Well said Dave

very well put sir!

Excellent comment dave. Here, here

Ditto, never heard that quote from Shaw before but its so true :(

Dave, well said you’ve got it exactly right. I’m amazed that any youth would be interested in FF but 500 beggers belief.

Your comment echoed exactly what I was thinking as I read the article. The sad thing about sleeveens is that they breed.

Well said I agree with everything you have written

Best comment I’ve ever read on the Journal.

Yup I second that ! Brilliant!

Thank you Dave,I’m too distraught to put my feelings into words

Dave icommend you on your comment ,the first thing that crossed my mind was to call the yanks and tell them that the talaban were having their largest think tank outside of afghanistan in sligo and that the heads of bin ladens crew would be there as well and to call in an air strike ,with deep[regret i changed my mind .

SCRATCH THAT CALL IN THE AIR STRIKE

Dave if only more people had your opinion how in gods name can any right thinking person even consider backing that pile of corruption.

David here here.

Excellent post Dave…concise and right to the truth. These young FF’ers are the next generation that will provide the fodder for the fuc*ed up body politik in this county. You’re absolutely right when many of them stand ready to put their faces in the trough and to continue the self serving gluttony that prevails in politics in this country. I imagine you could apply the very same posting to FG and Labour and until such time this entire ‘cute hoor..nod nod wink wink’ mentality is made utterly unacceptable to us the electorate, we will continue with the sam calibre of political ineptitude as we have for the last 60 years.

like a cult

Nothing wrong with Sligo my sister in law lives there and she would take shit from no one.

Well, they are focussing on youth mental health!

“Kaep in with theeze bies, theyll get ya a great job”.

Is Sligo officially a city?

That’s the ONLY explanation aside of “Irish style insanity”….

Technically, yes as has a cathedral!

Carlow town has a cathedral…………………..

Aint that the truth

Yeah do ya not think the youth of Ireland should look a bit further back than 5 years and see what the history of Sinn Fein is steeped in! Fianna Fáil are the new bogey men of Irish politics which has worked out well for the Sinn Fein propaganda machine. Say what ya like about FF they’re on a different morale planet than SF!!!!

You defend FF by comparing them to what you call murders and bombers. Are the youth of Ireland being blown up with bombs is the war still going on, hmmm no war is over peace process. We are seeing massive increase in suicide, low self esteem no jobs. I have lost 3 friends and the reasons go directly back to what your party did. 3 I knew there has been about 10 anyway last year in a small town. Forced emigration, I am being forced to leave. The suffering in this country at the moment has nothing to do with SF and the only reason for the suffering now is because of your parties corruption greed incompetence and stupidity. IRA were wreck less the way they went about this but they had a cause and it is over now.

Will ye FFailers try a different lie.

FF history is seeped in the same, most parties originate from times of oppression and struggle, just the oppression up the north continued long after we got out independence.

Bang on Julie… Well said!

You say the IRA had a cause and its over now. What cause was that?

You say bombers and murderers, and the rest….. Maiming bank robberies extortion don’t be so naive as to assume that because the “war” is over they have given up their criminal ways.
I’m not defending FF but I don’t like opportunists like SF capitalising on other parties downfall which is the only way they will succeed.

British occupation of the province of ulster, shot dead if you peacefully protested, Fleeing the border after being burnt out of your home. Just a few examples. Would you like me to continue. It was a dirty war orchestrated English. Do you think the occupation of Gaza by the Israelis and what is being done to the Palestinians is ok very similar. I don’t condone everything done by the IRA but I do agree with their cause.

Excuse me now but doesn’t the occupation of the 6 counties still exist?

Do you not think that if any member of the SF party were involved in any sort of criminal activity it would be on the cover of every newspaper on every radio station and on every tv station.

I am not defending any of the IRA actions I don’t support the IRA I support SF the political party democratically elected. Who up the north were the troubles happened and the people there were directly effected, are the biggest national party. The way I look at it is if the people who lived through it can put it behind then than so can I.

Look the dog on the street know FG are just implementing FF policies, so no I don’t want more of the same and that’s what we will get if we vote them back in.

Yes pat but through negotiations there is now democracy for Irish Catholics up the north. They have the right now to have a vote and have representation.

