberian]

I find it disturbing that an illegal paramilitary display can be mounted at will. Can I assume that the Easter Monday march in Portarlington was the RIRA? Does Sinn Fein condemn this group?

This march on Easter monday had nothing to do with Sinn Fein.They have condemened and continue to condemen the violence carried out by theRA and other splinter republican groups. The RIRA didnot March on monday. They are an illegal organisation and membership can carry a lenghty jail sentence.
The guards were on duty last monday and believe me they wathced who was involved in this parade and would have arrested anyone breaking the law.

Whether you and I like it or not there was nothing illegal about the march on Monday.Give the guards some credit. Anyway RSF have very little support in the community.

Lottie im surprised a well educated person like yourself wouls not know all this just google it.