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LAST MAY, THE Green Party was tipped to play a crucial role in government formation. After a surge in the European and local elections, the party seemed set for a record-breaking election.
Today, the party has plenty of reasons to celebrate. It may yet get 12 seats, its best ever general election result, while both party leader Eamon Ryan and deputy leader Catherine Martin topped the poll in their constituencies.
In Carlow-Kilkenny, the party’s longest-serving councillor Malcom Noonan was elected, while in several constituencies – including Dublin Central and Waterford – the party won where it never had a TD before.
Yet the result is perhaps not what it might have beeen. Whereas the Green Party was expected to be a major beneficiary in this election, the party’s rise has been eclipsed somewhat by the remarkable surge in support for Sinn Féin.
European elections
Back in May 2019, the rise of the Green party was the story of the European and local elections. To many commentators, it was a sign that climate change had finally pushed through as a mainstream issue.
With both Ciarán Cuffe and Grace O’Sullivan winning seats, the party’s vote share jumped by nearly 9% since the last general election.
In the local elections, the party also did well – support rose by 4% since 2014, with a surge particularly notable in Dublin where the party won nearly 30 seats across the county’s councils.
The success raised hopes that the party, which lost all its seats in the 2011 election, might be on course for a historic resurgence – echoing the rise of green movements across Europe.
Those hopes were raised further when Joe O’Brien was comfortably elected in the by-election in November in Dublin Fingal.
Those hopes seemed to be reflected in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, who many predicted would start wooing the party when it came to coalition negotiations – despite some disquiet in at least one of the two big parties.
But today, the position of the Green Party in any mooted government is uncertain. The rise of Sinn Féin has overshadowed the party’s record-breaking election, with the republican party – not the Greens – now perhaps on the precipice of entering government.
It follows a campaign where climate change never dominated and according to the the exit poll, only 6% saw the issue as a priority.
Historic
Before this election, the highest number of seats the Greens ever had was six – achieving those heights in 2002 under Trevor Sargent and retaining them all in 2007.
In 2007, the party received nearly 5% of the vote. Thirteen years later, it’s risen to over 7%.
It’s a major achievement for the party, winning seats across the country from Dublin to Waterford to Carlow-Kilkenny and putting Irish Greens nearly on par with their counterparts in Germany when it comes to vote share.
The party has also shown that it can build on both local council and European elections success. Green MEP Grace O’Sullivan has her base in Waterford, while two-time councillor Patrick Costello got a seat in Dublin South Central.
Yet there might also be a sense of what could have been. The Sinn Féin surge has seen candidate surpluses disrupt several races, with transfers benefiting Solidarity-People Before Profit before the Greens.
In Mayo for instance, it was the Sinn Féin candidate who emerged to nearly top the poll, with Saoirse McHugh falling to a disappointing result despite her national profile.
And in terms of historic surges in Irish politics, the Green performance is also significantly lower than Labour’s famous ‘Spring Tide’ in 1992.
Still, by the party’s own standards it’s an impressive result. In December, Ryan said that he hoped to return at least six TDs to the Dáil after the next election – now, his party is on course to nearly double that.
In that same interview, Ryan did say that he thought a Green Party taoiseach was possible in two governments’ time. On that score, he may be disappointed today.
She’s off her trolley.
If SF get into government, no unionist in their right minds would go willingly into a state governed by the political wing of the IRA.
@John Mulligan: spoken like a true Unionist
@John Mulligan: It’s a bit early to be completely and utterly distraught, isn’t it John?
@John Mulligan: yeah, being dictated by minority unionists is so much fun
@James Beattie: are you suggesting we should just push a million people into a state they don’t want to be part of? That’s a recipe for civil war, although many in sinn fein would enjoy that — it would give the psychopaths something to do.
Unity by consent is the only option for democrats. The Marxist nonsense spouted by Putin’s puppets has passed its sell by date.
@John Mulligan:
They haven’t even bothered to look at the cost of it (€100 bn) best estimate
@John Mulligan: When you look at all the real and concrete challenges facing us at the moment it is hard to believe that Mary Lou is still wittering on about Irish unity especially when she refuses to give us any idea what this Ireland will look like.
@John Mulligan: the SF-ers always ignore the minor detail of 1m unionists. And how come no one is whinging that she’s travelling overseas.
@John Mulligan: What??
@David Corrigan: I’d say John is being realistic. Thinking reality rather than wishful thinking.
@John Mulligan: “if”, Robert Troy, Stephen Donnelly, Leo Varadkar and Michael Martin have all but guaranteed it.
@Tony Mc Grath: I’m not sure really. John doesn’t seem to like change. Change is coming and the hardliners need to accept that.
@John Mulligan: be grand. Just give them a tax break for 10 years and a couple of parades. Sorted.
@John Mulligan: I know 3 unionists who march on the 12th and would vote for a united Ireland if the change over was pound for euro .ie if everything was much the same, then they would have no bother voting united Ireland.
@John Mulligan: Add in the ones down here who don’t want it.