Sorry now but I’m a little confused about some contents of your last two posts. I don’t condone everything done by the IRA but I agree with their cause. Iam not defending any of the IRA actions. I don’t support the IRA.

I do not support them they no longer exist but I agree with their cause. Now let it go. I was 6 when the Good Friday agreement was signed, 75% of the island Of Ireland voted in favour of it. It’s over, please move on like most people up the north have, biggest national party up north.

I always thought the “cause” was for Irish freedom, not to be confused with the new buzz words of a united Ireland. How many lives would have been saved if this was pointed out to everyone in the early 70′s, that what we are looking for is political power and not freedom but this is getting away from the article in question. Michael Martin has held his hands up and admitted that mistakes were made ( some huge ) but at least he doesn’t deny his past.

Okay let’s break it down a bit see if you can understand, I was 6 when troubles ended 3 member of the party I support have any connection, why am I defending this. Madness.

Anyway , Irish Catholics had no rights up the north it was a fight for their right and the right for them to have a voice and a vote. If it was for a united ireland then we would have had no Good Friday agreement. Irish Catholics now have their right to vote which means they have representation in political decision making.

What you have said Julie is truly disgusting! It is wholly inappropriate to say that Fianna Fáil are responsible for suicides of young people!

There is a poor attitude towards mental health in Ireland, especially in young men who do not talk about issues affecting them. You have insulted all families affected by suicide.

It’s obvious you’re not studying history in collage anyway. You need to read up on it. Especially Irish history.

Well, David I am not speaking for everyone, but my experience was 3 close friend two male, they felt useless spongers for being on social welfare, they had no hope of getting a job and felt useless. Maybe I was wrong to blame the party as a hole but Bertie and his like so. How do you explain the massive massive increase in suicide, I would say it is due to the state the economy was left in. Didn’t mean to offend anyone honestly. But their is a connection to the state if economy and the increase in suicide.

As a 30 something with a family and mortgage and full time jobs…if sinn fein got in, it would be disastrous for the country, especially the middle class or coping classes.
Sinn fein have a canny habit of hitting the young and people in “disadvantaged” areas.

If that’s your opinion your entitled to it, but my family are in a similar situation and the only budget that will give them any bit of relief is SF budget. My vote is not owned by any party, my family back as far as my grandparent voted labour. Not anymore.

I hate to break it to you, but sinn fein will do the same as the greens and labour and will break promises as soon as they get in!!
Sure look at their leader Gerry Adams…raided his party coffers to pay for him to go to new York for personal reasons, as a TD in Ireland, he went up to the north for treatment on the NHS!!!

can we please talk about the criminals in FF and how every state institution in the land is occupied by criminals and at the top and we have FF to thank for that and im no shinner .

Pat Martin holds his hands up we can all do that, it means nothing without actions. I did not see him offering to resign because of all the corruption that was indicative of F / F. He was up to his neck in every morsel of what went on in that party. He and the other F / F party members who were in government for the past 15 Years should resign their seats now, then maybe The New as Claimed F / F might have the right to expect some Respect and a chance to prove that the Haughy / Bertie / Cowen era of F / F is over for good. As long as there are members of the old party in situ they will never gain the trust and respect of the people apart from the blind following the pied piper as he preaches his lies and spin.

S, give me the slightest bit of proof of anything you are saying, you might change my mind genuinely. No one owns my vote. But, I have done my research I have gone through everything I can find, I have looked into budget I have contacted Tds called into SF offices, everything said to me was consistent and genuinely truth. I was young and stupid and voted the way my family did, labour so I decide I can’t trust what they say so I went and got the info myself, I have a great friend an old lecturer of mine, brilliant accountant, got him to look at there budgetary stuff and he don’t support them AT ALL, he said he couldn’t find fault. I don’t care who gets in once it not FF FG or LAB, my family are in a similar situation, mortgage two young boys. Don’t vote SF that totally fine with me if people don’t vote in the same 3, lets try something different.

Adams, we all have friends, we all have the friends with money, I have friends who if they thought I was in severe pain and medicine not available here!!, would sort out my problem they would give me the money in a heart beat, if you don’t have friends that would do that I suggest you get new friends.

Evidence please of anything you said above.
Honestly don’t vote for SF just don’t waste your vote on the 3 parties who are proven there incapable of thinking of people like your family or mine.

