22 October 1998 Edition
Television: The new demons
Media coverage of Sinn Fein March/Youth Conference
Prime Time - The Demise of the PDs (RTE1)
City Hall (BBC1)
Ballykissangel (BBC1)
Heartbeat (UTV)
Glenroe (RTE1)
Media coverage of Sunday's Sinn Fein Youth march through Dublin city centre and Youth Congress would lead one to believe that republicans have re-grown their horns and cloven feet from the dark days of censorship.
Subsequent to my attendence at Sunday's rally with my young daughter and discussions with the well informed youth wing of Sinn Fein I was horrifed by the RTE and Irish Times portrayal of these events as uncouth heathens marauding through town (although this can be facilitated by witnessing one of Temple Bar's stag nights).
Pat Kenny was up to his old tricks on Monday morning and The Irish Times scurrilous front page article was followed by a Martyn Turner cartoon which caricatured marchers like myself as Frankensteins.
The media has consistently ignored the ongoing harassment of anyone deemed to be ``republican friendly'' despite four years of the Peace Process, and the heavy handed response by the Gardai to legitimate protests about such.
Instead, we were treated to the cliched, inaccurate reporting and blatant untruths which have continued to stifle debate in the free State.
The Gardai have a duty to facilitate the democratic actions of Sinn Fein (although some of Sunday's chants are better left to the barstool brigade), rather than pursue their suspicion of any activities emanating from the working class, including the activities of anti-drugs communities.
We as democrats have a duty to challenge irresponsible media coverage whose purpose is to demonise us and should not have to fear subsequent retribution from the state.
The coverage was in stark contrast to the complete lack of coverage of the huge crowds who turned out a week previously to commemorate 1798 - it's clear that the Donnybrook and D'Olier Sreet demons are alive and well.
Our ``comrades'' in the PDs were also at the sharp end of negative coverage on RTE's Prime Time which charted their path from their ``breaking the mould'' launch in 1986, which initially won many converts. They claimed to be ``concerned about the country'', but their real concerns lay in their Mercedes, which was clouded as tax reduction policies.
The born again yuppies preached a pluralist line but it must be remembered that it was conservative Fianna Fail that successfully introduced divorce and the legalisation of homosexuality.
Their ``strong sense of purpose'' meant a decrease in welfare for ``the scroungers'' and they also claimed to be obsessed with creating a new Ireland - ie increased repression of republicans and nationalists.
Still, Dessie O' Malley's sideburns and messianic message led to a high of 14 Dail seats in 1987, but there has been an almost uninterrupted decline since, with a number of high profile defections, despite Dessie's new hair-do.
The PDs however were never very active on the ground and many is the pre-election night I've witnessed frantic fat cats disposing of election posters from the boots of their cars.
They did however organise a picket a number of years back, which was never followed up, maybe because as one comrade stated ``We feel like Sinn Feiners with placards in our hands''.
They preferred to concentrate their energies on internal strife which has led to a number of high profile defections and resignations, including MEP Pat Cox and Michael ``bulldog'' McDowell, none of whom seem to be very loyal to their old allies.
Pat Cox opined that ``it's a minute to midnight'' for the party - watch this space as the remaining ``crusaders'' defect to Fianna Fail to save their careers or possibly turning into pumpkins at the stroke of midnight.
They might relish a role a role in City Hall, the BBC's fly on the wall documentary about that great Unionist bastion, Belfast City Hall. The first episode was last week and the second goes out as our presses begin to roll but it is well worth tuning in. Sammy Wilson is sure to be one of the stars with scenes of him on his big motorbike, in his allotment and at his antagonistic best in the council chamber. He even manages to raise a smile from the Shinners.
Sammy is certainly worth a part in one of Sunday's Marshmallow TV slots - the BBC's TAM topping ``Ballykissangel'' which is based in stunning South Wicklow, where Larry O'Toole informs me that the locals are prone to locking referees into carboots if hurling passions become aroused.
The simple folk of BallyK were this week concerned with a mysterious beast which was stalking the land - ``did you bring the holy water faddhurr? There's a bayshht out there, blesh the land boy''.
If BallyK is the marshmallow of the screen then RTE's ``Glenroe'' must surely be the Marietta (with butter that squirts out the holes when you squeeze them).
Dinny Byrne, complete with twine around the waist, was busy annoying new arrivals Dan Reilly and family and Miley was up to his usual ``holy God'' nonsense.
Mick Lally (a man of half decent thinking) and other talented actors/actresses are wasted on this Ballymiloo and RTE should put them to greater use.
There were more ``baysshhts'' concerning the harmless Yorkshire folk on UTV's ``Heartbeat'' and deranged scruffy peasants and nubile bobbies were pottering around in the mud worrying about nothing.
Without offending any Marietta Shinners, this just ain'y my cup o' tea (I'm a Jaffa Cake man myself).
