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Monday, February 28, 2011
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Mortgage Arrears Climb -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Mortgage Arrears Climb -: "The number of people in arrears on their mortgages has climbed to nearly 6 per cent, while the rate of repossessions has also accelerated, ..."
Mortgage Arrears Climb -
The number of people in arrears on their mortgages has climbed to nearly 6 per cent, while the rate of repossessions has also accelerated, figures released by the Central Bank have revealed.
The figures show a dramatic worsening of the mortgage arrears situation over the last 12 months, and €8.6 billion is now owed by account holders who are more than 90 days in arrears. Some €6.2 billion is owed on accounts over 180 days in arrears.
At the end of December, 44,508 mortgage accounts, or 5.7 per cent of the total residential mortgage accounts, were in arrears of at least 90 days compared with 28,603 accounts at the end of December 2009.
The number of mortgage accounts in arrears for more than 90 days at the end of December 2010 was up by 10 per cent since the end of last September. The rate of increase has slowed marginally from the 11.1 per cent increase in the third quarter of 2010. There are 31,338 mortgage accounts or 4 per cent of the total outstanding mortgage accounts that are over 180 days in arrears.
The Central Bank said 106 homes were repossessed during the last three months of 2010 of which 34 were repossessed on foot of court orders and 72 were repossessed following voluntary surrender or abandonment. This compares with 81 repossessions in the third quarter of last year and 101 in the last three months of 2009.
The report from the Central Bank is the first to include data on restructured mortgages, and it indicates 59,229 residential mortgage accounts were categorised as restructured at the end of last year. Of those, 35,205 are classified as performing and not in arrears.
The bank said the number of restructured loans highlighted the fact arrangements are now available to borrowers who seek help in dealing with pre-arrears or arrears difficulties.
The revised Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears, which came into effect at the beginning of the year, enhances protection afforded to people in arrears or pre-arrears. The bank said it was important for borrowers to engage early with their lenders to benefit from the protection afforded under the revised Code.
The data shows overall mortgage debt outstanding for private residential mortgages decreased by almost €1.7 billion since the fourth quarter of 2009.
Just over 38 per cent of mortgages that were restructured switched to interest only, while reduced payments also comprise a large percentage of restructured loans, at 28.3 per cent.
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Enda Kenny Eamon Gilmore Government election 2011 ...
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Enda Kenny Eamon Gilmore Government election 2011 ...: "Fine Gael and Labour have commenced talks on the formation of a coalition government. Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore and Fine Gael l..."
Enda Kenny Eamon Gilmore Government election 2011 Results -
Fine Gael and Labour have commenced talks on the formation of a coalition government.
Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny met in private at Leinster House this evening to discuss potential policies and portfolios. They have agreed to meet again early tomorrow morning.
Both sides have accepted they are under pressure from Europe to agree a pact within days and in time for Labour members to approve the party's entry into a coalition government.
Speaking this morning, Alan Shatter, Fine Gael's justice spokesman, said it would be "wrong to foreclose" on the idea of a government featuring independents but added it would be "very difficult" to achieve such an arrangement.
Later meetings will see negotiating teams from the parties enter the discussions. The Fine Gael team includes Michael Noonan, Phil Hogan and Alan Shatter.
Eamon Gilmore also confirmed his representatives for the talks. These include Joan Burton, Pat Rabbitte, Brendan Howlin and Dr Colm O'Reardon, the party's policy director.
A Fine Gael spokesman said Mr Kenny had made it clear he wanted to form a stable and secure government to deal with the enormous fiscal challenge facing the country. “Enda is determined to have the discussions on the formation of government finished sooner rather than later,” he said.
Mr Gilmore also said yesterday that he wanted to have talks on a possible coalition completed as quickly as possible. He added that if the largest party in the Dáil wanted to talk to the second-largest party about the formation of government, the window of opportunity was small.
A Labour spokesman said last night that the ball was in Fine Gael’s court as it was their prerogative as the largest party to try to put a government together.
Fine Gael has not ruled out talking to other parties or Independents about the formation of a government but the Dáil arithmetic favours a coalition, with Labour as the most stable option.
With recounts taking place in three constituencies, the projected outcome last night was Fine Gael 76 seats, Labour 37, Fianna Fáil 20, Sinn Féin 14, United Left Alliance 5 and Others 14.
A full recount of votes is underway in the Galway West constituency, where Fine Gael has so far failed to return a TD. The recount was ordered yesterday evening by Fine Gael’s Fidelma Healy-Eames after the tenth count in Leisureland, Salthill, when only 56 votes separated her from party rival Sean Kyne (FG).
A full recount of votes is also under way in Wicklow, which has yet to elect a TD, and Laois-Offaly.
Fianna Fáíl TD and former minister Dick Roche was eliminated this evening following a full recount.
The share of first-preference votes was: Fine Gael 36.1 per cent, Labour 19.4 per cent, Fianna Fáil 17.4 per cent, Sinn Féin 9.9 per cent, Independents 15.2 per cent and Green Party 1.8 per cent.
The turnout was 70.1 per cent and was the highest since 1987.
It was by far the worst result for Fianna Fáil since the foundation of the party and a number of senior figures, including Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and deputy leader Mary Hanafin, lost their seats.
Other high-profile casualties included Mary O’Rourke, Seán Haughey, Barry Andrews and Conor Lenihan. The party has been particularly badly hit in the Dublin area, where Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan was the only Fianna Fáil candidate to take a seat. The party now has no women TDs.
Fine Gael has had its best-ever election result in terms of seats and is the biggest party in the Dáil for the first time in its history. The Labour Party, which also had a record result, has only half as many seats as Fine Gael.
Sinn Féin is on course for its best-ever election result in the Republic with 14 seats, while the United Left Alliance may end up with five and Independents 14.
Mr Kenny has received phone calls of congratulations from German chancellor Angela Merkel, the British prime minister David Cameron, the president of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, and a number of other European leaders.
The Fine Gael leader will attend a meeting of the European People’s Party in Helsinki on Friday, where he will meet many of the leaders with whom he spoke yesterday.
On Thursday week, a day after the Dáil meets to elect the new government, the leaders of all the euro zone countries will meet in Brussels to discuss the issues at the heart of the bailout. Decisions on these issues will be made a fortnight later at a full EU summit.
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Enda Kenny Government Eamon Gilmore Election 2011 ...
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Enda Kenny Government Eamon Gilmore Election 2011 ...: "Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is expected to contact Labour leader Eamon Gilmore this morning to arrange immediate talks over the prospect of..."
Enda Kenny Government Eamon Gilmore Election 2011 -
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is expected to contact Labour leader Eamon Gilmore this morning to arrange immediate talks over the prospect of forming a coalition government following an election that has given both parties their greatest ever number of Dáil seats.
A Fine Gael spokesman said last night that the party leader would have a negotiating team in place to open contacts today.
It is understood the team will include Michael Noonan, Phil Hogan and Alan Shatter.
The Labour team will include Pat Rabbitte, Joan Burton and Brendan Howlin, according to well-placed sources.
Fine Gael’s spokesman said Mr Kenny had made it clear he wanted to form a stable and secure government to deal with the enormous fiscal challenge facing the country.
“Enda is determined to have the discussions on the formation of government finished sooner rather than later,” he said.
Mr Gilmore also said yesterday that he wanted to have talks on a possible coalition completed as quickly as possible.
He added that if the largest party in the Dáil wanted to talk to the second-largest party about the formation of government, the window of opportunity was small.
A Labour spokesman said last night that the ball was in Fine Gael’s court as it was their prerogative as the largest party to try to put a government together.
Fine Gael has not ruled out talking to other parties or Independents about the formation of a government but the Dáil arithmetic favours a coalition, with Labour as the most stable option.
With recounts taking place in a number of constituencies, the projected outcome last night was Fine Gael 76 seats, Labour 37, Fianna Fáil 20, Sinn Féin 14, United Left Alliance 5 and Others 14.
The share of first-preference votes was: Fine Gael 36.1 per cent, Labour 19.4 per cent, Fianna Fáil 17.4 per cent, Sinn Féin 9.9 per cent, Independents 15.2 per cent and Green Party 1.8 per cent.
The turnout was 70.1 per cent and was the highest since 1987.
It was by far the worst result for Fianna Fáil since the foundation of the party and a number of senior figures, including Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and deputy leader Mary Hanafin, lost their seats.
Other high-profile casualties included Mary O’Rourke, Seán Haughey, Barry Andrews and Conor Lenihan. The party has been particularly badly hit in the Dublin area, where Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan was the only Fianna Fáil candidate to take a seat. The party now has no women TDs.
Fine Gael has had its best-ever election result in terms of seats and is the biggest party in the Dáil for the first time in its history. The Labour Party, which also had a record result, has only half as many seats as Fine Gael.
Sinn Féin is on course for its best-ever election result in the Republic with 14 seats, while the United Left Alliance may end up with five and Independents 14.
Mr Kenny said the people of Ireland had given his party a massive endorsement to form the next government.
“We now stand at a transformative moment in Ireland’s history. We stand on the brink of fundamental change in how we regard ourselves, how we regard our economy and how we regard our society,”
Mr Kenny told supporters who gathered in a Dublin hotel to welcome him on Saturday night.
The Fine Gael spokesman said last night that Mr Kenny has received phone calls of congratulations from German chancellor Angela Merkel, the British prime minister David Cameron, the president of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, and a number of other European leaders.
Mr Cameron invited the Fine Gael leader to Downing Street at a date to be decided.
Mr Kenny will attend a meeting of the European People’s Party in Helsinki on Friday, where he will meet many of the leaders with whom he spoke yesterday.
On Thursday week, a day after the Dáil meets to elect the new government, the leaders of all the euro zone countries will meet in Brussels to discuss the issues at the heart of the bailout. Decisions on these issues will be made a fortnight later at a full EU summit.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Election results Galway East Fianna Fail Poll Dancing -
Three of four seats in Galway East have been decided following the eighth count just concluded.
Michael Kitt of Fianna Fáil topped the poll while the second and third seats fell to Paul Connaughton Jr and Ciaran Cannon, both of Fine Gael.
The contest for the fouth seat will be between Labour's Colm Keavney and Fine Gael's Tom McHugh.
