He was instrumental in helping bring about the peace process with John Hume.

Do you think, he’d be any different in Government? I hate the old, outdated and dysfunctional FF/FG/Labour etc.! But If SF got in, they’d be no different and it’s easy to be popular in opposition!

Without gerry and martin, their would have been no peace agreement achieved.

Without Gerry and Martin there would have been no need for a peace agreement.

Another brain fart Chris well done!

Says the man with the STD!

If the Blueshirts, had held out for the whole 32 Counties back in the time. We’d all be at peace now, getting on with life and none of these NI troubles may have never occured. But we were sold out by FG, again!

So gerry and martin took over northern ireland,and then started the conflict themselves,and their was me thinking it had something to do with the british imperialists.

Why chris????

@John…You are forgetting he was also instrumental in the reason for having to try and get “peace” in the first place! He ain’t no latter day saint!

@ chris. Naive comment again chris. The nationalist people in belfast and the north didn’t have a choice. They were oppressed 3rd class citizens in a pseudodemocratic British state. I certainly respect those who fight for the civil rights of others. Ill leave the rest up to you.

Without Hume and Trimble. Whose parties have both been made political pariahs while sf and dup reap the benefits.

Chris should you not be wearing an orange outfit?

@terry would you prefer if Will Ferrell wore orange?

Joma Kenyata was leader of Mau Mau in Kenya. Rid Kenya of british diktatership. Nelson Mandella in SA..And many more examples. Sometimes it takes brave leadership to free people.

My father pulled me out of bed one morning, I asked why ?
He said we must go to a demonstration in Sligo town
supporting Boby Sands, I asked him why ? He said in revenge for what the black and tans done to his family in Kilkenny. Its very easy for some people to forget, I forgot.

If my comments offended you then I apologise, it was not my intent. I’m merely expressing my opinion. I’m not trying to gloss over the problems in the north but stating fact that the North is part of the UK and not part of the Rep Of Ireland. The nationalists do have a say/Voice now but I agree it has been a long road to get to where they are now. The majority of people in the North, for now, want to stay part of the UK, if that changes them it we’ll have a United Ireland on this island but only if the majority freely choose this way. (Hope this comment doesn’t offend!)

Oh yea that’s right s/f had a lot to bring to the table. Give us this and in return we will stop murdering innocent people

You mean pie in the sky promises like: we’ll burn the bond holders, throw two fingers to Europe, default on our debts, repeal the household charge, put more Gardai on the streets, pay public servants more, build more hospitals- oh,, and have an extra bank holiday to honour Republicans. And we’ll do all of that without any negative repercussions for the country at all. That type of sun, moon and stars?

No promises like labours way or frankfurts way.we were shafted by fg lab lies they r the guiltiest of all.

Say it ain’t so Kevin, say it ain’t so,
Gerry wouldn’t lie t’us

Excellent Kevin. Excellent.

I don’t see what’s wrong with having an Independence Day rather than some poxy holy day for a welsh guy, pretending he’s Irish, and have everyone the world over celebrate him for “driving snakes from Ireland” by getting pissed out their heads. I wonder where the stereotype comes from eh?
How about restoring some pride in our nation by celebrating a true day in Irish history, not some religious shite that has no place in modern Ireland. Hell, we almost had a day off for 9/11 ffs,

Oooh, green white & orange balaclava’s for all. Kids with faces painted IRA. And don’t forget the “IRA Undefeated army” T shirts on sale from the Sin Fein shop. Nah, i’ll stick with the Welsh saint thanks…

You are one ignorant prik. Who said any thing about balaclavas or undefeated army shite only you. Im talking about a day remembering those who got us our freedom on that faithful day. The people who died in that war. Yet you talk about t-shirts, fook off. Have some pride in your identity – your nationality, not the stereotype

John- where exactly is this “changing of the face of Irish politics?” I ask because with Fianna Fáil critically wounded and a less-than-loved Fine Gael/ Labour Government bringing in really unpopular austerity measures, SF have failed to make an electoral breakthrough with people turning to Independents rather than SF. This should be SF’s finest hour and yet they were at 16% in the last Red C poll. That has to be seem as a rejection by the people.