By Sean O Donaile
Prime Time - The Demise of the PDs (RTE1)
City Hall (BBC1)
Ballykissangel (BBC1)
Heartbeat (UTV)
Glenroe (RTE1)
Media coverage of Sunday's Sinn Fein Youth march through Dublin city centre and Youth Congress would lead one to believe that republicans have re-grown their horns and cloven feet from the dark days of censorship.
Subsequent to my attendence at Sunday's rally with my young daughter and discussions with the well informed youth wing of Sinn Fein I was horrifed by the RTE and Irish Times portrayal of these events as uncouth heathens marauding through town (although this can be facilitated by witnessing one of Temple Bar's stag nights).
Pat Kenny was up to his old tricks on Monday morning and The Irish Times scurrilous front page article was followed by a Martyn Turner cartoon which caricatured marchers like myself as Frankensteins.
The media has consistently ignored the ongoing harassment of anyone deemed to be ``republican friendly'' despite four years of the Peace Process, and the heavy handed response by the Gardai to legitimate protests about such.
Instead, we were treated to the cliched, inaccurate reporting and blatant untruths which have continued to stifle debate in the free State.
The Gardai have a duty to facilitate the democratic actions of Sinn Fein (although some of Sunday's chants are better left to the barstool brigade), rather than pursue their suspicion of any activities emanating from the working class, including the activities of anti-drugs communities.
We as democrats have a duty to challenge irresponsible media coverage whose purpose is to demonise us and should not have to fear subsequent retribution from the state.
The coverage was in stark contrast to the complete lack of coverage of the huge crowds who turned out a week previously to commemorate 1798 - it's clear that the Donnybrook and D'Olier Sreet demons are alive and well.
Our ``comrades'' in the PDs were also at the sharp end of negative coverage on RTE's Prime Time which charted their path from their ``breaking the mould'' launch in 1986, which initially won many converts. They claimed to be ``concerned about the country'', but their real concerns lay in their Mercedes, which was clouded as tax reduction policies.
The born again yuppies preached a pluralist line but it must be remembered that it was conservative Fianna Fail that successfully introduced divorce and the legalisation of homosexuality.
Their ``strong sense of purpose'' meant a decrease in welfare for ``the scroungers'' and they also claimed to be obsessed with creating a new Ireland - ie increased repression of republicans and nationalists.
Still, Dessie O' Malley's sideburns and messianic message led to a high of 14 Dail seats in 1987, but there has been an almost uninterrupted decline since, with a number of high profile defections, despite Dessie's new hair-do.
The PDs however were never very active on the ground and many is the pre-election night I've witnessed frantic fat cats disposing of election posters from the boots of their cars.
They did however organise a picket a number of years back, which was never followed up, maybe because as one comrade stated ``We feel like Sinn Feiners with placards in our hands''.
They preferred to concentrate their energies on internal strife which has led to a number of high profile defections and resignations, including MEP Pat Cox and Michael ``bulldog'' McDowell, none of whom seem to be very loyal to their old allies.
Pat Cox opined that ``it's a minute to midnight'' for the party - watch this space as the remaining ``crusaders'' defect to Fianna Fail to save their careers or possibly turning into pumpkins at the stroke of midnight.
They might relish a role a role in City Hall, the BBC's fly on the wall documentary about that great Unionist bastion, Belfast City Hall. The first episode was last week and the second goes out as our presses begin to roll but it is well worth tuning in. Sammy Wilson is sure to be one of the stars with scenes of him on his big motorbike, in his allotment and at his antagonistic best in the council chamber. He even manages to raise a smile from the Shinners.
Sammy is certainly worth a part in one of Sunday's Marshmallow TV slots - the BBC's TAM topping ``Ballykissangel'' which is based in stunning South Wicklow, where Larry O'Toole informs me that the locals are prone to locking referees into carboots if hurling passions become aroused.
The simple folk of BallyK were this week concerned with a mysterious beast which was stalking the land - ``did you bring the holy water faddhurr? There's a bayshht out there, blesh the land boy''.
If BallyK is the marshmallow of the screen then RTE's ``Glenroe'' must surely be the Marietta (with butter that squirts out the holes when you squeeze them).
Dinny Byrne, complete with twine around the waist, was busy annoying new arrivals Dan Reilly and family and Miley was up to his usual ``holy God'' nonsense.
Mick Lally (a man of half decent thinking) and other talented actors/actresses are wasted on this Ballymiloo and RTE should put them to greater use.
There were more ``baysshhts'' concerning the harmless Yorkshire folk on UTV's ``Heartbeat'' and deranged scruffy peasants and nubile bobbies were pottering around in the mud worrying about nothing.
Without offending any Marietta Shinners, this just ain'y my cup o' tea (I'm a Jaffa Cake man myself).
By Sean O Donaile