Bobby Sands Sinn Fein and the Provisional IRA -
As the 30th anniversary of the IRA Hunger Strikes approaches when young Irishmen such as Bobby Sands were sacrificed by sinn fein we ask why have some touts been allowed to live while others were so brutally executed.
On the 22nd of January 1981 an IRA active service unit from MonaghanTown and under the leadership of IRA Commander, Jim Lynagh, carried out what most normal people would describe as a cowardly act of double murder. The IRA unit travelled in two vehicles to the picturesque village of Glaslough in CountyMonaghan, from here the IRA unit using a back road, crossed the border into Tynan close to Middletown in CountyArmagh. The IRA unit then held two families hostage and stole their cars. The IRA unit then proceeded to drive to the home (Tynan Abbey) of 86 year old Sir Norman Strong and his 48 year old son James. Sir Norman had been the former Speaker of the Stormont Government but had retired in 1969. His son James was a former Member of Parliament.
The IRA men then forced the front door of the Abbey. Upon hearing the door being forced Sir Norman and his son set off distress flares to alert the police that they were under attack. However, the IRA men continued with their plan. Sir Norman and his son James were summarily executed in the library by Jim Lynagh (shot dead 1987) and another IRA member who remains alive today. The men then planted two incendiary bombs that had been earlier prepared by Lynagh. The incendiaries had been planted in order not only to burn the Abbey but also to help destroy any possible forensic evidence of the gang’s identity. As the IRA gang tried to drive away from the Abbey in the cars they had stolen earlier, they were confronted by members of the RUC (police) who had been alerted by the flares set off minutes earlier by the now dead Sir Norman and his son James. The police car blocked the gangs escape.
Members of the IRA gang opened fire on the police and Lynagh actually jumped up onto the bonnet of one of the Police cars and opened fire at the windscreen, however, the bullet proof glass saved the police officers inside. The gang did not know that the roof was the only part of the car that was not protected against gun fire. The gang were forced to abandon their vehicles and run off into the surrounding fields. The men lead by Lynagh ran through fields and ditches until they found their way to the home of IRA supporter Harry Lavery who lived at Glaslough. Harry then arranged for transport for the men and they were eventually returned to MonaghanTown on the morning of the 23rd of January 1981. In follow up searches over the following days, Gardai detectives raided premises in MonaghanTown and arrested a number of the IRA gang. The men were found hiding in the cellar of the Round House Bar which was owned at that time by Mr Robert Loane, however, Mr Loane’s nephew, Owen Mc Cartan Smyth who worked in the bar for Mr Loane and who constantly tried to ingratiate himself with the IRA, had given the IRA men access to the cellar of his uncle’s bar.
Following these arrests Owen Smyth was warned by Jim Lynagh not to go into the north as he would be arrested for allowing the IRA men to stay in the cellar of his Uncle’s pub. However, Smyth who was described by IRA men in Monaghan as a ‘Walter Mitty’ type character ignored Lynagh’s warning, and Smyth without logical reason drove into the north where he was duly arrested. According to notes taken by an RUC Det. Sgt J. Toner, Owen Smyth had already started talking to them before the police car in which he was being transported had reached Gough Barracks in ArmaghCity. Over the following three days Smyth would fill dozens of pages of statements implicating republicans in Monaghan in various activities including the murders of Sir Norman Strong and his son James.
Smyth had come from a good family, his father was a school teacher and Smyth’s own siblings were teachers and Doctors, however, Owen Smyth had been unable to stay focused on anything for very long and so ended up working in his Uncle’s pub. Smyth was constantly trying to emulate other Monaghan men who were in the IRA such as Lynagh, however, to the IRA Smyth was nothing more than someone whom they could use to get free drinks or some one who would give them somewhere to hide if they were stuck. Smyth talked so much in Gough Barracks that he was eventually charged with counselling and procuring others to carry out the murders of Sir Norman Strong and his son James, he was also charged with IRA membership. While there was nothing to connect Smyth with the murders and he most certainly was not involved in the actual murders, he had talked himself into a hole.
When Smyth entered Crumlin Road Jail he asked to be placed in the Republican, A Wing, of the jail. Smyth told the IRA Intelligence Officer, big Joe (big Joe would be back in jail again in 1984 charged with the murder of Mary Travers), that he had remained silent during his detention. However, Smyth also befriended a young boy from Monaghan when he was in Crumlin Road Jail, and Smyth told this young boy that he had indeed been the brains behind the plan that lead to the murder of Sir Norman and his son James. As Smyth’s trial approached Smyth was forced to admit that he had in fact signed many, many statements. Word was sent to the IRA in Monaghan that Smyth had touted and the IRA had expected as much. When Smyth went before the Courts he denied the charges. The case against Smyth was transferred from Belfast to Dublin so that the trial judge could hear certain evidence. Mr Justice Hamilton in Dublin said Smyth was a liar when he alleged he had not been offered the opportunity of trial in the Republic under the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975. Smyth was returned to Belfast where the more serious charges were dropped on a ‘technicality’ and Smyth would serve only a couple of years for IRA membership.
There was serious pressure on Jim Lynagh to take action against Smyth; however, it was thought that in the interests of Sinn Fein in Monaghan such punishment would only back fire. Upon his release Smyth failed to turn up for a party that had been arranged for him in the ClaraInn, at Park Street, MonaghanTown. Smyth was certain that certain individuals whom he had named would take action against him; however, such reprisals were simply in his imagination. It was standard procedure for individuals like Smyth to be allowed to carry on menial tasks for the movement as long as they had not given States evidence against republicans. Normally it was only those touts who had been in the pay of the police who were shot, although it all depended on the merits of each case, if the republican movement had shot every tout and agent in its ranks there would have been a lot of bodies. Even Super-grasses who had retracted their evidence were allowed back into the ranks of the republican movement, Bow Scally, Rab Mc Allister and others were allowed back into the republican A Wing, in Crumlin Road Jail, once they retracted their evidence, although they were never trusted with operational details. Depending on their abilities they could simply be asked to put up posters at election time or they could be nominated to run for Sinn Fein in local council elections, where their minds would be occupied with waste disposal and street cleaning.
In 1984 Jim Lynagh’s brother-in-law Seamus Shannon would face extradition from the IrishRepublic in relation to his alleged role in the murders of Sir Norman Strong and his son James in 1981. Shannon’s extradition was directly linked to statements made against him by Smyth while Smyth was in Gough Barracks. Shannon claimed in the Dublin High Court that the murder of Sir Norman and his son James were political acts; however, the High Court judge stated that:
These crimes are so brutal, cowardly and callous that it would be a distortion of language if they were to be accorded the status of political offence.
While Shannon was extradited, the charges were eventually dismissed, due to lack of evidence. Shannon had plenty to say about Owen Smyth while he was in Crumlin Road Jail, but upon his acquittal Shannon was happy enough to return to the pub that had now been signed over to Smyth and enjoy a free pint.
Three weeks before the summary execution of Jim Lynagh and seven other IRA volunteers at Loughgall it is known that Patrick (Paddy) Kelly had travelled to MonaghanTown to meet Lynagh. Lynagh was not to be found and Kelly went to the Round House Bar to inquire if Lynagh was about. This was a cruel mistake; Kelly was unaware that this would be the first indicator the security forces would have that a major operation was being planned. When two people like Kelly and Lynagh were getting together the security forces knew that something big was going to happen. It is also worth mentioning that many republicans from the north who travelled south had a very naive understanding of how the Gardai operated. This was particularly evident after the IRA cease-fire announcement in 1994 when republicans went to RUC stations in West Belfast and wrote Gardai on them. It is clear that none of these ‘republicans’ had ever been held by the Gardai, under Section 30 of The Offences Against The State Act, if they had, they would have known that the Gardai were just as capable of being heavy handed as the RUC when dealing with IRA members, in fact in my own experience the RUC were much more curtailed by Human Rights and civil liberties legislation than were An Garda Siochana (Irish Police).
However, this would not be an end to Smyth’s lose talk. Smyth would in 1991 face charges of falsely imprisoning, Peter North, of Wattlebridge, Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh, he was also charged with possessing a gun and explosives with intent to endanger life on November 22nd 1990. The only evidence against Smyth was his own alleged admissions to Gardai. At this point Smyth had been allowed to run for Sinn Fein in the urban elections in Monaghan and his arrest and alleged admissions caused embarrassment for the republican movement in Monaghan, which was and remains one of their few support bases in the Republic.
None of the above suggests that Smyth was not willing to ingratiate himself with the IRA. There is no doubt that he was willing to make himself, his property and his vehicle available to the IRA, however, Smyth like so many other fantasists who attached themselves to the IRA would never have been trusted with the operational details of any IRA operation, this did not mean that he did not have access to information. Unfortunately due to the way the republican movement operates few would have access to the information stated here and so it was that many republicans would have simply assumed that Smyth could have been trusted as he done time for IRA membership. Due to the location of the Bar that was given to Owen Smyth by his Uncle, uninformed republicans would drop into Smyth’s bar and assume it was a safe place and that he was someone with whom inquiries could be made. This would be a cruel mistake.
IRA activists such as Michael Pete Ryan, who was having an affair with the wife of Owen Smyth’s brother (Dr Brian Smyth) Dr Marian Smyth, appeared unable to realise that his open relationship with Dr Smyth was frowned upon by Owen who felt his family was being disgraced, Smyth however never openly confronted Ryan about his affair with Dr Marian Smyth. Pete Ryan’s motor bike would be openly parked outside Dr Smyth’s house each morning and this was a real bone of contention for Owen Smyth. Dr Marian Smyth would have a child (Michael) to Pete Ryan and Pete Ryan would be shot dead by the SAS in 1991. It is believed that someone talked out of shop and Laurence Mc Nally’s car was followed to the border as his friend dropped him off to travel with Ryan and Tony Doris to carry out an attack on a member of the security forces in Tyrone. There is no doubt that lose talk cost lives, however that lose talk had to be collected by someone and passed to their handlers in the security forces.
Smyth continued to get by on lies and half truths and most serious republicans simply ignored his actions. In 1998 Smyth turned up a press conference in New York that was being hosted by Bernadette Mc Kevitt Sands and her 32 County Sovereignty Committee. Bernadette was critical of the peace process and as she spoke the New York Observer recorded the following:
A burly Sinn Fein councillor from MonaghanTown called Owen Smyth, stood up in the audience and said: “I have been imprisoned and there have been four attempts on my life and I continue to support the Adams leadership”.