@Declan Carr: They’d be at a loss then?
@John Mulligan: so you say that Unionism will resort to violence in response to a democratic decision if and when a border poll is achieved, just like they did 100 years ago.
But somehow you then go on to label those who would resist that violence as psychopaths. Logic ain’t your strongest point is it???
@John Mulligan: it’s called democracy John. If the people of Ireland vote for reunification than that’s their democratic right.
@Cowboy Ted: cost is probably the least of the issues, a civil war and an active political movement seeking to leave the country would destroy us.
@M Bowe: I have no time for psychopaths of whatever colour. But they exist, on both sides.
@John Mulligan: but you advocate succumbing to threats of violence rather than delivery of the democratic rights contained within an international agreement. Your denials are hollow.
@James Beattie: 50/50 on the likes. Sounds familiar….. But John is 100 % right
Are we ready for a massive increase in domestic debt, not to mention the inevitable bloodshed? I’m not so sure.
@Hotirish: you need to read up more. The cost isn’t that significant at all. And with the efficiencies and inward investment we can’t afford not to unite.
@Hotirish: what are you talking about ? Unionists are democrats. As in The Democratic Unionist Party.
@Peter McGlynn: agreed. Look at the North West – partition has impoverished Donegal, Derry, Sligo etc / no university no motorway, appalling or no rail. Such wasted potential.
@Irish Cottage Rental: last time I looked, Killybegs had one of the highest average earnings per household.
Not a lot of poverty in Donegal.
@Irish Cottage Rental: what are you on about donegal impoverished
@Hotirish:
Reunification will cost far less than the minimum 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defence spending which will be required if we join NATO, which FFG are pushing for.
So if you support joining NATO you are a hypocrite
@Stephen Walshe: Donegal people earn lowest weekly wages in Ireland https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/11/16/revealed-donegal-people-earn-lowest-weekly-wage-in-ireland/amp/
@John Mulligan: one of the poorest counties in Ireland https://www.donegaldaily.com/2019/11/16/revealed-donegal-people-earn-lowest-weekly-wage-in-ireland/amp/
Yes it is Irelands next chapter, but it is also some way off. Mary Lou needs to relax a little. It will need to happen a lot more organically, it simply cant be pushed on people if we want true peaceful unity.
Any chance of sorting out the health system, the housing problem and the energy crisis first, if you do get to government.
@tom pepper: unimportant once key objective reached.
@tom pepper: of course – two leaders are v capable and also women so can multitask.
Is this going to be a Trump like speech? Far removed from reality. United Ireland is far from the minds of most of the population of the Irish republic. They are more concerned with managing the cost of living issues and fuel poverty.
@Irish big fellow: cost of living is one of the pillars of a united ireland – the waste of duplication and lost opportunity particularly for the border counties.
@Peter McGlynn: Can you expand on this?
Ffs, homelessness, unemployment, rampant inflation and all she can do is drone on about border polls as if that’s the silver bullet for our own problems. Just deflecting attention away from SF complete lack of any coherent or sensible solutions.
@Paul Shepherd: oh yeah because the current crop are doing such a great job
@Karl Harty: never said they were but I don’t see SF offering much of an alternative?
@Paul Shepherd: not offering much of an alternative?
Stockholm syndrome. Look it up.
@Fergal McDonagh: Marxist groups under the thumb of putin are unlikely to be a better option than what we have already.
@John Mulligan: communist party of Ireland has no chance of election
Another fundraising for SF, what do they do with all the money? I think she lives in a dream world, what about all the people living in northern Ireland who are English, they have the wright to be English don’t they,
@Heisen berg1: the money goes back to the people who pull her strings
@Ian McDonald: a good investment for the boys
@Heisen berg1: British not English.
@Heisen berg1: there’s a HUGE landmass off the to east of our shores called Britain. They have red post boxes. A royal family. English is the native language. They fly the union jack. They’re very proud and happy to be “English”. I humbly suggest that those who want to be “English” go there, and leave those who want to be Irish, on Ireland.
@Greachán Ó Ceallaigh: You put up your post in English.
@Heisen berg1: where are you getting fund raising from that article, nor did SF raise funds on Australian trip. But sure why miss a sound bite even if the facts don’t match it.
@Heisen berg1: It’s not a fundraiser. Keep up lad.
@Greachán Ó Ceallaigh: That’s very humble of you!
The Brits would love to get rid of Ulster They pay more to support it then they gave to the EU We cannot afford it!!!!
@PamelaArchitect: yes we can afford it and don’t believe all you hear from the partition parties.
https://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2020/Economic_Benefits_of_a_United_Ireland.pdf
@PamelaArchitect: https://eufactcheck.eu/factcheck/false-the-cost-of-irish-reunification-2-7-billion-pounds/
@PamelaArchitect: €350bn spent mismanaging property assets of state but we can’t afford €2.7bn or less for a short time until multinational investment and tourism starts raking it in?