How are they changing the face of Irish politics? They are making classic populous statements but have done nothing of substance. Their popularity is down to the current economic and high unemployment, not unusual for socialist parties.

Well Tom give them a chance in power. We FG and Labour a chance they lied amd betrayed the people. Sinn Feinn only party that hasn’t done that. Will they do that probably but it maybe worth a punt.

Kevin I suggest you open a copy of the Indo today ….new poll has them on 21% ….3% behind FG 2% FF

Cillian- and 28% undecided. SF are the obvious protest vote, yet people haven’t moved to them. That 21% is soft in the context of the Red C poll and their performance at the last election. Huge swathes of the country just won’t consider them it would seem.

Itswhatitis- SF haven’t lied? Really? You’re really going to say that with a straight face?

Itis, maybe you are right but I would like to see some real ideas from them not just populous socialist ones that really wouldn’t stand on their own two feet.

Performance in the last election!! Same could be said for FG & Labour

Yeah not like Gilmore was in the IRA or anything ;p

I say give SF a shot !! The dog in the street is better than what’s in at the moment !! A coalition with direct democracy would be interesting !! Ben an gerrys !!

Keep it above the equator, thank you!

….the computer says No……..

That’s your opinion Jimmy I respect that and please respect mine …… Last night after certain debates I received some insulting comments sent directly to my Facebook messages which I thought was quite childish and another case of cyber bullying but thankfully I’m better than that

Easy Tiger….I’m not having a go at you. If you did receive personal messages, it most certainly wasn’t from me if that’s what I think you’re suggesting….

No most definitely not if it was the case I would come straight out and say it

If you feel the need, you should report these individuals to this website so they can’t bother you anymore. That’s fine Tomas, the way I read your reply, it looked to me like you were insinuating that I had sent personal messages to you of a nasty nature, thank you for clarifying I didn’t. I play ball on the field, not off it!

It is safe to know that will never happen.

Ireland produces coalition Governments. Now more than ever. Irrespective of polls, SF are political pariahs that no other party will get into bed with. So a). There’s no path to Government buildings for Gerry and b). It does make a vote for SF a wasted vote.

Does that go for all conflicts?

Why should he disassociate himself ?? Where were all the other party leaders when nationalist people of the north where being tortured they stayed silent whilst Gerry Adams and the Sinn Fein leadership stood shoulder to shoulder with its people

Tomas, the North of Ireland is part of the UK and none of the Rep of Ireland’s business hence no leaders down south getting involved.

You mean it’s the part of ireland the uk robbed don’t you.

I thought Northern Ireland was on the island of Ireland, so therefore is Ireland’s business! The second part if the title “northern Ireland” says it all really – Ireland

Actually, they took up torturing.

Johnny, you are correct, the North of Ireland is part of the Island of Ireland but it is still none of our business as it is part of the UK and not the Rep of Ireland. I would like to see a united island of Ireland in my lifetime but that won’t happen unless the majority in the North vote to make it so.

@ Tom the North of Ireland is part of Ireland always has been always will be if as u say its part of the uk then why do I and many other people of the North of Ireland hold an Irish Passport ??

@tom. Make it happen by supporting endeavours to make it a reality. Peaceful reunification through self determination. It is a democratic process: North and south. Please support it.

I agree Ollie, only way forward.

Tomas, fair point but not really a good example as there are many people from other countries that hold Irish passports but does not mean their country is part of Ireland! That said, I know the point your making but you have to agree the North is part of the UK ( for now anyway! :-) )

I take it your a unionist tom. That’s grand and it is your democratic right. But please make that apparent before you slate your sworn enemy so everybody is clear on your agenda.

I have to admire Adams for one thing, he has dedicated his entire life to the cause of Irish republicanism.

He is now trying to create a true republic in the south not this farce of a puppet state that we have sine 1922.

Cormac, I’m not a Unionist but I respect the majority of people in the North are and want to stay in the UK. I, like every Irish person wish for a United Ireland but we’re along way off that. As for Adam’s trying to make our country a true republic, it already it and it is a free state. SF are socialists and as history will teach us, socialists are very bad news plus against freedom. All that said both FF and FG haven’t done much good, so I guess we’re kinda stuck! i do believe there are better people out there who could get elected and would put the interests of the state/people first before themselves, I don’t see that in FF, FG, SF or Lab.

