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ENDA KENNY HAS slammed the “economic cesspit” left behind by Fianna Fáil in a rousing address to his own party in Dublin this afternoon.
Speaking to a gathering of Fine Gael members and election candidates at the CHQ building on the quays, Kenny set out to motivate his team ahead of the last week of the general election campaign.
For sections of the speech when he was attacking his political opposition, the Taoiseach deployed the oratory technique of roaring into the microphone.
A Fine Gael produced video of Kenny’s speech earlier:
Upping the decibel levels, he shouted:
[We've taken] this country out of an economic cesspit that we inherited from Fianna Fáil! After fourteen years of government, they blew everything that we had!
Ever fond of a metaphor, he then compared the work of his grandfather – who was a lighthouse keeper – to the ongoing economic recovery, saying:
Everyone understood that big message: I’ll be home for tea.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterEnda: I've just come from across the river https://t.co/HJzanpAnXp
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) February 21, 2016
He went on to urge party members to throw their support behind the candidates standing, name checking every single candidate standing in the Dublin area to cheers of approval from the crowd.
“They will stand up for you, for your family, for your city, for your county and for our country,” he said.
Hugh O'Connell / TwitterEnda roaring like there's no tomorrow here. Like, roaring #GE16
— Hugh O'Connell (@oconnellhugh) February 21, 2016
Then – back into full shouting mode – Kenny returned his focus to his political opponents.
Look at the other side. Disparate groups, no plan, invalid figures, others who would simply destroy anything that we’ve built up here.
“They’ve wrecked the house before,” he said, referring to Fianna Fáil. “They’re back battering the doors now saying: ‘We’re clean again, we’ve been absolved, everything is fine, give us a chance.’”
Pausing for a moment, he then belted out:
Well don’t give them a chance this time! Because they’ve got to earn it!
Kenny, never one to pass up a chance to talk about meeting the electorate, also spoke about an encounter with a 95-year-old woman earlier in the day.
Enda Kenny / TwitterUnder our plan, older citizens like Ann will see more frontline staff delivering services they depend on & deserve. pic.twitter.com/EITJK1ChDa
— Enda Kenny (@EndaKennyTD) February 21, 2016
“Today, at Kilbaha [a village in Co Clare], across the road a man said, ‘will you come and see my mother’. 95, she sat in her chair and she said, ‘I was always with you, and I still am’. And when we were leaving, after all the hassle and the babble and the talk and the lights of the cameras, she said, ‘would you like a cup of tea?’.”
Isn’t that who we are? Generous, welcoming Irish people?
Kenny’s unusual roaring during the speech drew a critical response from Fianna Fáil this afternoon.
The party tweeted a link to the infamous Howard Dean scream from the 2004 US presidential elections which was seen by many as the start of the demise of the Democratic candidate’s White House hopes:
Fianna Fáil / TwitterNew footage has emerged of Enda at FG rally this afternoon #GE16 https://t.co/cKKGjc3vZs
— Fianna Fáil (@fiannafailparty) February 21, 2016
- additional reporting from Hugh O’Connell
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I hope that this tragedy has reinforced the importance of freedom of expression and highlighted the ever-widening gap between religious extremists and the core of our society.
Agreed Mike and also an intolerance of those whe aren’t religious extremists but who seek to use religion to control people in particular women. There are lots of those who aren’t remotely considered extremist.
That was very thoughtful of him. Fair play. Deepest condolences and continued support to all the people of France. Such a difficult time for them all.
Ah the Irish, great bunch of lads!
J’aime La France
J’adore France. Every effort should be taken by the Irish government to combat Muslim extremism in Ireland and in Europe, I think the government should give serious consideration to the establishment of an independent security/intelligence service along the lines of MI5. While I’m sure Special Branch and G2 good work they are only branches of the Garda Siochana and Defence Forces respectively. A single agency working in conjunction with them is needed also.
P.S. Don’t insult the Jews or make jokes about terrorists , the rest is grand.
Are we loosing our own moral compass or even good manners if we think we can insult regardless?
By all means attack values that inhibit freedoms such as single sex schools, no sport for girls and the social and family pressures to wear the hajib.
We can CHOOSE to insult or not. If you’ve no choice in the first place then someone else is controlling your ‘moral compass’. No thanks.
Freedom of speech me bollix . Everyone bouncing about “pen is mightier than the sword” . Record sales in a crap magizine. Purposely slaggin of islam. But u say one word bad about jews ir zionist u r in real trouble.
Not true. Charlie Hebdo satirises Jewish leaders on a regular basis.
Well all I read about is people being aressted or fined and banned from there work. See it all the time.
Charlie Hebdo actuallly fired one of their employees for insulting the son of Sarkozy who is Jewish , he refused to apoligize.
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