They Chinese !

Martin was on 96fm in Cork during the week saying they needed new young blood in the Party I wonder would he listen to your points of view. Also claimed to be the leader of the New F/ F even though he was mired up to his neck in all that was wrong in the old F/F. Guess he’s still a lying B…..D

Ciaran sure Martin is the biggest one they have now.

There was less than 180 votes cast last year and 500 at the dinner…
This year that went up again.
None of us are claiming anything but the facts.

poor Sligo what did they do nice people keep the heads up

You should have a read of the candidate manifestos… They’re all on Facebook and all progressive

No, they are displaying the kind of closed minded mentality that sees political affiliations handed down from the generation above. Any young person who was in any way politically engaged would keep an open mind about any party allegiances. That goes for all of us. A lifetime affiliation is a dangerous thing which reduces your capacity to think and act as an individual.

Couldn’t agree more John. I think it’s great to see young people engaging in politics regardless of the political party they’re in. The country will be in their hands one day.
People are forgetting everyone is entitled to be a member of any political party they wish. If you don’t agree with them, you can at least hope they won’t make the same mistakes as their predecessors.

While you are correct, I don’t know why you are assuming these young members will support FF for life.

I’m not assuming that at all. I’m just making a general statement about young people engaging in politics. In a general sense that’s a good thing, whether or not I agree with the party they choose. They may well engage with FF now then end up voting FG/ Lab in future & vice versa. I’m just making the point that they’re entitled to engage with any party they like, as are we all.

For young people to align themselves with Fianna Fáil is certainly not a good thing, Maria. It’s downright depressing that anybody, especially the young, associate themselves with this particular party. Saying that it’s good that they engage in politics is simplistic in the extreme. Would it be good if they joined a neo-fascist party? That would be engaging in politics, but certainly not good. Can anybody explain what FF actually stand for? All I’ve ever heard are wishy-washy, empty statements. The truth is that they stand for enriching themselves and those around them. Their behaviour throughout the history of this State is sickening.

Jesus Christ, actually read what I said! I couldn’t give two shiney hoots which political party they choose! This is exhausting. I’m not Bertie Ahern and I’m not even old enough to have elected him, give me a break!

Fine, you’re not old enough to understand just how damaging this party and the culture they represent has had on Ireland. They have devastated it. The chronic problems we have now (and believe me, they are indeed chronic) can be layed squarely at the door of Fianna Fáil. Make no mistake about it.

That’s fair enough Brian. Perhaps someone who actually supports FF might like to argue this one out with you. TO BE CLEAR: I think people are entitled to join whatever party they want to WITHIN THE LAW OBVIOUSLY. If you don’t like that party, that’s fine too. Believe it or not people are allowed to have differing opinions (not on The Journal obviously)

john clarke who ever told you to be yourself gave you bad advise.

Maria, you are changing your point/argument. You initially said “I think it’s great to see young people engaging in politics regardless of the political party they’re in”. That’s what I take issue with. I don’t think it’s great to see young people engaging in politics regardless of the political party they’re in, simply because the particular party could be a regressive, malign force in Irish society, i.e. Fianna Fail. Differing opinions are fine, and of course everybody should be allowed join whatever political party they like. I never argued otherwise.

My point has not changed. Let’s have a look at your point:
“You initially said “I think it’s great to see young people engaging in politics regardless of the political party they’re in”. That’s what I take issue with. I don’t think it’s great to see young people engaging in politics regardless of the political party they’re in, simply because the particular party could be a regressive, malign force in Irish society, i.e. Fianna Fail.”
That roughly translates to “I only agree with people engaging with political parties I approve of”.
You went on to say: “Differing opinions are fine, and of course everybody should be allowed join whatever political party they like. ” This is in complete contradiction with your earlier assertion.
I haven’t said one word in support of ANY political party. All I’ve said is I think it’s a good thing that young people engage in politics. That you feel these particular young people should engage with a different party is your prerogative and does not change that they have the right to engage with this one.
I fear we’re veering into arguing semantic now.