I’m not against SF getting into power but they’ll never get in on socialist Rhetoric, “a nation once again politics” and policies that just wont work. If that changes then maybe more people will vote for them.

@Tomas – obviously we’re handing out passports too easily.

The majority in the north have no desire to join the republic. Majority rules, unfortunately for nationalists.

Indeed Chris….a truly nasty individual.

STD
Chris?

Very true big Jim. Unemployment and low morale has played a huge part of shinner revival. They are thriving on the countries misery and it’s unfortunate that people are falling for their bullsh*t.

No thanks Cillian I’m grand, thanks for the offer pet. :)

Sad to think that you have such a low opinion of Sinn Fein voters.
Are they all really that stupid to “fall” for their policies.
Or is it just that every other party is a waste of time and have screwed the people left,right and centre, and now people are just swinging that way because there no point in voting in the other crooks.

Ciaran, SF are devious and cunning to the extreme. They have more baggage than all 5 Terminals at Heathrow combined! Granted the choice of politicians we have at present isn’t great, ranging from our current incumbents to the opposition made up of the ULA (United Lunatic Alliance) to Fianna FAIL. Stephen Donnelly and Shane Ross excluded, I have a lot of time for these men as they have shown they are both capable and intelligent. But SF are a different league altogether, I am pretty sure, I stand corrected obviously that no other party or grouping in the Dail apart from SF have been involved in murder, shootings, robbery, extortion, bombing, kidnapping, punishment beatings, vigilantism, criminality etc etc. These are the type of individuals you would Luke to see running the country….as Miley Byrne RIP would say…”Well holy God”…..

Well jimmy, you would be wrong on that. Check out how each party were formed & who formed them. No party in Ireland is innocent of what you wrote

@chris your could surmise FF as being the same.

@Jimmy, you left out Fuel Laundering, Drug Dealing and are well represented in crimes against Children.

Jimmy you clearly misread my comment.
I was stating the reason why I think people are swinging toward SF is because the current bunch and the previous bunch are completely incompetent.

Johnny, I know exactly how each party was formed and from where they rose…and also which party refused to recognise our fledgling State and continued to be hostile to this country, refusing to recognise it and its institutions…shall I tell you who…Sinn Fein, that’s who. Everything I mentioned above are what SF are involved in and more, not any other party as far as I’m aware….

If you believe that jimmay, you’re seriously deluded

Not really Johnny, read your history books, the Folans ones not the ones for sale in SF offices…

Instead of the country wrecking euro file bond holder supporting, impoverish the nation shower of idiots? Yes.

What about the BlueBots, loyal too an idiot of a schoolteacher and got a 100k payoff from a job he never really held! Noodles Noonan, another teacher and 30% of the dail with teachers in it. Then you’d wonder, what’s wrong with the Country?

Did you have a hard time at school Stephen? Wear the hat in the corner from time to time?

@ Oreilly. I don’t call holding back a party that 9% of the GE vote in 2011 to prospectively attaining 22% if an election was held today. The figures speak for themselves. I think that number is fantastic. SF is clearly a superior political force with progressive policies. We are sick of the old political establishment drivel.

Ollie, a serious political force? Then why at a time of such great hardship have they not made a serious break through? How will they poll in 2 years time when recovery is well on the way? Who will entertain their wild spend and two fingers to Europe ideas then. SF thrive on misery. That’s what brought them into existence and that’s what they need to stay there. It won’t last long…

@oreilly 2 years = Irish recovery. Now that is fairy tale politics. Your personal animosity with SF is clouding your judgement.

My view of SF is an informed one. I can set aside their history and look at their policies and last 2 budget submissions. All populist, dangerous and attractive in the current environment. Economic suicide. We’d all be on the collective farm yearning for Gerry’s wealthy mates…

You clearly don’t know what’s still going on in NI

You got there before me Cillian. You’re quicker on the keyboard than me!