Of course non of the audience gathered there would have known that the only reason Smyth done time was because he was a tout, and there has never been a single attempt on his life, except those that he has invented or manufactured himself in order to garner publicity for himself. This can be confirmed with Kevin Mc Kenna, now retired to a pub in Smithboro, CountyMonaghan, or any other serious IRA player in Monaghan.
Smyth unable to garner his thirst for publicity through Sinn Fein created a proxy journalist through whom Smyth could exude his petty vindictiveness against those whom he despised because of their personal abilities and what he would have regarded as their success and status. Patrick ‘the dwarf’ Tierney was known in MonaghanTown as a drunk and had been given the menial task of selling An Phoblacht around a small housing estate in MonaghanTown (BelgiumPark). However, Owen Smyth who regularly filled Tierney’s glass free of charge asked Tierney if he would be interested in making some money. Smyth told Tierney that he wanted someone to issue press releases as if they were coming from an independent sourse rather than from Smyth himself. Smyth told Tierney that he could get two ‘journalists’ to propose and second him in order that he might obtain a National Union of Journalist (NUJ) card, and this would allow him to get paid as a freelance journalist. Tierney short of money and intellect agreed and was sworn to secrecy.
Smyth then approached two ‘journalists’ in Monaghan and both being fond of the drink were easy to convince that proposing and seconding Tierney would be helpful to Sinn Fein. Tierney then began to issue Press releases that had been written by Owen Smyth, these press releases were normally issued from the Round House Bar and usually presented Smyth as a man of stature and reliability. Smyth also issued press releases through Tierney to discredit Sinn Fein TD, CO’C, whom Smyth despised because of his status within the republican movement. It was Smyth who informed the media that CO’C was in difficulty with the Department of Social Welfare, having claimed money that he was not entitled to claim.
Tierney was a willing partner in this relationship and could be regularly seen falling drunk out of the Round House bar that was owned and run by Smyth. The Smyth Tierney relationship would reach fever pitch when former IRA member turned anti-terrorist campaigner, Vincent Mc Kenna, faced charges of sexual assault. Smyth despised Mc Kenna as much as he despised CO’C, Mc Kenna had left behind his association with the republican movement in Monaghan and had went on to be educated as a mature student at QueensUniversity in Belfast. Mc Kenna had become a fierce critic of the criminality and sectarianism of Sinn Fein/IRA and was regularly featured on CNN, CBS and other media around the world. It would be Owen Smyth’s sister-in-law, Dr Marian Smyth who would be involved in the claims of sexual assault against Mc Kenna. Mc Kenna’s ex-wife worked as a cleaner for Dr Marian Smyth and Fiona’s fondness of the drink made her an easy target for manipulation. Both Dr Marian Smyth and Owen Smyth meet on many occasions in order to generate further publicity against Mc Kenna. Smyth would go on to claim in the Irish Voice and British Independent that Mc Kenna had never been in the republican movement and was never trusted, this of course was Smyth’s way of trying to conceal the fact that he (Smyth) made dozens of statements against Monaghan Republicans when he was arrested by the RUC.
Before Mc Kenna’s release from prison in My 2005, Owen Smyth issued a press statement through Tierney, the press release invented by Smyth and Tierney stated that a group called ‘Families Against Paedophiles’ in Monaghan were going to kill Mc Kenna upon his release. Tierney was paid thousands of Euro by media outlets all over the country for a story that he and Smyth had invented. Following many years of internal dispute about Smyth’s bizarre behaviour, Smyth was finally gone from the republican movement. However, even Smyth’s former colleagues on Monaghan Urban Council became tired of him. Smyth had asked Sinn Fein members to table a motion:
(a) That Monaghan Town Council supports the call by former Monaghan Town Councillor, Owen Smyth, for an independent inquiry into the circumstances concerning his arrest, detention, charging and the Garda handling of the surrounding incidents in 1991.
The motion was rejected. Smyth even in the face of overwhelming evidence continued to seek out publicity for his Walter Mitty type existence. Indeed Smyth has even placed a short video on You Tube where he claims that he taught Jim Lynagh everything he knew, the same Jim Lynagh that said of Smyth:
“I would not trust him to deliver a pizza”.
By 2008 Smyth was finished, republicans no longer drank in his pub and he was forced to close up shop and sell his pub which is presently being turned into offices. In July 2010 Owen Smyth, the man who regularly claimed to his customers and anyone who would listen to him, that he was unable to go into the north as the Brits were after him, openly attended a funeral in County Tyrone and was ignored by many life long republicans who attended the same funeral.
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Green Party Twitters while a bear scratches his Pa...
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Green Party Twitters while a bear scratches his Pa...: "Taoiseach-elect Enda Kenny said he would not be pulling the wool over anybody’s eyes. “The incoming government is not going to leave our p..."
Green Party Twitters while a bear scratches his Paw - Election Results -
Taoiseach-elect Enda Kenny said he would not be pulling the wool over anybody’s eyes. “The incoming government is not going to leave our people in the dark. Paddy likes to know what the story is.”
He then set the scene for the 1916 Easter Rising centenary: “Ireland is open for business. We want to restore our reputation and our pride and make people understand this little country will be seen to be the best in the world by 2016.”
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the result was historic. “It’s an historic day for the Labour Party. This is the first election in the history of the state that the Labour Party is going to emerge as the second largest.”
Outgoing Taoiseach Brian Cowen put his hands up. “From my point of view as Taoiseach and as minister in the past I take full responsibility. I‘ve never quibbled or suggested otherwise.”
New Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the glass was half full. “I tend to be an optimist by nature so I look at this as an opportunity as well.”
Former Fianna Fáil enterprise minister Batt O‘Keeffe drew parallels with a disaster of even greater proportions. “It‘s like Fianna Fáil has been hit by a tsunami.”
John Gormley’s Green Party suffered an electoral wipe-out but he maintained his faith. “We are a party with a set of values, a set of beliefs. We have a vision for the future.”
Finance spokesman Michael Noonan s aid Fine Gael is looking for an easily pleased and stable partner. “That implies we would not be looking after high maintenance independents who we would have to satisfy every time we had a vote in the Dáil.”
Retired Fianna Fáil minister Noel Dempsey reflected ruefully on a bad day for his party. “It is looking pretty grim. To get a result in the low 20s would be good.”
For retiring former Cork Fianna Fáil TD Ned O’Keeffe it was time to reflect on the past and the party’s gentrification during its years of power. “We became a party of race horse owners and golfers.”
Mick Wallace, developer and well-known soccer figure in Wexford, is one of the few men of property to retain respect following the election. “I don‘t see any great connect between those who occupy the Dáil and the people of the country and I suppose I felt an obligation to try and do something about that,” he said. “Maybe I can‘t change it. Maybe it would be easier to take the Mafia out of influence in southern Italy.”
Fellow former Independent Jackie Healy Rae represented Kerry South in the last election and defended his traditions. “I don’t care what they call us, we‘ll eat our dinner in the middle of the day all the time.”
Another Independent Shane Ross topped the poll in Dublin South and said the election was a watershed. “I think we are going to have to look at the possibility of unleashing a new politics ... This is a seminal election."
Green Party Senator Dan Boyle, who failed to take a seat in Cork, has vowed to keep tweeting. "Taking time out. Obviously very disappointed. Making no decisions yet other than I will keep this account open," he tweeted today
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Results 2011 Round Up -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Results 2011 Round Up -: "Peadar Toibin Sinn Fein Elected in Meath Results by Party Party Seats Won % 1st Pref Votes % Swing 2007 % Swing 2002 Fine Gael FG 68 36..."
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Government TD Death List Election Results 2011 -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Government TD Death List Election Results 2011 -: "Sitting Government TDs not re elected Candidate Pty. % 1st Pref Votes Constituency Count Elimimated AHERN, Michael FF 8.1% 4,..."
