Maman Poulet

I’m getting comments and texts and having conversations with people wondering why I’m not blogging the election etc.  – maybe I didn’t make it clear enough that during the campaign you’ll find me over on Irishelection.com

Given work and surviving life it’s all I can muster at the moment. The odd post here when I can but in the spirit of blogopolis go read other peoples stuff too – irishblogs.ie is a good launching ground!

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Lisa Connell is standing as an Independent LGBT Candidate in Dublin South West Inner City/Dublin 8 area of Dublin City Council.

Lisa is not the first independent LGBT candidate to contest an election in Ireland – the first I believe was Liz Noonan who ran as a Lesbian Feminist Candidate in 3 Dáil elections in 1981 and twice in 1982 in Dublin South East.

In the 1989 General Election a number Independent Gay Candidates ran campaigns – Tonie Walsh in Dublin South East, Don Donnelly in Dublin North Central and Michael Foley (Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church) who got 1,122 first preferences and ran in Dublin South Central and I think there was a third candidate and will correct the post when I get an answer to an email!

In 1992 there were considerations towards running gay rights candidates (it was before decrminialisation) but instead campaigns to get parties to commit to equality and decriminalisation were run by lesbian and gay groups.

In terms of local and national elections since 1992 we’ve had a number of openly gay candidates running for election in several parties and there are some running in the local elections this year.

This year it seems we’re back to the 1980’s in terms of seeing an Independent LGBT Candidate join the fray. I’ll be back to the issue of single issue campaigns and lgbt rights no doubt but for now you can find out more on Lisa’s Facebook page and see links to various other media appearance.

I met Lisa last week and asked her why she was standing for election on an Independent LGBT based candidacy. (I’m still learning how to use the Zi6 – apologies for wobbles etc!)

Update:

Tonie Walsh has been in touch to confirm the third candidate in 1989 General Election (Michael Foley) and also to tell of his own campaign to run for election to Dublin Corporation in 1985 on an urban renewal, tenancy rights and better local government ticket.  So that’s the first openly gay candidate who ran for Dublin Corporation sorted  – and I’ll leave it to Tonie to tell the full story of his campaign, selection and manager – there’s a chapter in a book there HINT!

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ah oops wrong sport sorry..

Find out who own’s this Mascot, who’s been putting up Maurice Ahern’s posters in Dublin Central and what Fianna Fáil candidates are experiencing on the ground in the latest round up on Irishelection.com

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Thanks to the tip off I received and a break in the weather I headed up to see Enda Kenny and Fine Gael’s European Parliament Election Candidates unveil their poster for the campaign a few hours ago.

It was interesting to see who turned up and who didn’t.  Gay Mitchell MEP the lone candidate running in Dublin was first to arrive, followed by Enda Kenny who seemed to be minding Senator John Paul Phelan.  Phelan needs a bit of minding given that Mairead McGuinness seems not to want acknowledge him at all in her race to top the poll in the East consituency. Last to arrive was Senator Joe O’Reilly from the North-West Constituency. No sign of Jim Higgins, Sean Kelly, Colm Burke or Mairead herself.

Following a press gaggle where Kenny probably called on the Greens to walk from government and the like, (It was all a bit much for me to muscle in to get to hear) he bounded across the road (nearly jaywalking) and headed for the cherry picker.  You can watch the rest below and no doubt see the pictures on the TV news later on and in tomorrows papers.

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They’re down to 3% in the TNS/MRBI Poll however tomorrow the Green Party are launching their local election manifesto and a new election website.

And in the fine tradition of the Irish Blogosphere finding all the Political Party’s new websites first (ok so they did not really hide it too well  – I just went clicking) here is the link to the website for you to poke about, see what’s working and not, and find out funny bits about your local candidate.

Happy hunting!

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So anyone received a phonecall from one of the 15 full time ‘genuine Libertas volunteers‘ (free lunch provided!) doing phonebanking and making calls to 100,000 households?

I know it’s been underway for a few weeks but wonder what the pitch is now as we are well into the campaign? Any Dublin Calls being made or is it specially targetted at the East constituency? Stories welcome!

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Do you think Fintan O’Toole was proposing to offer Eamon Gilmore a glass of TK red lemonade and thus fight off the coke and pepsi politics?

Photo on Labour’s Flickr Stream and taken on Sunday 10th in Artane/Whitehall.

If anyone ever manages to canvas me I’ll get a picture and give them a glass of something nice don’t worry!

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All this and more over at the lastest web election round up on Irishelection.com

Many thanks for all the tip offs – keep them coming

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Driving through Raphoe in Co. Donegal today a wannabe councillor was spotted up a ladder putting up posters! Now this was not just any candidate – so the car was stopped and camera rooted for.

My partner’s relatives are now confirmed in their thoughts that I’m a lunatic as I decide to approach Frank McBrearty Jnr, newest candidate and member of the Labour Party who is seeking election to the Stranorlar Ward of Donegal County Council.

I’m currently reading Gerard Cunningham’s book on the events surrounding the McBreartys and the Morris Tribunal titled Chaos and Conspiracy (Gerard also blogs at Faduda.ie and have always had a passing interest in the issues which led to the tribunal.  I was surprised when I heard Frank jnr had joined the Labour Party and decided to run for the local elections.

Many thanks to Frank for agreeing to pose for the photo and for listening to my garbled explanation of being a current affairs/political blogger from Dublin up visiting for the weekend. I will be watching the results with interest and indeed was fascinated at the lack of posters from Fianna Fáil throughout the area. Maybe Donegal politicians are slow starters?

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The tales of bad receptions on doorsteps and signs warning FF/Green Party canvassers to stay away continue to accelerate.  Finding posters of Fianna Fail candidates from Dublin to Letterkenny today was difficult – lots of the Chairman (more about him and the way he might smile at you later) and plenty for various  Sinn Fein, Fine Gael and the rare Green candidates.  Where there are posters the logos are very very difficult to see!

The stories and pictures are starting to come in from around the country including this evening pictures of  the first candidates who are confused.  Indeed some could be done under the politicians descriptions act if we had one!

Cllr. Tom Reilly is a member of Fianna Fáil and is elected to Galway County Council and Tuam Town Council. He is seeking re-election to both. If you examine his profile on the Fianna Fáil website you’ll see he’s a member of many organisations and he’s very much a member of Fianna Fáil.

Except if you are walking through the streets of Tuam you’ll see these and find difficulty in locating the FF Logo!

Yes it would appear Tom’s aiming to be Your Strong Independent Candidate – Independent of what?

Update - *Actually the poster is on top of one of  genuine Independent Cllr Sean Canney!

All other sightings of interesting local or european election memorabilia are most welcome to tips (@) mamanpoulet.com

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