Maria, your so wrong about what he is trying to say to you , no one disagrees with the point you are making that young people need to get into politics. But you must agree if you have any clue what went on in the last 4 years that a young person joining FF is in NO WAY a good thing. They are seeping of corruption, their main aim was not the country welfare it was their own, also the elite. They gave away our independence, that men DIED for. They saddled us with 42% of eu debt you and me are paying 9000 each while someone the same age in Spain is paying on average 192. FF ran this country to the ground, any young person joining that party should be ashamed I’m sorry don’t want to offended anyone but come on. If you gave me a choice, I could not physical put a yes vote beside FF, couldn’t do it, They have caused TOO MUCH suffering. what they did to the women in the laundries, different time that could have been me or you, they worked with the church to make money and when that was no good that moved onto banks its disgusting,Look into the whole story Maria. Great to see a few young faces on here doh, welcome and be prepared sometimes it can get a bit nasty, just to prepare ya take no offence, there are the few you will get to know then and take no notice,

D’you know what Julie, I give up. I don’t care what party you, Brian, the 500 people in Sligo or the man on the moon join. And there is no “if” about you having a choice about whether to vote FF, you never have to vote for anyone you don’t want to. The wondeeful thing about democracy is that two people are allowed to disagree with eachother and neither of them has to be wrong. Or stupid. That obviously doesn’t extend to The Journal comments section so to be honest I’ll probably never post here again. I shudder to think the treatment an *actual* FF supporter receives if this is what I get for making a general statement about ALL political parties.

Young people aligning themselves with Fianna Fáil. Should they be allowed? Yes. Is it a good thing? Definitely no. Could I make it simpler?

Yep Brian, but it’s still their democratic right to do so! I understand what you’re saying but condescending to me and insinuating I’m stupid doesn’t change any facts here.
It sounds like those kids are discussing some very important issues so I say fair play too them. As I said much earlier is this conversation, if you don’t agree with their choice of political party, you can at least hope they won’t repeat their predecessors’ mistakes.
And given the comments made here, I can only imagine what they’re up against when admitting publicly that they are FF members. Given they probaby get abused from a height, I admire their convictions all the more. In fact I admire anyone who has the conviction to actively engage with any political party.
Don’t feel you have to reply. You dislike FF, fair enough. I attempted to make an inocuous obsevation, it didn’t end well and this has all become a bit of a drain.

So you’d be happy to have young people getting involved in a nationalist/racist party once they were being politically active?
These little FF creeps make me sick. Can you imagine how stunted a mind a young person would have to align themselves with FF. They will only get worse over their lifetime.

and what exactly is going on? are we blind?
im afraid you are somewhat deluded so go back to sligo and make sure to vote for who mammy and daddy tell you too in the next election

David,

Didn’t Fianna Fail support water charges and property tax?

Go on so gives all a good giggle, tell us what’s going on???

Give us

Well Mark, unfortunately for you I’m not from Ireland. I’m from Scotland. It was my own choice to become involved in Fianna Fáil. I don’t agree with right wing Christian Democracy, the flip flopping of Labour or the Sinn Fein because they have links to a terrorist organisation.

I have no problem saying I am a member of Fianna Fáil.

But you support financial terrorists, who have no cause out justification for what they are doing to people lives. Well done give yourself a pat on the back. Contradict yourself, FF in the eyes of Irish people are terrorists who should be held accountable for acts of treason.

They dammed themselves when they threw their morals out the window.
Full investigation and apology from Bertie and the rest including your leader who was stuck right in the centre of Ireland’s crash and I’m sure played his own hand in the distraction.

How do ye not get it, show a bit of respect, a lot of people on here, their lives have been ruined by the party that you support, that’s like saying you don’t care that this has been done to them by joining a party having full knowledge of what they have done. Then to top it all off, FG are just implementing all the policies that FF were going to implement. So not only were they going to stick the knife in people backs, they were going to keep twisting and twisting until they bled them dry. They have not changed, they are just power junkies, don’t care about you just want your vote unless you are the elite or a banker maybe you are.

You judge someone on their actions, not their words. I think from their action they could possibly be the party if they get back in to totally, nail on the coffin, ruin coping class and unemployed people lives.

They will shape our country in the future

No! Please!

Well we’re TRUELY fooked so.

They can’t shape it from Australia!

Enjoy Sligo Daniel. Tell the rest of your friends to post a few nice things about FF.

