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AVERIL POWER HAS launched another stinging attack on Fianna Fáil in the wake of the party’s reaction to her sudden resignation last month.
The newly independent senator has described Fianna Fáil’s response to her departure as “nasty and disingenuous” in an op-ed for the Northside People.
She has once again lashed out at its approach to the same-sex marriage referendum campaign and insisted she left the party because she has “lost all faith in Fianna Fáil and [doesn't] believe it is fit for government”.
Power said: “In a blatant act of cute-hoorism of the worst kind, the party was both for and against the referendum at the same time.”
Fianna Fáil’s approach to the referendum symbolised everything that is wrong with the party.
She said that despite same-sex marriage having been official Fianna Fáil policy since it was passed by members in 2012, many TDs and Senators refused to campaign for it.
Power said the party is afraid to take clear positions in debates for fear of losing support and said that most of her former colleagues prefer not to take a stance on issues.
Most of the party’s representatives prefer to sit on the fence and see which way the wind blows.
In the same piece, Power said that the characterisation of her resignation as being the result of a constituency squabble was baseless. She insisted Fianna Fáil had been briefing that they expected her to win a Dáil seat in Dublin Bay North.
“Even constituency rivals Sean Haughey and Deirdre Heaney have stated on radio that they understood I would be a candidate,” she said.
Power said her decision to quit the party exactly a fortnight ago was neither rash nor hasty but was the result of her unhappiness for sometime, something she claimed party leader Micheál Martin had been aware of.
She said she hasn’t made any decision on whether or not to run as an independent in the next general election. An ad in the same paper last week prompted speculation that Power would contest Dublin Bay North next time out.
In the same paper, local Fianna Fail councillor Tom Brabazon accused Power of being “politically motivated” in her resignation, saying she would not have made it through the party’s selection convention had she run.
Brabazon, who will contest the Dublin Bay North convention, described Power’s claim that Fianna Fáil is not fit for government as “contemptible”.
Fianna Fáil declined to comment.
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Was there in 94 in Thurles Stadium, camping on that racecourse nearby. Great festival, no scangers. Prodigy and Sounds Crowd Orchestra on stage
@Rear Admiral: 76 pathetic little middle class bigots.. and counting!!
I was excited until I got to ‘vegan food stalls’
Jesus wept …
@Dara O’Brien: a chipper that does just chips.
@John D12: ah they’d find some reason to protest against that too
Feile was just some of the best times of my life! Best of luck to them.
Prosecco bars and vegan food stalls, while sitting down and listening to some orchestral mishmash of brewing up a storm… how can in even be called Féile?
Incidentally their next project is to produce a movie about 3 estranged sisters who make amends during a cross country road trip to attend a great aunts funeral in Nebraska… and call it Jurassic Park 5
@Stephen Boland: Quality comment!
Transvision Vamp in ’91, Wendy James
Happy days
Feile was not the first multi day music festival in Ireland
@Mark Johnson: what?
@Naoimh Ó Murchadha: Lisdoonvarna and Macroom?
Castlebar…..”Occasion at the castle” weekend rock festival. Early 1980s.
Back in the days u could build a fire in the campsite and the after concert rave in the stands
Ah Jesus, brings back memories, some poor b&&&ard was always pushed over when in the portaloo.
Any yokes?
Geez sounds brilliant!!!
Great
Thurles music heads tried to revive Feile a few years ago too…..
@Mark Johnson: your comments are making no sense mark. What are you talking about?
@Naoimh Ó Murchadha: pretty clear to everyone else…
Adding in the word classical is a great way of dissuading “people referred to as scangers” like the way classical music has been successfully used in subway stations to reduce loitering and crime.
Could be great, but flip-side is this (coupled with nostalgic acts) is going attract more “people referred to as ..ahem.. boring”.
@Jazz Buckler: Dinosaur Dads in Reni hats boring everyone about “the good aul days” and when music wasn’t Shite before slipping off hometown catch an episode of Catastrophe
No offence Tom but you lads are the rest of the bands mentioned had their day. What an awful line-up
Before my time but from all accounts although it may have been a Mecca for Irish bands it was an absolute hell on earth for Irish music fans. A badly organised gathering full of drunken louts with very little by way of proper facilities on the ground.
Anyway, this is the new smooth corporate hipster version by all accounts.
@Gene Dexter: nah, it was brilliant! You weren’t there, you wouldn’t understand.
@Gene Dexter: u can’t help yourself can you, don’t know who u were talking to but feile was great craic
@Gene Dexter: Ridiculous comments on every article. Quite a sad little life you must have, by all accounts.
@Gene Dexter: if anyone wants to know the definition of a “snowflake” they only have to look at your comment. You’re actually complaining about an event you were too young to attend. Despite that I speak for all of us that were there and just want to thank you for taking offence on our behalf.
Can I bring my granny?
Féile mo thoín. Bring back the old line up maybe.
Feile ’93. Had my first experience there in a tent with my best buddy (first love) while his cousin slept beside us.
A few dates wouldn’t have gone astray…
The rave on the stand beside the horse parade pumped with tunes from a ghetoblaster. Followed in the morning with a visit to the Hare Krishna tent to get a wholesome breakfast of beans and rice. Simple delights
The rave on the stand beside the horse parade pumped with tunes from a ghetoblaster. Followed by a visit to the hare krishna tent for a breakfast of beans and rice. Happy days
Rave in the stand beside the horse parade pumped by tunes from a ghetoblaster. Followed by a trip to the hare Krishna tent for a breakfast of beans and rice. Happy days
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