Government TD Death List Election Results 2011 -
Sitting Government TDs not re elected
Candidate Pty. % 1st Pref Votes Constituency Count Elimimated
AHERN, Michael FF 8.1% 4,618 Cork East 3
ANDREWS, Barry FF 6.2% 3,542 Dún Laoghaire 7
ANDREWS, Chris FF 11.2% 3,922 Dublin South East 10
AYLWARD, Bobby FF 9.2% 6,762 Carlow Kilkenny 13
BRADY, Áine FF 9.3% 4,777 Kildare North 5
BRADY, Cyprian FF 4.7% 1,637 Dublin Central 5
BRADY, Johnny FF 9.4% 3,789 Meath West 4
BYRNE, Thomas FF 13.4% 5,715 Meath East 4
CAREY, Pat FF 11.8% 3,869 Dublin North West 6
CONLON, Margaret FF 6.5% 4,658 Cavan Monaghan 7
CONNICK, Sean FF 8.8% 6,675 Wexford 6
COUGHLAN, Mary FF 11.5% 4,956 Donegal South West 4
CUFFE, Ciarán GP 3.8% 2,156 Dún Laoghaire 6
CURRAN, John FF 11.8% 5,043 Dublin Mid West 7
FAHEY, Frank FF 5.7% 3,449 Galway West 7
FITZPATRICK, Michael FF 5.2% 2,659 Kildare North 2
GOGARTY, Paul GP 3.5% 1,484 Dublin Mid West 6
GORMLEY, John GP 6.8% 2,370 Dublin South East 5
HANAFIN, Mary FF 9.0% 5,090 Dún Laoghaire 11
HAUGHEY, Seán FF 12.9% 5,017 Dublin North Central 6
HOCTOR, Máire FF 16.5% 7,978 Tipperary North 3
KELLY, Peter FF 6.7% 3,876 Longford Westmeath 5
KENNEALLY, Brendan FF 14.0% 7,515 Waterford 11
KENNEDY, Michael FF 7.1% 3,519 Dublin North 4
LENIHAN, Conor FF 5.0% 2,341 Dublin South West 4
MANSERGH, Martin FF 13.1% 5,419 Tipperary South 4
McELLISTRIM, Thomas FF 11.5% 5,230 Kerry North West Limerick 6
MULCAHY, Michael FF 9.5% 4,837 Dublin South Central 13
O'BRIEN, Darragh FF 8.3% 4,115 Dublin North 7
O'CONNOR, Charlie FF 5.8% 2,718 Dublin South West 7
O'DONOGHUE, John FF 13.3% 5,917 Kerry South 3
O'ROURKE, Mary FF 5.3% 3,046 Longford Westmeath 2
O'SULLIVAN, Christy FF 10.5% 4,803 Cork South West 3
POWER, Peter FF 5.3% 2,303 Limerick City 5
POWER, Seán FF 9.9% 3,793 Kildare South 6
ROCHE, Dick FF 5.5% 3,897 Wicklow 13
RYAN, Eamon GP 6.8% 4,929 Dublin South 7
SARGENT, Trevor GP 8.5% 4,186 Dublin North 5
SCANLON, Eamon FF 11.4% 5,075 Sligo North Leitrim 9
WHITE, Mary GP 2.8% 2,072 Carlow Kilkenny 7
Election Results 2011 Round Up -
Peadar Toibin Sinn Fein Elected in Meath
Results by Party
Party Seats Won % 1st Pref Votes % Swing 2007 % Swing 2002
Fine Gael FG 68 36.1 801,729 +8.8% +13.6%
Labour Party LAB 35 19.4 431,856 +9.3% +8.7%
Fianna Fáil FF 17 17.4 387,425 -24.1% -24.0%
Independent IND 13 12.6 279,501 +6.8% +3.1%
Sinn Féin SF 13 9.9 220,691 +3.0% +3.4%
Green Party GP 0 1.8 41,040 -2.8% -2.0%
Socialist Party SP 2 1.2 26,770 +0.6% +0.4%
People Before Profit Alliance PBP 2 1.0 21,551 +1.0% +1.0%
South Kerry Independent Alliance SKIA 0 0.2 4,939 +0.2% +0.2%
Workers' Party WP 0 0.1 3,056 0.0% -0.1%
Christian Solidarity Party CSP 0 0.1 2,102 0.0% -0.2%
All results shown subject to recount where applicable
The Ceann Comhairle (cc) is automatically re-elected: FF 1 seat
Results in Detail: Seats Won by Party, - Top 10 by Percent, - Candidates Elected,
- New Candidates Elected, - Independant Candidates Elected, - Women Candidates Elected, - Sitting TDs not Reelected Top 10 by Percent
Candidate Pty. % 1st Pref Votes Constituency
HEYDON, Martin FG 33.3% 12,755 Kildare South
DOHERTY, Pearse SF 33.0% 14,262 Donegal South West
NOONAN, Michael FG 30.8% 13,291 Limerick City
FLANAGAN, Terence FG 29.5% 12,332 Dublin North East
LOWRY, Michael IND 29.2% 14,104 Tipperary North
SHORTALL, Róisín LAB 28.5% 9,359 Dublin North West
WALL, Jack LAB 27.8% 10,645 Kildare South
RABBITTE, Pat LAB 27.4% 12,867 Dublin South West
DEENIHAN, Jimmy FG 27.0% 12,304 Kerry North West Limerick
BRUTON, Richard FG 25.0% 9,685 Dublin North Central
Candidates Elected
Candidate Pty. % 1st Pref Votes Constituency Count Elected
BROWNE, John FF 9.7% 7,352 Wexford 7
CALLEARY, Dara FF 11.6% 8,577 Mayo 8
COLLINS, Niall FF 20.8% 9,361 Limerick 4
CUÍV, Éamon Ó FF 12.3% 7,467 Galway West 8
DOOLEY, Timmy FF 11.7% 6,789 Clare 12
KELLEHER, Billy FF 15.1% 7,896 Cork North Central 11
KIRK, Seamus (cc) FF - - Louth -
LENIHAN, Brian FF 15.1% 6,421 Dublin West 5
MARTIN, Micheál FF 16.7% 10,715 Cork South Central 1
McCONALOGUE, Charlie FF 17.4% 6,613 Donegal North East 9
McGRATH, Michael FF 11.3% 7,221 Cork South Central 12
McGUINNESS, John FF 12.9% 9,531 Carlow Kilkenny 12
MOYNIHAN, Michael FF 19.3% 8,845 Cork North West 6
Ó FEARGHAÍL, Seán FF 11.8% 4,514 Kildare South 7
O'DEA, Willie FF 16.1% 6,956 Limerick City 6
SMITH, Brendan FF 13.6% 9,702 Cavan Monaghan 8
TROY, Robert FF 7.4% 4,275 Longford Westmeath 8
BANNON, James FG 15.9% 9,129 Longford Westmeath 6
BARRETT, Sean FG 18.5% 10,504 Dún Laoghaire 8
BARRY, Tom FG 10.2% 5,798 Cork East 7
BREEN, Pat FG 17.0% 9,855 Clare 11
BRUTON, Richard FG 25.0% 9,685 Dublin North Central 2
BUTLER, Ray FG 13.1% 5,262 Meath West 5
BUTTIMER, Jerry FG 11.1% 7,128 Cork South Central 11
BYRNE, Catherine FG 11.0% 5,604 Dublin South Central 12
CAREY, Joe FG 13.5% 7,840 Clare 12
COFFEY, Paudie FG 18.1% 9,698 Waterford 9
COLLINS, Áine FG 17.2% 7,884 Cork North West 6
CONLAN, Seán FG 11.0% 7,864 Cavan Monaghan 9
COONAN, Noel FG 23.7% 11,425 Tipperary North 2
COVENEY, Simon FG 14.8% 9,447 Cork South Central 10
CREED, Michael FG 22.1% 10,112 Cork North West 5
CREIGHTON, Lucinda FG 19.0% 6,619 Dublin South East 6
DALY, Jim FG 19.4% 8,878 Cork South West 5
DEASY, John FG 20.0% 10,718 Waterford 3
DEENIHAN, Jimmy FG 27.0% 12,304 Kerry North West Limerick 1
DEERING, Pat FG 10.1% 7,470 Carlow Kilkenny 13
DOHERTY, Regina FG 20.3% 8,677 Meath East 4
DONOHOE, Paschal FG 19.9% 6,903 Dublin Central 2
DURKAN, Bernard FG 19.9% 10,168 Kildare North 2
ENGLISH, Damien FG 23.1% 9,290 Meath West 3
FARRELL, Alan FG 10.8% 5,310 Dublin North 7
FEIGHAN, Frank FG 18.9% 8,983 Roscommon South Leitrim 6
FITZGERALD, Frances FG 17.0% 7,281 Dublin Mid West 8
FITZPATRICK, Peter FG 11.3% 7,845 Louth 13
FLANAGAN, Terence FG 29.5% 12,332 Dublin North East 1
FLANAGAN, Charles FG 14.1% 10,443 Laois Offaly 8
GRIFFIN, Brendan FG 19.8% 8,808 Kerry South 5
HARRINGTON, Noel FG 15.1% 6,898 Cork South West 6
HAYES, Brian FG 19.9% 9,366 Dublin South West 2
HAYES, Tom FG 21.5% 8,896 Tipperary South 4
HEYDON, Martin FG 33.3% 12,755 Kildare South 1
HOGAN, Phil FG 14.3% 10,525 Carlow Kilkenny 13
HUMPHREYS, Heather FG 11.4% 8,144 Cavan Monaghan 9
KEATING, Derek FG 13.9% 5,933 Dublin Mid West 9
KEHOE, Paul FG 11.1% 8,386 Wexford 7
KENNY, Enda FG 23.6% 17,472 Mayo 1
LAWLOR, Anthony FG 13.4% 6,882 Kildare North 5
MATHEWS, Peter FG 12.5% 9,053 Dublin South 8
McENTEE, Shane FG 20.6% 8,794 Meath East 4
McFADDEN, Nicky FG 10.7% 6,129 Longford Westmeath 8
McGINLEY, Dinny FG 19.9% 8,589 Donegal South West 5
McHUGH, Joe FG 19.3% 7,330 Donegal North East 8
McLOUGHLIN, Tony FG 17.4% 7,715 Sligo North Leitrim 9
MITCHELL, Olivia FG 13.3% 9,635 Dublin South 8
MITCHELL O'CONNOR, Mary FG 16.0% 9,087 Dún Laoghaire 10
MULHERIN, Michelle FG 11.9% 8,851 Mayo 8
MURPHY, Dara FG 12.7% 6,597 Cork North Central 11
MURPHY, Eoghan FG 16.6% 5,783 Dublin South East 9
NAUGHTEN, Denis FG 19.6% 9,320 Roscommon South Leitrim 6
NEVILLE, Dan FG 20.4% 9,176 Limerick 4
NOONAN, Michael FG 30.8% 13,291 Limerick City 1
O'DONNELL, Kieran FG 12.5% 5,405 Limerick City 5
O'DONOVAN, Patrick FG 19.1% 8,597 Limerick 4
O'DOWD, Fergus FG 20.2% 13,980 Louth 1
O'MAHONY, John FG 11.7% 8,667 Mayo 8
O'REILLY, Joe FG 11.7% 8,333 Cavan Monaghan 9
PERRY, John FG 19.5% 8,663 Sligo North Leitrim 8
PHELAN, John Paul FG 14.8% 10,929 Carlow Kilkenny 13
REILLY, James FG 20.6% 10,178 Dublin North 1
RING, Michael FG 17.8% 13,180 Mayo 1
SHATTER, Alan FG 10.6% 7,716 Dublin South 8
STANTON, David FG 17.6% 10,019 Cork East 5
TWOMEY, Liam FG 12.2% 9,230 Wexford 7
VARADKAR, Leo FG 19.7% 8,359 Dublin West 2
BROUGHAN, Tommy LAB 23.9% 10,006 Dublin North East 2
BURTON, Joan LAB 22.7% 9,627 Dublin West 1
BYRNE, Eric LAB 16.4% 8,357 Dublin South Central 8
CONAGHAN, Michael LAB 10.8% 5,492 Dublin South Central 13
CONWAY, Ciara LAB 10.3% 5,554 Waterford 10
COSTELLO, Joe LAB 18.1% 6,273 Dublin Central 5