Explain how please, Daniel! It was actually the Rainbow coalition that abolished tuition fees for 3rd level education in 1996. I hope you didn’t do your degree in history.

Fine Gael, for the rich and the farmers! They haven’t changed at all. 1980’s tax on childrens shoes and now they’re cutting childrens allowance. Children and the poor are suffering now, nothing is happening to the middle-upper classes and the rich.

“Fine Gael, for the rich and the farmers” Now you’re just repeating something you heard growing up. FF bankrupted the country for 30 years. Families torn apart and very little future for young people for a long time to come.

What middle class? FF got rid of the middle class and gave all their money to FF developers and banks. You should know. Your obviously one or the other seeing you actually support these corrupt shower gangsters. Go on now Daniel and get busy sucking up to the big boys in Sligo. You know the ones. They are the same fellas that brought this country to it’s knees.

Daniel, please just think about what you are saying. Have a good look at the whole system. If you do, and if there is any ounce of sincerity, decency and intelligence about you, you’ll steer well clear of Fianna Fáil.

No, why can’t you respect that I respect the idealogy of a certain political party, without mocking me for being mentally insane or some other “I hate Fianna Fáil bandwagon”.

“Wah wah wah, I’m unemployed, I cant pay my mortgage, I can’t pay for hire purchase on my 2011 25,000 car and I blame Fianna Fáil for all the risks I took and my unsustainable job is now gone!”

My family didn’t have the Celtic Tiger lifestyle that most had! I’m not angry because I didn’t lose anything! My father earned a very high income before my birth but due to illness and maternal death life wasn’t so good! Fianna Fail protected me and my brothers and sisters, made sure I was well educated and had as much of a chance as anyone else in life during the boom years! We we’re not forgotten about. How dare anyone tell that I am delusional for respecting a certain political party when I am only thankful.

Don’t give FF praise for doing the very very least of what you would expect of them, i.e. try to help those you need.
That’s like looking for praise for rearing your kids or staying out of prison (to para phrase that chris rock sketch). It’s just what your supposed to do, simple as that.

Our house was a FF house but out of 6 votes none of us voted for them. It’s just a pity they totally mismanaged a very prosperous period in Irish history and have left a terrible mess for the current lot to deal with. They are criminals Daniel, I can not understand how anybody can publicly defend them.
FF voters have, in my eyes, been reduced to a level above pedophiles. I can’t be any more direct in my heart felt opinion. I have turned my back on them forever.

Daniel you don’t agree with what FG are doing now cutting child benefit, your party FF, these are their policies, FG have just implemented FF policies. Go away with that hang your head in shame.

I respect people opinions but some are just so hard to comprehend. FF while giving you all them things, which is great, they fooled and conned you, they were slowly but surely running the country into the ground, taking bribes Galway tents, dont even get me started on the mess they made of our banks. Do you know what I give up, some people are just glutens for punishment, I look forward to being able to say I told ya so. I used to vote labour just because my grandparents did, I had a choice wasn’t listening to them anymore, looked into all other parties and it SF: independents for me.They don’t care about you they were so generous because they wanted to keep our votes so they could carry on the massive behind the scene full scale corruption. What exactly about FF is attractive to a young person like you besides what they did trying to buy your vote to continue their profitable self serving deals ?

Im not begrudging, really glad that help was their when you needed it. That’s fantastic, but rem their pockets were getting a 100 times fatter while they threw you the scraps.

Please don’t be fooled.

Cormac you are like a breath of fresh air, fair play to you and your family. Give yourself a massive pat on the back for saying no more, enough.

haha thanks for the laugh

Best joke I’ve heard in a long time.
Pragmatism isn’t an ideology. There’s nothing more dangerous than a man without principles which essentially is what pragmatism is. You have no higher principle to guide you of what needs to be done and therefore nothing to limit what you will countenance doing.
As for constitutional republicanism? The total redundancy of the Oireachtas during FF’s previous reign meant we were run by the executive, ramming legislation through, leaving no room for democratic debate.

When will Irish people realise that supporting a political party shouldn’t be like supporting a football team?

“Pragmatic policies coupled with constitutional Republicanism”

What exactly is that, Stephen? As a FF spin doctor (local variety) you should use plain English.