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Sinn Féin's new Dublin mayor wants street parties to remember 1916

Críona Ní Dhálaigh stopped by for a High Table Interview last week. Here’s what we found out.

criona mansion house

TODAY MARKS EXACTLY two weeks since Críona Ní Dhálaigh became Lord Mayor of Dublin in a historic first.

As the first Sinn Féin mayor the capital has ever had, the south inner city councillor will hold the role during next year’s historic 1916 centenary celebrations, something not everyone is happy about.

As she was still getting to grips her new position, we invited Ní Dhálaigh into TheJournal.ie offices last Friday to find out a bit more about her and her plans for the next 12 months.

Here’s what we found out:

1. She’s not comfortable in the media spotlight

Ní Dhálaigh is honest enough to admit that it’s all been a bit “overwhelming” so far. She’s also prepared to admit that she’s not entirely suited to the role of Lord Mayor of Dublin.

It will be difficult for me in the role that I have now because I am not comfortable in the limelight. I am not comfortable in the media glare.

So why’s she doing it?

Paul Hosford / TheJournal.ie

2. She loves her predecessor

Having been at the forefront of the Garth Brooks controversy and homelessness crisis, Christy Burke certainly left his mark on the office of Lord Mayor. Ní Dhálaigh has a lot of time for him having known him since she was a child.

He will be a hard act to follow, but I think what Christy has done is he’s actually paved the path for future lord mayors in that the platform must be used to represent all of the citizens of Dublin, but particularly the most marginalised.

How can she follow in his footsteps?

Paul Hosford / TheJournal.ie

3. She wants a real mayor for Dublin

Ní Dhálaigh was “devastated” when Fingal County Council scuppered plans for a directly-elected mayor for the capital last year.

She spoke passionately of the need for an executive first citizen and said she would back efforts to revive the project.

I actually think it was a blow to democracy because Dublin needs a directly-elected mayor and the citizens in Dublin are entitled to a directly-elected mayor.

Paul Hosford / TheJournal.ie

4. Sinn Féin will not hijack 2016

As you would expect, Ní Dhálaigh insists her party will not attempt to hijack the 1916 commemoration events next year. She insists, in the face of scepticism, that she will be “completely inclusive”.

Interestingly, Ní Dhálaigh also wants to see “people’s initiatives” and citizens “taking control of events” in memory of those who fought and died in the Rising.

But she also wants a celebratory element to the commemorations, suggesting it could be like the 4th of July in the US with street parties, but in a “respectful way”.

Paul Hosford / TheJournal.ie

5. She’s upgrading to the Mansion House

As we reported last week, Ní Dhálaigh will be moving into the Mansion House on Dawson Street in contrast to her predecessor.

The Lord Mayor’s official residence is definitely an upgrade, she said. As a mother of two grown-up sons and grandmother to a five-year-old girl, the family home has become a bit crowded in recent years. Being able to live in the Mansion House gives Ní Dhálaigh’s family more space in her house.

As for the new digs, there are THREE bathrooms, but no flatscreens and not even a UPC connection. Watch:

Paul Hosford / TheJournal.ie

WATCH: Dublin’s new mayor wants supervised injection centres for drug addicts

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45 Comments
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    Mute OneTrueVoice
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:24 PM

    I quite like this woman. She seems like a good sort.

    Probably the second ever Shinner I’ve taken a warming to.

    Hope to see her do well in the job.

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    Mute Supernova
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:28 PM

    she seems very genuine and down to earth alright. Wish her all the best

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:50 PM

    Glad she favours having a directly-elected LM of Dublin as I believe Dubliners should have the opportunity to vote for their own mayor. I’m sure she’ll do a fine job.

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    Mute OneTrueVoice
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:54 PM

    Correction, that was 13th January 2005 not 31st.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Jul 13th 2015, 10:24 PM

    Anything else you know Adam?

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    Mute Reg
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    Jul 13th 2015, 10:37 PM

    At least she seems well able to string some words together unlike her husband!

    25
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    Mute OneTrueVoice
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    Jul 13th 2015, 10:50 PM

    It’s her sister that’s married to O’Snodaigh, not her.

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    Mute Reg
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    Jul 13th 2015, 10:53 PM

    She can count herself lucky then…unlucky for her sister!!

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    Mute Shinnér Ó Bót
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    Jul 13th 2015, 11:07 PM

    She is the greatest woman in Ireland, after Mary Lou.

    #tiocfaidhárlá2016

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Jul 13th 2015, 11:14 PM

    Reg that’s below the belt, the chap clearly has a speech impediment. Well done you.

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    Mute Cllr Malachy Quinn
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    Jul 14th 2015, 12:34 AM

    Adam – that’s not Criona Ni Dalaigh that Aisling Ni Dalaigh in the article!