DOWDS, Robert LAB 13.2% 5,643 Dublin Mid West 9
GILMORE, Eamon LAB 20.2% 11,468 Dún Laoghaire 1
HANNIGAN, Dominic LAB 21.0% 8,994 Meath East 4
HOWLIN, Brendan LAB 14.6% 11,005 Wexford 4
HUMPHREYS, Kevin LAB 9.9% 3,450 Dublin South East 10
KELLY, Alan LAB 19.8% 9,559 Tipperary North 3
KENNY, Seán LAB 10.4% 4,365 Dublin North East 9
LYNCH, Kathleen LAB 14.7% 7,676 Cork North Central 10
LYNCH, Ciarán LAB 13.2% 8,481 Cork South Central 9
LYONS, John LAB 14.6% 4,799 Dublin North West 7
MALONEY, Eamonn LAB 8.9% 4,165 Dublin South West 8
McCARTHY, Michael LAB 14.3% 6,533 Cork South West 6
McNAMARA, Michael LAB 14.8% 8,572 Clare 11
NASH, Gerald LAB 12.6% 8,718 Louth 12
NOLAN, Derek LAB 12.4% 7,502 Galway West 10
Ó RÍORDÁIN, Aodhán LAB 22.5% 8,731 Dublin North Central 4
O'SULLIVAN, Jan LAB 14.7% 6,353 Limerick City 7
PENROSE, Willie LAB 19.8% 11,406 Longford Westmeath 2
PHELAN, Ann LAB 10.9% 8,072 Carlow Kilkenny 12
QUINN, Ruairí LAB 15.5% 5,407 Dublin South East 6
RABBITTE, Pat LAB 27.4% 12,867 Dublin South West 1
RYAN, Brendan LAB 19.9% 9,809 Dublin North 3
SHERLOCK, Seán LAB 20.8% 11,862 Cork East 1
SHORTALL, Róisín LAB 28.5% 9,359 Dublin North West 1
SPRING, Arthur LAB 20.1% 9,159 Kerry North West Limerick 7
STAGG, Emmet LAB 19.0% 9,718 Kildare North 3
TUFFY, Joanna LAB 17.5% 7,495 Dublin Mid West 7
WALL, Jack LAB 27.8% 10,645 Kildare South 1
WHITE, Alex LAB 11.7% 8,524 Dublin South 6
ADAMS, Gerry SF 21.7% 15,072 Louth 1
COLREAVY, Michael SF 13.3% 5,911 Sligo North Leitrim 9
CROWE, Seán SF 17.2% 8,064 Dublin South West 6
DOHERTY, Pearse SF 33.0% 14,262 Donegal South West 1
ELLIS, Dessie SF 21.7% 7,115 Dublin North West 7
FERRIS, Martin SF 20.3% 9,282 Kerry North West Limerick 7
MacLOCHLAINN, Pádraig SF 24.5% 9,278 Donegal North East 3
McDONALD, Mary Lou SF 13.1% 4,526 Dublin Central 8
McLELLAN, Sandra SF 11.1% 6,292 Cork East 7
Ó CAOLÁIN, Caoimhghín SF 16.7% 11,913 Cavan Monaghan 1
Ó SNODAIGH, Aengus SF 13.4% 6,804 Dublin South Central 13
O'BRIEN, Jonathan SF 15.2% 7,923 Cork North Central 8
TÓIBÍN, Peadar SF 17.4% 6,989 Meath West 5
FLANAGAN, Luke 'Ming' IND 18.8% 8,925 Roscommon South Leitrim 4
FLEMING, Tom IND 14.5% 6,416 Kerry South 6
HALLIGAN, John IND 10.3% 5,546 Waterford 11
HEALY, Séamus IND 21.3% 8,818 Tipperary South 3
HEALY RAE, Michael IND 15.0% 6,670 Kerry South 6
LOWRY, Michael IND 29.2% 14,104 Tipperary North 1
McGRATH, Finian IND 15.4% 5,986 Dublin North Central 7
McGRATH, Mattie IND 14.7% 6,074 Tipperary South 5
MURPHY, Catherine IND 13.5% 6,911 Kildare North 5
O'SULLIVAN, Maureen IND 12.0% 4,139 Dublin Central 7
PRINGLE, Thomas IND 13.5% 5,845 Donegal South West 5
ROSS, Shane IND 23.5% 17,075 Dublin South 1
WALLACE, Mick IND 17.6% 13,329 Wexford 1
DALY, Clare SP 15.2% 7,513 Dublin North 6
HIGGINS, Joe SP 19.0% 8,084 Dublin West 3
BOYD BARRETT, Richard PBP 10.9% 6,206 Dún Laoghaire 11
COLLINS, Joan PBP 12.9% 6,574 Dublin South Central 13
The Ceann Comhairle (cc) is automatically re-elected: FF 1 seat
New Candidates Elected
Candidate Pty. % 1st Pref Votes Constituency Count Elected
ADAMS, Gerry SF 21.7% 15,072 Louth 1
BARRY, Tom FG 10.2% 5,798 Cork East 7
BOYD BARRETT, Richard PBP 10.9% 6,206 Dún Laoghaire 11
BUTLER, Ray FG 13.1% 5,262 Meath West 5
BUTTIMER, Jerry FG 11.1% 7,128 Cork South Central 11
COFFEY, Paudie FG 18.1% 9,698 Waterford 9
COLLINS, Áine FG 17.2% 7,884 Cork North West 6
COLLINS, Joan PBP 12.9% 6,574 Dublin South Central 13
COLREAVY, Michael SF 13.3% 5,911 Sligo North Leitrim 9
CONAGHAN, Michael LAB 10.8% 5,492 Dublin South Central 13
CONLAN, Seán FG 11.0% 7,864 Cavan Monaghan 9
CONWAY, Ciara LAB 10.3% 5,554 Waterford 10
DALY, Jim FG 19.4% 8,878 Cork South West 5
DALY, Clare SP 15.2% 7,513 Dublin North 6
DEERING, Pat FG 10.1% 7,470 Carlow Kilkenny 13
DOHERTY, Regina FG 20.3% 8,677 Meath East 4
DONOHOE, Paschal FG 19.9% 6,903 Dublin Central 2
DOWDS, Robert LAB 13.2% 5,643 Dublin Mid West 9
ELLIS, Dessie SF 21.7% 7,115 Dublin North West 7
FARRELL, Alan FG 10.8% 5,310 Dublin North 7
FITZPATRICK, Peter FG 11.3% 7,845 Louth 13
FLANAGAN, Luke 'Ming' IND 18.8% 8,925 Roscommon South Leitrim 4
FLEMING, Tom IND 14.5% 6,416 Kerry South 6
GRIFFIN, Brendan FG 19.8% 8,808 Kerry South 5
HALLIGAN, John IND 10.3% 5,546 Waterford 11
HANNIGAN, Dominic LAB 21.0% 8,994 Meath East 4
HARRINGTON, Noel FG 15.1% 6,898 Cork South West 6
HEALY RAE, Michael IND 15.0% 6,670 Kerry South 6
HEYDON, Martin FG 33.3% 12,755 Kildare South 1
HUMPHREYS, Heather FG 11.4% 8,144 Cavan Monaghan 9
HUMPHREYS, Kevin LAB 9.9% 3,450 Dublin South East 10
KEATING, Derek FG 13.9% 5,933 Dublin Mid West 9
KELLY, Alan LAB 19.8% 9,559 Tipperary North 3
LAWLOR, Anthony FG 13.4% 6,882 Kildare North 5
LYONS, John LAB 14.6% 4,799 Dublin North West 7
MacLOCHLAINN, Pádraig SF 24.5% 9,278 Donegal North East 3
MALONEY, Eamonn LAB 8.9% 4,165 Dublin South West 8
MATHEWS, Peter FG 12.5% 9,053 Dublin South 8
McCARTHY, Michael LAB 14.3% 6,533 Cork South West 6
McCONALOGUE, Charlie FF 17.4% 6,613 Donegal North East 9
McDONALD, Mary Lou SF 13.1% 4,526 Dublin Central 8
McFADDEN, Nicky FG 10.7% 6,129 Longford Westmeath 8
McLELLAN, Sandra SF 11.1% 6,292 Cork East 7
McLOUGHLIN, Tony FG 17.4% 7,715 Sligo North Leitrim 9
McNAMARA, Michael LAB 14.8% 8,572 Clare 11
MITCHELL O'CONNOR, Mary FG 16.0% 9,087 Dún Laoghaire 10
MULHERIN, Michelle FG 11.9% 8,851 Mayo 8
MURPHY, Dara FG 12.7% 6,597 Cork North Central 11
MURPHY, Eoghan FG 16.6% 5,783 Dublin South East 9
NASH, Gerald LAB 12.6% 8,718 Louth 12
NOLAN, Derek LAB 12.4% 7,502 Galway West 10
Ó RÍORDÁIN, Aodhán LAB 22.5% 8,731 Dublin North Central 4
O'BRIEN, Jonathan SF 15.2% 7,923 Cork North Central 8
O'DONOVAN, Patrick FG 19.1% 8,597 Limerick 4
O'REILLY, Joe FG 11.7% 8,333 Cavan Monaghan 9
PHELAN, John Paul FG 14.8% 10,929 Carlow Kilkenny 13
PHELAN, Ann LAB 10.9% 8,072 Carlow Kilkenny 12
PRINGLE, Thomas IND 13.5% 5,845 Donegal South West 5
ROSS, Shane IND 23.5% 17,075 Dublin South 1
RYAN, Brendan LAB 19.9% 9,809 Dublin North 3
SPRING, Arthur LAB 20.1% 9,159 Kerry North West Limerick 7
TÓIBÍN, Peadar SF 17.4% 6,989 Meath West 5
TROY, Robert FF 7.4% 4,275 Longford Westmeath 8
WALLACE, Mick IND 17.6% 13,329 Wexford 1
WHITE, Alex LAB 11.7% 8,524 Dublin South 6
Independent Candidates Elected
Candidate Pty. % 1st Pref Votes Constituency Count Elected
FLANAGAN, Luke 'Ming' IND 18.8% 8,925 Roscommon South Leitrim 4
FLEMING, Tom IND 14.5% 6,416 Kerry South 6
HALLIGAN, John IND 10.3% 5,546 Waterford 11
HEALY, Séamus IND 21.3% 8,818 Tipperary South 3
HEALY RAE, Michael IND 15.0% 6,670 Kerry South 6
LOWRY, Michael IND 29.2% 14,104 Tipperary North 1
McGRATH, Finian IND 15.4% 5,986 Dublin North Central 7
McGRATH, Mattie IND 14.7% 6,074 Tipperary South 5
MURPHY, Catherine IND 13.5% 6,911 Kildare North 5
O'SULLIVAN, Maureen IND 12.0% 4,139 Dublin Central 7
PRINGLE, Thomas IND 13.5% 5,845 Donegal South West 5
ROSS, Shane IND 23.5% 17,075 Dublin South 1
WALLACE, Mick IND 17.6% 13,329 Wexford 1
Women Candidates Elected
Candidate Pty. % 1st Pref Votes Constituency Count Elected
BURTON, Joan LAB 22.7% 9,627 Dublin West 1
BYRNE, Catherine FG 11.0% 5,604 Dublin South Central 12
COLLINS, Áine FG 17.2% 7,884 Cork North West 6
COLLINS, Joan PBP 12.9% 6,574 Dublin South Central 13
CONWAY, Ciara LAB 10.3% 5,554 Waterford 10
CREIGHTON, Lucinda FG 19.0% 6,619 Dublin South East 6
DALY, Clare SP 15.2% 7,513 Dublin North 6
DOHERTY, Regina FG 20.3% 8,677 Meath East 4
FITZGERALD, Frances FG 17.0% 7,281 Dublin Mid West 8
HUMPHREYS, Heather FG 11.4% 8,144 Cavan Monaghan 9
LYNCH, Kathleen LAB 14.7% 7,676 Cork North Central 10
McDONALD, Mary Lou SF 13.1% 4,526 Dublin Central 8
McFADDEN, Nicky FG 10.7% 6,129 Longford Westmeath 8
McLELLAN, Sandra SF 11.1% 6,292 Cork East 7
MITCHELL, Olivia FG 13.3% 9,635 Dublin South 8
MITCHELL O'CONNOR, Mary FG 16.0% 9,087 Dún Laoghaire 10
MULHERIN, Michelle FG 11.9% 8,851 Mayo 8
MURPHY, Catherine IND 13.5% 6,911 Kildare North 5