@Peter McGlynn: A lot of mights, ifs and assumptions in this. Fairly solid that our standard of living would go downhill for ten years, if you are a young person just out of college how does that sound? Unification will happen eventually but I don’t think it should be rushed. Between Brexit, pandemic and Ukraine war I think this is not the time to push this.
Just my opinion.
Mary ‘Che’ McDonald telling the yanks about all the years she spent fighting in the revolution and how she’s bringing freedom to her downtrodden people. Sure, they’ll believe any ould blarney.
She’s correct. The other parties are finally on board too. Get your tickets to the Irelands Future debate at the 3 Arena 1st October 1 pm.
@Peter McGlynn: The Unionist parties are onboard?
@Peter McGlynn: all proceeds go towards first class travel for leaders appointed by the IRA army Council.
@Peter McGlynn: and the price of a ticket is €5000, “inflation” for the war Council in the North.
@Peter McGlynn: https://twitter.com/yfg/status/1565425247981113346?s=21
@Heisen berg1: hi Heisenberg tickets €7.10 from Ticketmaster. Tell your friends and family. Let’s learn from Brexit and be prepared. https://www.ticketmaster.ie/irelands-future-presents-together-we-can-dublin-01-10-2022/event/18005CE6A4072AD7
@John Mulligan: Educate yourself!
You’re very decisive
@John Mulligan: and you think FFG don’t have anyone pulling their strings?
Ah bless.
Go find some crayons for yourself. Good lad.
I’m a Unionist, I like the people in the South more than the people up here. There’s far less baggage down there. The ethno political nature of NI always stopped it from reaching its full potential. We are too far in now to turn back though.
@Aidy McBride: Would you vote for a united Ireland in a referendum?
@Bert Carolan: If its being sold by people like Mary Lou McDonald and her counterparts up here then NO.
Author’s article started another Ping Pong nonsensical debate about Unification. It’s a total nonstarter irrespective of where Madam Lulu goes on her $$ collecting tours !
No the chapter in Ireland, is being the poor part of the EU Empire, just like we were in the British Empire, but at least she and her pals will have money food electricity and houses, so that they Lord it up over the plebs.
Another attempt by SF to rewrite history. Ireland was never a United country unless you bounty the feudal kings that ruled their individual domains.
@Don Hogan: haha sure let’s just restart by calling it Hibernia again.
@Don Hogan: it was a unified kingdom from at least the Act of Union in 1802 until partition.
@Thommo’s Nose: Hibernia was the name for an unruled, disunited island. You too get a F in Irish history.
@Patrick Brompton: Yep, It was part of The UK since 1802. Seems SF doesn’t know that. The 1802 act is prime reason those in NI was no part of the ROI.
@Patrick Brompton: Yep, it was part of the UK since 1802. Seems SF does not know this. The 1802 act is the main reason why people in NI want no part of the ROI. Another inconvenient fact is that the Good Friday agreement clearly states that any potential unification of the ROI and NI must be initiated by NI not SF or the ROI.
@Don Hogan: The largest party in NI is SF. Unity is not a single party issue. All Irish parties should be actively supporting it.
What’s the story with all the SF lobbies on this thread. Fairy tales stories
@vanc: Stockholm syndrome
Reconcilation should be next. Completing the full implementatiom of the Good Friday Agreement should be next. Unity is not unity, if Unionist and loyalist politicians in Leinster House act to disrupt the business of the Dáil. Unity is not unity if we mutually can’t respect the multiplicity of tranditions on the island now. Unity is not unity is one single life is loss getting there.
Very casual use of ‘we’ here.
The south of ireland can’t cope with the counties we have.. HSE and housing a mess!!!! How the hell could we cope with more counties and troubles .. Sinn Fein will be our trump and boris years if they get in.. she’s just a mouth piece .. no brains behind her nonsense!!
@Dublin sunrise: no. We can’t cope with the government we have.
@Fergal McDonagh: But he is spot on with the “no brains” bit!!
The fear in the comments here is palpable
@john fairclough: Forced unification will result in another civil war lead by SF and the IRA.
@Don Hogan: nobody is talking about “forced unification” we have a democratic pathway to reunification via the Good Friday Agreement. It’s called democracy.
I watched a load of videos on YouTube last week showing the Royal Black Preceptory with their lodges, banners and bands walking through loyalist towns. The GFA requires a majority vote for unity in both jurisdictions. I just cannot see these loyalists ever voting for unification or accepting a majority vote.
@Patrick Brompton: so they get to prevent democracy?
Oh flick off Mary Lou
A few long chapters yet mary lou. It must be a he’ll of a thick book you are writing!!
The fate of Ireland rests with the young and middle aged voters who are being conned with a cocktail of BS every day. I hope they are smart enough to judge for themselves when the chips come down!!
Peter.
There may be a problem.
Had not the 3 Arena been allocated to our most recent refugees?
Do ask our Justice Minister, Helen McEntee….
From her record, she has more concern for looking after those who are illegal in our country and their welfare, than the Irish who lost their jobs to the same people.
have your say