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    Mute David Doyle
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:18 PM

    Very hard for Sinn Fein to hijack 1916 commemorations given they have no direct links to the rising. Unlike FG, Labour and Fianna Fáil.

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    Mute Supernova
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:22 PM

    Smell of desperation David haha

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    Mute Cormac Flynn
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:23 PM

    Even though it was known as the Sinn Fein rising at the time which blows you’re logic outta the water I do hope that nobody hijacks the commemorations.

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    Mute Tír Eoghain Gael
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:25 PM

    Very hard for them to hijack 1916 from people with no interest in 1916. SF hold commemorations in every last county of Ireland every single year. Seems to me other parties are the ones trying to hijack/feign interest for next year.

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    Mute David Doyle
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:26 PM

    Cormac. Put down the Smartphone. Pick up a history book.

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    Mute OneTrueVoice
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:28 PM

    The Sinn Fein of the Rising were totally different to the new party started in the 1970s that shrewdly adopted the name Sinn Fein.

    You may be surprised to learn that the modern day Land League of Killiney Hill fame is not connected with the Land League of the late 19th century in any way. It is pretty much the same ploy of adopting a name from the past as your own.

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    Mute Ben Smith
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:31 PM

    It was mistakenly called the Sinn Fein Rising, they actually had no part in it. SF were founded in 1905 as a dual-monarchist party and didn’t embrace republicanism until after the rising.

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    Mute David Doyle
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:32 PM

    Tir Eoghainn- while SF were out holding parades and passing around the Easter Lillies, FG & Labour were too busy sending the Troika home and restoring the nations economic sovereignty. But yeah, parades are nice, like.

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    Mute Ray Farrelly
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:33 PM

    David doyle like before. FF/FG split from SF.

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    Mute Cormac Flynn
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:55 PM

    David ffs
    All political parties have morphed from their initial formation.
    Does ff’ers still want ireland to be a “Vatican satellite state”? no, well, most of them anyhow!
    SF has gone through dramatic change but they won’t allow other political parties to airbrush them outta history the way you are trying to do.
    Enough with your propaganda. Labour n Sinn Fein were the only parties in existence back then that exist today n both played their part. Other parties formed from SF that we recognise as fg n ff today but you are rewriting history to suit your political agenda.
    Most educated ppl cringe at your type of miseducation.

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    Mute David Doyle
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    Jul 13th 2015, 10:22 PM

    Most educated people have read a history book, Cormac. Seriously, man. Give it a go.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jul 13th 2015, 10:36 PM

    Cormac do you honestly think that SF in 1916 have any link to modern SF led by Gerry Adams and in existence since 1970? Maybe you should purchase history books outside of the SF shop on Parnell street

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    Mute Cormac Flynn
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    Jul 13th 2015, 10:53 PM

    Ppl like you, Wayne n David, are trying to rewrite history and attempting to write Sinn Fein outta that history. You can’t do it. I don’t want SF to exclude anyone from the commemoration and I don’t think they will but it’s sickening from the other parties trying to exclude Sinn Fein out of it for their own pathetic political motives.

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    Mute Shinnér Ó Bót
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    Jul 13th 2015, 11:10 PM

    I prefer Comrade Cormac’s version of history. The Provisional IRA should be remembered for storming the GPO.

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    Mute Ray Farrelly
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    Jul 13th 2015, 11:13 PM

    Shinner is it not past your bedtime.

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Jul 13th 2015, 11:35 PM

    Arthur Griffiths espoused dual-monarchy based on the Hungarian model. We didn’t have our own monarch for a start, and SF policy was always separatist in nature.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jul 13th 2015, 11:44 PM

    Cormac, it’s a simple question, do you believe that the original SF founded in 1909 & the one headed by Mr Adams founded in 1970 are the same party. Nobody is rewriting history, sadly there are plenty like you who are happy to ignore historical facts and realises as they do not match with your political version

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    Mute Ray Farrelly
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    Jul 13th 2015, 11:52 PM

    Wayne sinn fein were founded in 1905 just so you know.

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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jul 14th 2015, 12:04 AM

    Apologies for the fat fingers Ray, but the original question remains unanswered. Also there is the small matter of the massive ideological shift in the 60′s

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    Mute Ray Farrelly
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    Jul 14th 2015, 12:27 AM

    Wayne have a read of 1970 where sinn fein stands it might give you an answer.

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    Mute Cormac Flynn
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    Jul 14th 2015, 12:48 AM

    Yes they are the same party.
    There have been plenty of policy changes which is incidental to your question but there is a direct line running from 1905 to 2015 which make the SF party of those two eras the one and same.
    Arthur Griffith n JJ Dolan etc may not agree with current SF policies on many things but I doubt WT cosgrave would b too happy with FG pol on lots of things and I’m certain dev would not recognise what the spawn of ff has evolved into, but, they two are the same parties of their predecessors. Ok, cosgrave was c na g but you get the message.