O'SULLIVAN, Jan LAB 14.7% 6,353 Limerick City 7
O'SULLIVAN, Maureen IND 12.0% 4,139 Dublin Central 7
PHELAN, Ann LAB 10.9% 8,072 Carlow Kilkenny 12
SHORTALL, Róisín LAB 28.5% 9,359 Dublin North West 1
TUFFY, Joanna LAB 17.5% 7,495 Dublin Mid West 7
Sitting TDs not re elected
Candidate Pty. % 1st Pref Votes Constituency Count Elimimated
AHERN, Michael FF 8.1% 4,618 Cork East 3
ANDREWS, Barry FF 6.2% 3,542 Dún Laoghaire 7
ANDREWS, Chris FF 11.2% 3,922 Dublin South East 10
AYLWARD, Bobby FF 9.2% 6,762 Carlow Kilkenny 13
BRADY, Áine FF 9.3% 4,777 Kildare North 5
BRADY, Cyprian FF 4.7% 1,637 Dublin Central 5
BRADY, Johnny FF 9.4% 3,789 Meath West 4
BYRNE, Thomas FF 13.4% 5,715 Meath East 4
CAREY, Pat FF 11.8% 3,869 Dublin North West 6
CLUNE, Deirdre FG 8.8% 5,650 Cork South Central 10
CONLON, Margaret FF 6.5% 4,658 Cavan Monaghan 7
CONNICK, Sean FF 8.8% 6,675 Wexford 6
COUGHLAN, Mary FF 11.5% 4,956 Donegal South West 4
CUFFE, Ciarán GP 3.8% 2,156 Dún Laoghaire 6
CURRAN, John FF 11.8% 5,043 Dublin Mid West 7
D'ARCY, Michael FG 11.1% 8,418 Wexford 7
FAHEY, Frank FF 5.7% 3,449 Galway West 7
FITZPATRICK, Michael FF 5.2% 2,659 Kildare North 2
GOGARTY, Paul GP 3.5% 1,484 Dublin Mid West 6
GORMLEY, John GP 6.8% 2,370 Dublin South East 5
HANAFIN, Mary FF 9.0% 5,090 Dún Laoghaire 11
HAUGHEY, Seán FF 12.9% 5,017 Dublin North Central 6
HOCTOR, Máire FF 16.5% 7,978 Tipperary North 3
KELLY, Peter FF 6.7% 3,876 Longford Westmeath 5
KENNEALLY, Brendan FF 14.0% 7,515 Waterford 11
KENNEDY, Michael FF 7.1% 3,519 Dublin North 4
LENIHAN, Conor FF 5.0% 2,341 Dublin South West 4
MANSERGH, Martin FF 13.1% 5,419 Tipperary South 4
McELLISTRIM, Thomas FF 11.5% 5,230 Kerry North West Limerick 6
MULCAHY, Michael FF 9.5% 4,837 Dublin South Central 13
O'BRIEN, Darragh FF 8.3% 4,115 Dublin North 7
O'CONNOR, Charlie FF 5.8% 2,718 Dublin South West 7
O'DONOGHUE, John FF 13.3% 5,917 Kerry South 3
O'ROURKE, Mary FF 5.3% 3,046 Longford Westmeath 2
O'SULLIVAN, Christy FF 10.5% 4,803 Cork South West 3
POWER, Peter FF 5.3% 2,303 Limerick City 5
POWER, Seán FF 9.9% 3,793 Kildare South 6
ROCHE, Dick FF 5.5% 3,897 Wicklow 13
RYAN, Eamon GP 6.8% 4,929 Dublin South 7
SARGENT, Trevor GP 8.5% 4,186 Dublin North 5
SCANLON, Eamon FF 11.4% 5,075 Sligo North Leitrim 9
SHEAHAN, Tom FG 12.8% 5,674 Kerry South 6
WHITE, Mary GP 2.8% 2,072 Carlow Kilkenny 7
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Six Nations Murrayfield -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Six Nations Murrayfield -: "Brian O’Driscoll has insisted Ireland are entering their Six Nations clash at Murrayfield fired up by memories of Scotland ruining last yea..."
Six Nations Murrayfield -
Brian O’Driscoll has insisted Ireland are entering their Six Nations clash at Murrayfield fired up by memories of Scotland ruining last year’s Triple Crown celebrations. The Croke Park farewell ended in a 23-20 defeat by the Scots, a result that signalled the beginning of a difficult 12 months for Ireland.
O’Driscoll enjoys trips to Edinburgh, where the team has won on six of its last seven visits, and is hoping to atone for last season’s disappointment.
“One way or another you always look at the last game you played against your upcoming opposition,” said the skipper at yesterday’s Captain’s Run. “You feed off the positives if you’ve beaten them, or off the disappointment if you’ve lost to them.
“Particularly in that situation, playing for a Triple Crown in the last game at Croke Park. It certainly left a sour taste in our mouths. We want to make sure we don’t allow that to happen this time around and use the disappointment in that dressing room to our benefit tomorrow.
“I’ve lost at Murrayfield a couple of times for Ireland and for Leinster, but we won a Triple Crown here and obviously we won a European Cup here, so I do enjoy playing here. Maybe Murrayfield gets a bad rap from a support point of view but I’ve never found it to be that way, certainly not at international level.
“I’ve always enjoyed the atmosphere that’s been created there. Hopefully it will be close to a full house and we’ll get every Irish supporter that’s over here and all that are travelling nice and vocal.”
Victory is essential if error-prone Ireland are to halt a downward spiral while Scotland have failed to register a win in their two outings of this Six Nations. O’Driscoll believes the outcome will be decided by a battle of wills.
“For both sides there’s plenty at stake tomorrow,” he said. “We’re both coming off the back of losses, trying to prove a point and trying to reignite our championships, so it’s all to play for.
“Scotland are always a very hard, physical team to beat. They make things very hard for you. When teams are fairly evenly matched, games come down to the team that wants it that little bit more. That’s where guys have to hold their hands up and that is often the winning and losing of Test matches.”
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Result Election 2011 -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Result Election 2011 -: "•146/166 seats filled, 15.37pm: •FG: 65 •LAB: 34 •FF: 17 •SF: 13 •OTHERS:17 •GP: 0"
Election Result Election 2011 -
•146/166 seats filled, 15.37pm:
•FG: 65
•LAB: 34
•FF: 17
•SF: 13
•OTHERS:17
•GP: 0
THE IRISH OBSERVER: O Donoghue Kicked out by Good People of South Kerr...
THE IRISH OBSERVER: O Donoghue Kicked out by Good People of South Kerr...: "Self-serving John O Donoghue kicked out by good people of South Kerry in General Election Revolution 2011."
THE IRISH OBSERVER: An Taoiseach Enda Kenny An Taoiseach 2011 -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: An Taoiseach Enda Kenny An Taoiseach 2011 -: "His supporters would say they never expected less, but Enda’s arrival at the political summit was hardly a tale of overnight success. Those..."
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Hanifin Wiped Out Election Results -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Hanifin Wiped Out Election Results -: "Few survivors as the Corrupt ship Fianna Fail is torpedoed by the Irish people. In what has become known as the February Revolution the peo..."
Hanifin Wiped Out Election Results -
Few survivors as the Corrupt ship Fianna Fail is torpedoed by the Irish people. In what has become known as the February Revolution the people of Ireland have executed those Traitors who have sold the Irish nation into economic bondage.
A few fianna fail survivors splashed around in the tsunami of voter anger clinging on to skirting boards and light fittings, as a tidal wave of change was brought about as the Irish people executed Fianna Fail traitors at every opportunity.
John O Donoghue was executed in South Kerry as his self-serving, comparable with Imelda Marcose, would no longer be tolerated; Mary O Rourke was lined up with other Fianna Fail antiquities and shot at dawn.
THE IRISH OBSERVER: An Taoiseach Enda Kenny An Taoiseach 2011 -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: An Taoiseach Enda Kenny An Taoiseach 2011 -: "His supporters would say they never expected less, but Enda’s arrival at the political summit was hardly a tale of overnight success. Those..."
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny An Taoiseach 2011 -
His supporters would say they never expected less, but Enda’s arrival at the political summit was hardly a tale of overnight success. Those close to him describe a gregarious countryman, devoted husband and steely operator deserving of a crack at Ireland’s top job, writes KATHY SHERIDAN, READ full story @ irishtimes.com
THE IRISH OBSERVER: February Revolution 2011 Election 2011 Results -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: February Revolution 2011 Election 2011 Results -: "Few survivors as the Corrupt ship Fianna Fail is torpedoed by the Irish people. In what has become known as the February Revolution the peo..."