    As to your earlier advice to read a history book I’m afraid to inform you I have.
    My degree is in history so again your attempt to ridicule my opinion by questioning my intelligence is typical of the the arrogance perpetrated by the hither to behemoths if Irish politics.

    Sin Fein have every right to celebrate/ commemorate the rising as much as any party. Pathetic attempts by the likes of you and your ilk to rewrite history for your own gain is further proof if any is needed of the afore mentioned arrogance of which I have become all too accustomed too from the fgff axis.

    I’m sure the Sinn Fein LM will do the memory of those who fought in 1916 proud even though ff n FG happily forgot and don’t like being reminded of what they fought FOR.

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    Mute david garland
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    Jul 14th 2015, 2:31 AM

    As far as I remember Eamon Gilmore used to wear an Easter Lilly..

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    Mute Sean MacC
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    Jul 14th 2015, 6:53 AM

    Correct me if I’m wrong but the first to split from Sinn Féin were Cumann na Gael (later combined with the Blueshirt movement to form Fine Gael) followed by Fianna Fáil. Someone can clarify but Sinn Féin then split into official Sinn Féin (later the Workers Party) and the current party known as Sinn Féin. The Irish Republican Socialist Part split from the WP and later became Democratic Left who took over Labour. Is this correct and is it fair to say that all of the political parties share some of the same genealogy?

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    Mute David Doyle
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    Jul 14th 2015, 8:01 AM

    Cormac. Please. Stop. You’re embarrassing yourself. I’m cringing for you. As is so often the case with Shinners, you seem intent on being opinionated rather than informed. Now down to the library with you.

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    Mute Sean Mac Diarmada
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    Jul 14th 2015, 12:20 PM

    “Tir Eoghainn- while SF were out holding parades and passing around the Easter Lillies, FG & Labour were too busy sending the Troika home and restoring the nations economic sovereignty. But yeah, parades are nice, like.”
    “FG,Labour were too busy oppressing the poorest citizens in Ireland with rotten inequitable charges like the water tax fiasco.”
    Parades in 2016 organized by-among others-Sinn Fein, for a constitutional referendum on the right to water, would be highly appropriate.

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    Mute Cormac Flynn
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    Jul 14th 2015, 12:21 PM

    Ok David.
    The SF party of 1905 never fully ceased to exist. It had to lay low for periods of internment carried out by ff govs in the 40s n again in the 50s but it always existed, sometimes under guises in some areas.
    This is not an important issue for me but it is important that ppl like you who try to discredit SF by trying to muddy the waters for political gain be exposed as phoneys.
    Most parties trace roots to SF.
    FG n ff directly.
    Modern labour via SF the workers party, then DL to the DL take over of labour.
    AAA via association with the workers party n the socialists via mergers with former SF factions.
    The greens n PBP don’t have any direct links but I’m sure there has been former SF members in those parties.
    To try n deny SF their place in the commemorations is a joke at your own expense.
    I’m sure you know that but your hoping there is a few ppl out there that you r trying to influence. Best if luck with your propaganda campaign but I don’t think it’s working.

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    Mute Martin Bonner
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:48 PM

    She’s coming across very well.
    I have to admit, I’m warming to her style.

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    Mute michaelhenry
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:33 PM

    Good luck on the year ahead Criona- and Dublin will have plenty to look forward to-

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Jul 13th 2015, 9:35 PM

    In fairness like her predecessor she seems to be a person who actually is not in it for the money.

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Jul 13th 2015, 11:26 PM

    Sinn Fein have been celebrating 1916 for decades now, the established two never really bothered ‘cos they were too busy feathering their own nests. Now they suddenly wake up and realise that 2016 is a big deal. SF have stolen a march on them. Good.

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    Jul 13th 2015, 11:04 PM

    SF will do their best to hijack 1916, like they try every year, but they will fail.

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    Mute Wayne Scales
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    Jul 14th 2015, 9:31 AM

    Diarmuid a genuine question for you, what do you see as the difference between SF commemorating 1916 as they do and to now hijacking it in 2016.

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    Mute Maireben
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    Jul 14th 2015, 8:06 AM

    Good luck to Criona Ni Dhalaigh. She will need it with all the usual begrudgers around. Hope to see her highlight Homelessness just like Christy Burke did. Looking forward to livening up the city with street parties as well. The past should not be forgotten while we look to the future.

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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Jul 14th 2015, 9:40 AM

    Some will have no other choice because of the homelessness, they will have to “party” on the street because they are homeless.

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