February Revolution 2011 Election 2011 Results -
Few survivors as the Corrupt ship Fianna Fail is torpedoed by the Irish people. In what has become known as the February Revolution the people of Ireland have executed those Traitors who have sold the Irish nation into economic bondage.
A few fianna fail survivors splashed around in the tsunami of voter anger clinging on to skirting boards and light fittings, as a tidal wave of change was brought about as the Irish people executed Fianna Fail traitors at every opportunity.
John O Donoghue was executed in South Kerry as his self-serving, comparable with Imelda Marcose, would no longer be tolerated; Mary O Rourke was lined up with other Fianna Fail antiquities and shot at dawn.
February Revolution 2011 Election 2011 Results -
Fianna Fail corruption has been dealt a devastating blow by the good people of Ireland. The General Election results 2011 show that the February Revolution has executed the corrupt and the criminal who have bankrupted Ireland.
THE IRISH OBSERVER: O Donoghue Kicked out by Good People of South Kerr...
THE IRISH OBSERVER: O Donoghue Kicked out by Good People of South Kerr...: "Self-serving John O Donoghue kicked out by good people of South Kerry in General Election Revolution 2011."
O Donoghue Kicked out by Good People of South Kerry -
Self-serving John O Donoghue kicked out by good people of South Kerry in General Election Revolution 2011.
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Results Election 2011 -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Results Election 2011 -: "Toibin takes Meath Seat for Sinn Fein FINE GAEL: 59 Seán Barrett (DL); Tom Barry (CorkE); Pat Breen (CE); Richard Bruton (DubNC); Ray B..."
Election Results Election 2011 -
Toibin takes Meath Seat for Sinn Fein
FINE GAEL: 59
Seán Barrett (DL); Tom Barry (CorkE); Pat Breen (CE); Richard Bruton (DubNC); Ray Butler (MW); Joe Carey (CE); Paudie Coffey (WD); Aine Collins(CNW); Noel Coonan (TN); Michael Creed (CNW); Lucinda Creighton (DubSE); Jim Daly (CorkSW); John Deasy (WD); Jimmy Deenihan (KNWL); Regina Doherty (ME); Paschal Donohoe (DubC); Bernard Durkan (KN); Damien English (MW); Alan Farrell (DubN); Frank Feighan (RosSL); Frances Fitzgerald (DubMW); Terence Flanagan (DubNE); Brian Hayes (DubSW); Tom Hayes (TS); Martin Heydon (KS); Derek Keating (DubMW); Paul Kehoe (Wx); Enda Kenny (MO); Anthony Lawlor (KN); Peter Matthews (DubS); Shane McEntee (ME); Dinny McGinley (DonSW); Joe McHugh (DonNE); Olivia Mitchell (DubS); Eoghan Murphy (DubSE); Denis Naughten (RosSL); Dan Neville (LIM); Michael Noonan (LimC); Kieran O'Donnell (LimC); Patrick O'Donovan (Lim); Fergus O'Dowd (Lth); John Perry (SNthL); James Reilly (DubN); Michael Ring (Mo); Alan Shatter (DubS); David Stanton (CorkE); Liam Twomey (Wx); Leo Varadkar (DubW).
OVERNIGHT ADDITIONS:
Noel Harrington (Cork South West)
Tony McLoughlin (Sligo North Leitrim)
John O'Mahony (Mayo)
Michelle Mulherin (Mayo)
Nicky McFadden (Longford Westmeath)
James Bannon (Longford Westmeath)
Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central)
Sean Conlan (Cavan Monaghan)
Heather Humphries (Cavan Monaghan)
Joe O'Reilly (Cavan Monaghan)
Dara Murphy (Cork North Central)
LABOUR: 31
Tommy Broughan (DubNE); Joan Burton (DubW); Eric Byrne (DubSC); Joe Costello (DubC); Robert Dowds (DubMW); Eamon Gilmore (DL); Dominic Hannigan (ME); Brendan Howlin (Wx); Kevin Humphreys (DubSE); Alan Kelly (TN); John Lyons (DubNW); Michael McNamara (CE); Eamonn Maloney (DubSW); Aodhán O'Riordáin (DubNC); Jan O'Sullivan (LimC); Willie Penrose (LDWM); Ruairi Quinn (DubSE); Pat Rabbitte (DubSW); Brendan Ryan (DubN); Seán Sherlock (CorkE); Roisin Shortall (DubNE); Arthur Spring (KNWL); Emmett Stagg (KN); Joanna Tuffy (DubMW); Jack Wall (KS); Alex White (DubS).
OVERNIGHT ADDITIONS:
Michael McCarthy (Cork South West)
Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central)
Sean Kenny (Dublin North East)**
Michael Conaghan (Dublin South Central)
Ciara Conway (Waterford)
INDEPENDENTS: 11
Luke 'Ming' Flanagan (RosSL); Seamus Healy (TS); Michael Lowry (TN); Finian McGrath (DubNC); Mattie McGrath (TS); Catherine Murphy (KN); Maureen O'Sullivan (DubC); Thomas Pringle (DonSW); Shane Ross (DubS); Mick Wallace (Wx).
OVERNIGHT ADDITIONS:
John Halligan (Waterford)
FIANNA FAIL: 14
John Browne (Wx); Niall Collins (Lim); Timmy Dooley (CE); Seamus Kirk (Lth); Brian Lenihan (DubW); Charlie McConalogue (DonNE); Micheál Martin (CorkSC); Michael Moynihan (CorkNW); Seán O'Fearghaíl (KS); Willie O'Dea (LimC).
OVERNIGHT ADDITIONS:
Dara Calleary (Mayo)
Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central)
Robert Troy (Longford Westmeath)
Brendan Smith (Cavan Monaghan)
SINN FEIN: 13
Gerry Adams (Lth); Seán Crowe (DubSW); Pearse Doherty (DonSW); Dessie Ellis (DubNW); Martin Ferris (KNWL); Pádraig MacLochlainn (DonNE); Mary Lou McDonald (DubC); Sandra McLellan (CorkE); Caoimhghin O'Caoláin (CavM); Jonathan O'Brien (CorkNC); Peadar Tobin (MW)
SOCIALIST PARTY: 3
Clare Daly (DubN); Joe Higgins (DubW).
OVERNIGHT ADDITION:
Joan Collins, People Before Profit (Dublin south Central)
Election results John 'fat boy' O Donoghue rejected by people of South Kerry-
Peadar Toibin who has made strong head way in Meath
FG on track to lead government
26/02/2011Green TD Paul Gogarty concedes
26/02/2011Roche fighting for final Wicklow seat
26/02/2011Burton elected on first count
26/02/2011FF set to lose Dublin Mid West seat
26/02/2011Cork breakthrough likely for SF
26/02/2011FG takes three seats in Dublin South
26/02/2011FF wiped out in North Kildare
26/02/2011SF's Crowe regains Dublin SW seat
26/02/2011Collins in contention in Dublin SC
26/02/2011Adams tops the poll in Louth
26/02/2011Labour hoping for two in Dublin NE
26/02/2011Dublin electorate abandons FF
26/02/2011Dogfight for Cork South Central seats
26/02/2011Labour, FG share Dublin MW spoils
26/02/2011SF tops poll in Cavan Monaghan
26/02/2011Noonan favours Labour coalition
26/02/2011FG's Daly to top Cork South West poll
26/02/2011Reilly through on first count in Dublin North
26/02/2011Recount called in Dún Laoghaire
26/02/2011Labour leads in Galway West
26/02/2011Labour's Hannigan tops Meath East poll
26/02/2011Tánaiste eliminated in Donegal SW
26/02/2011Higgins expects four seats for ULA
26/02/2011Bruton credits Labour campaign
26/02/2011FG to make gains in Carlow-Kilkenny
26/02/2011Shortall elected in Dublin NW
26/02/2011Election
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Pope Prosecuted for Crimes Against Humanity -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Pope Prosecuted for Crimes Against Humanity -: "TWO GERMAN lawyers have initiated charges against Pope Benedict XVI at the International Criminal Court, alleging crimes against humanity. ..."
Pope Prosecuted for Crimes Against Humanity -
TWO GERMAN lawyers have initiated charges against Pope Benedict XVI at the International Criminal Court, alleging crimes against humanity.
Christian Sailer and Gert-Joachim Hetzel, based at Marktheidenfeld in the Pope’s home state of Bavaria, last week submitted a 16,500-word document to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court at the Hague, Dr Luis Moreno Ocampo.
Their charges concern “three worldwide crimes which until now have not been denounced . . . (as) the traditional reverence toward ‘ecclesiastical authority’ has clouded the sense of right and wrong”.
They claim the Pope “is responsible for the preservation and leadership of a worldwide totalitarian regime of coercion which subjugates its members with terrifying and health-endangering threats”.
They allege he is also responsible for “the adherence to a fatal forbiddance of the use of condoms, even when the danger of HIV-Aids infection exists” and for “the establishment and maintenance of a worldwide system of cover-up of the sexual crimes committed by Catholic priests and their preferential treatment, which aids and abets ever new crimes”.
They claim the Catholic Church “acquires its members through a compulsory act, namely, through the baptism of infants that do not yet have a will of their own”. This act was “irrevocable” and is buttressed by threats of excommunication and the fires of hell.
It was “a grave impairment of the personal freedom of development and of a person’s emotional and mental integrity”. The Pope was “responsible for its preservation and enforcement and, as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of his Church, he was jointly responsible” with Pope John Paul II.
Catholics “threatened by HIV-AIDS . . . are faced with a terrible alternative: If they protect themselves with condoms during sexual intercourse, they become grave sinners; if they do not protect themselves out of fear of the punishment of sin threatened by the church, they become candidates for death.”
There was also “strong suspicion that Dr Joseph Ratzinger, as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of his church and as Pope, has up to the present day systematically covered up the sexual abuse of children and youths and protected the perpetrators, thereby aiding and abetting further sexual violence toward young people”.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Results Meath East -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Results Meath East -: "Sinn Fein's Peadar Toibin Electorate Total Poll Turnout Spoiled Votes Total Valid Poll Quota Seats Status 62,776 40,591 64.66 % 413 40..."
Election Results Meath East -
Sinn Fein's Peadar Toibin
Electorate Total
Poll Turnout Spoiled
Votes Total Valid
Poll Quota Seats Status
62,776 40,591 64.66 % 413 40,178 10,046 3
Preference Status
Ball, Stephen 475 Pending
Brady, Johnny 3,789 Pending
Butler, Ray 5,262 Pending
Carolan, Ronan 258 Pending
Cassells, Shane 3,496 Pending
English, Damien 9,290 Pending
Irwin, Fiona 479 Pending
MacMeanmain, Manus 234 Pending
McDonagh, Seamus 189 Pending
McHugh, Jenny 5,432 Pending
Stevens, Daithi 387 Pending
Tóibín, Peadar 6,989 Pending
Yore, Catherine 3,898
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Results Election Results 2011 Fianna Fail criminal...
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Results Election Results 2011 Fianna Fail criminal...: "Results from constituencies across the country are showing electoral meltdown for Fianna Fáil, with Fine Gael poised to lead the next gover..."
Results Election Results 2011 Fianna Fail criminals out -
Results from constituencies across the country are showing electoral meltdown for Fianna Fáil, with Fine Gael poised to lead the next government.
While poised to fall short of an overall majority, Fine Gael is on course for its strongest showing in more than 28 years.
Indications are that the Labour Party will enjoy its best result in a general election to date, with Fianna Fáil suffering its worst since the foundation of the party.
The turnout was 68.8 per cent.
Latest information would suggest Fine Gael will win 76 seats, Labour will take 36 and Fianna Fáil will get 25, including outgoing Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk. Sinn Féin looks set to take 12, Independents will win 13, the United Left Alliance will take four and the Green Party will lose all six of their seats.
Fianna Fáil has been particularly badly hit in the Dublin area, where Brian Lenihan looks to be the only one of the party's 13 TDs in the capital contesting the election who will retain their seat.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore, who was elected on the first count in Dún Laoghaire, said this afternoon it was too early to speculate on the formation of the next government.
Fine Gael’s Micheal Noonan, who was elected on the first count in Limerick City, said Labour would be his favoured option as coalition partners. He said he was not inclined to do business with Independents, “because they are high maintenance”.
Labour's Joan Burton became the first TD to be elected to the 31st Dáil this afternoon, topping the poll in Dublin West with 9,627 votes. Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar, who became his party's first winner when he was elected on the second count. The United Left Alliance’s Joe Higgins was elected on the third count in the constituency.
“Labour has had a very good day," Ms Burton said, adding that she expected a large number of seats to go down to the wire late tomorrow. “I think there will be a large number of nail-biting final seat counts. I think we will all have our fingers chewed down by this time tomorrow,” she said.
Sinn Féin has also made gains. All its sitting TDs are expected to be returned and Sean Crowe in position to regain the seat he lost in 2007. Party president Gerry Adams topped the poll in Louth and it appears set to gain about five other seats.
The Green Party has been obliterated. Paul Gogarty and Ciarán Cuffe have conceded their seats in Dublin Mid West and Dún Laoghaire, Eamon Ryan said he and party leader John Gormley have “little chance” of holding their seats in Dublin, while Mary White’s seat in Carlow-Kilkenny appears gone. Trevor Sargent has only a slim hope of holding his seat in Dublin North.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has polled strongly in the five seater Cork South Central, but it is unclear whether he can bring in his running mate Michael McGrath. Fine Gael’s Simon Coveney, Jerry Buttimer and Deirdre Clune are vying for a seat.
In the five-seat Wicklow constituency, Fianna Fáil's Dick Roche appears to be struggling, while Fianna Fáil deputy leader Mary Hanafin and her running mate Barry Andrews have conceded defeat in Dún Laoghaire.
Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty was comfortably returned on the first count in Donegal South West with 14,262 first preference votes, well ahead of the 10,816 quota. Former tánaiste Mary Coughlan stands on 4,956 and is danger of being another Fianna Fáil casualty.
In the four-seat Louth constituency, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams will top the poll, followed by Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd. Sinn Féin’s Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin is also likely to top poll in Cavan Monaghan.
Independent Senator Shane Ross topped the poll in the five-seater Dublin South. He was elected on the first count, having exceeded the quota by nearly 5,000 votes. In Wexford, Independent candidate Mick Wallace has topped the poll with 17.9 per cent, according to tallies, while Independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan is in position to take a seat in Roscommon South Leitrim. Former Fine Gale minister Michael Lowry, who is now an Independent has been elected in Tipperary North.
THE IRISH OBSERVER: An Taoiseach Enda Kenny An Taoiseach -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: An Taoiseach Enda Kenny An Taoiseach -: "General Election 2011 - Fine Gael to enter Government with Labour while Sinn Fein and Independents could make up official opposition as Fia..."
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny An Taoiseach -
General Election 2011 - Fine Gael to enter Government with Labour while Sinn Fein and Independents could make up official opposition as Fianna Fail reduced to 15%.
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Results Election 2011 Sinn Fein Break New Ground C...
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Results Election 2011 Sinn Fein Break New Ground C...: "Fine Gael are in contention to win two seats in Cork North Central as Sinn Féin's Jonathan O'Brien looks set to become the party's first TD..."
Results Election 2011 Sinn Fein Break New Ground Cork -
Fine Gael are in contention to win two seats in Cork North Central as Sinn Féin's Jonathan O'Brien looks set to become the party's first TD in Cork city in over 80 years.
With all the boxes opened in the four-seat constituency, Labour's Kathleen Lynch is set to retain her seat with an estimated 15.18 per cent of tallied first preferences.
Mr O'Brien is on 14.86 per cent of first preferences and is likely to be elected along with Ms Lynch following the elimination of Socialist Party candidate Mick Barry who is on 8.9 per cent.
Fine Gael have managed to split their vote well with Pat Burton on 13.94 per cent and Dara Murphy on 12.65 per cent to ensure both are in contention with the second placed man after transfers likely fighting for the last seat.
Outgoing Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher is on 15.5 per cent but may struggle to get transfers and will find himself in a three way fight for the last seat with the second placed Fine Gael candidate and Labour's John Gilroy, who is on 11.47 per cent.
THE IRISH OBSERVER: General Election Results Adams Tops Poll in Louth ...
THE IRISH OBSERVER: General Election Results Adams Tops Poll in Louth ...: "Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams seems assured of winning a Dáil seat and is likely to top the poll in Louth, with tally figures from two-thir..."
General Election Results Adams Tops Poll in Louth -
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams seems assured of winning a Dáil seat and is likely to top the poll in Louth, with tally figures from two-thirds of the ballot-boxes in the constituency now available.
Out of a total 191 boxes, figures from the all-party tally are now available for 125 boxes from throughout the constituency.
Percentages for the parties, based on the tally figures, are as follows: Fine Gael 32.04; Sinn Féin 21.12; Labour 18.49; Fianna Fáil 16.66; Independents/Others 7.60; Green Party 4.09.
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour are all running two candidates each but Mr Adams is the sole Sinn Féin contender. The official first count result is not expected until about 8pm this evening.
Fine Gael’s Fergus O’Dowd is expected to top the poll with Mr Adams in second place. The third and fourth seats will be fought over by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Results Election 2011 -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Results Election 2011 -: "Results Election: Fine Gael is on target to win the largest number of seats in the Irish Parliament and are likely to enter Coalition..."
Election Results Election 2011 -
Results Election: Fine Gael is on target to win the largest number of seats in the Irish Parliament and are likely to enter Coalition Government with the Labour Party.
Fianna Fail are being done to death in most constituencies and the Green Party has been sent to the death chamber of political history.
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Results Election 2011 -
THE IRISH OBSERVER: Election Results Election 2011 -: "The People Bite Back at Criminal Fianna Fail and their Green Lackeys General Election Results 2011 According to a Poll carried out by..."
Election Results Election 2011 -
The People Bite Back at Criminal Fianna Fail and their Green Lackeys
General Election Results 2011 According to a Poll carried out
by The Irish Observer
Fine Gael - 60 seats
Labour Party - 54 seats
Fianna Fail - 28 seats
Independents - 16 seats
Sinn Fein - 7 seats
Green Party - 1 seat
Thursday, February 24, 2011
General Election 2011 -
The opinion polls suggest that the Irish general election 2011 will fail to produce an outright winner. However, one thing seems certain: Fianna Fail, which has held office for the past 14 years, is heading for a crushing defeat, as it feels the full fury of an electorate stunned by the fallout from the financial crisis, and its country's swift and brutal reversal of fortune. In short it is time for the Bankers and Wankers to walk the short plank.
The political movement founded by Eamon de Valera has never polled less than 39 per cent of the vote; its meltdown means that, once the horse-trading is over, the new government will most probably be a coalition of two parties – Fine Gael from the centre-Right, led by the uncharismatic Enda Kenny, and Labour from the centre-Left. The two functioned successfully together under the premiership of John Bruton, as part of the "rainbow coalition" in the early 1990s. But those were far more benign times: the Celtic Tiger was still a manageable beast, and the plentiful availability of cheap credit had yet to lead Ireland into self-inflicted penury.
Doubtless, Ireland's voters will be pleased to get rid of the government that presided over both the boom and the bust. But doing so will not solve their economic woes. The final-quarter growth figures for last year suggest that Ireland has avoided a double-dip recession, but it has still suffered one of the most dramatic slumps in output of any of the eurozone countries. And therein lies the problem – Ireland's membership of the single currency.
To begin with, the low interest rates set by the European Central Bank fuelled an unsustainable boom. Now, the inability to devalue has rendered an export-led recovery harder to achieve. Moreover, the IMF and EU loans that prevented bankruptcy – which amount to 80 per cent of the country's GDP – could come at a high price. Other members of the eurozone have long disliked the generous corporation tax regime used to attract the hi-tech companies that were Ireland's principal source of prosperity, and may well insist that it is dismantled. With unemployment now close to 15 per cent, Ireland is also witnessing the emigration of its brightest citizens, a phenomenon it seems fated to suffer at periodic intervals.
This election is the first to be triggered directly by the tumult in the eurozone. Yet Ireland's new government will inherit a mess which – unlike its British counterpart – it does not have the freedom to deal with independently. Despite the shock they have endured, the Irish have preferred to vent their anger at the polls rather than on the streets. But while they remain in the euro, a new government will make little difference to their predicament.
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