10 June 1999 Edition
Television: Giving ``a stroke''
Election Coverage (RTE/BBC/UTV)
Obsessions (RTE1)
GayTime TV (BBC2)
``Ah sure you'll give us an aul stroke'' was the catch cry of the day in downtown rural Ireland as the Sinn Féin local election bandwagon rolled on.
``Sure you're all the same! What can you do for me? Where's Europe? Will I get a free tractor? were some of the comments from the doorsteps, although, on a serious note, there has been a very positive response to Sinn Féin candidates contrary to media (non) reports, which would have you believe that Sinn Féin does not exist.
Bad roads, post office closures, poor water supply and the decline in farming are among the primary concerns among Ireland's rural electorate, with the peace process and the plight of Garvaghy Road residents trailing behind.
Unfortunately, the ``What can you do for me?'' syndrome is rife in Free State politics, created and encouraged by generations of gombeen-style politicians from the two main parties.
This aspect of Irish political life has, as usual, been ignored by the media, which bears a responsibility to effect some form of change.
Sinn Féin has never been party to this style of clientelism (votes for favours) and this may partly explain consistent low support in many Southern constituencies.
In party political brioadcasts, Ian Paisley was sporting his latest Union Jack loveheart tie and grisly footage of Omagh, while John Hume proudly donned his Oslo Peace Medal, Michelle Smith style.
Fine Gael were busy avoiding content in their broadcast, with John Bruton gazing out to sea, where he belongs.
Many TV and radio journalists have been trying to link republican candidates to the ``search for the disappeared'', reminding the electorate repeatedly that Sinn Féin's chances will be ``damaged''.
The local elections will most likely see the obliteration of the PD ``fat cats'' and the continued growth of Sinn Féin and a small number of progressive individual politicians.
But ``strokes'' are out of the question in Dublin, unless one is visiting a masseur!
Mitchel McLaughlin, meanwhile, is hot on the heels of Jim Nicholson and a repeat of the 1998 vote of 17.6% would ``leave him in third place at the start'' and ``in with a chance''.
We could yet be in for an interesting Six-County European result.
A trip to Lisa's tattoo parlour,featured in ``Obsessions'' last week, might just be the tonic for a stuffed up Tory hack, where he could tatoo or pierce any part of his body `canvas'.
Tattoo imagery and culture, normally associated with lager louts, skinheads and building sites, is on the increase in Ireland, be it a Union Jack, Tricolour, ``I love my Mammy'' or the most popular religous ``rock of ages'' symbol, giving some ``something to cling to for one's life''.
Everyone needs to have at least one obsession, be it Clare hurlers, birdwatching or Sinn Féin cavalcades, if only for making life more interesting, although the tattoo advocates featured would not be my cup of tea.
While rightly stating that ``society is still not comfortable'' with tattoos and body piercing, the idea of covering one's back and nipples with lovehearts and steel bars is a bit much for most of us.
``GayTime TV'' is back on BBC2 for another series, reporting on the homophobic Soho bar bombing, which ``created a turning point for gay and lesbian society in Britain'' and an interview with the ``famous at 15, fabolous at 50'' Lulu, complete with her ``transglobal Scottish accent'' and Eurovision successes.
Lulu is not running for election, though believe it or not country music star TR Dallas, of Who shot JR Ewing? fame, is pitching his big hat into the ring in Longford. Yeehaw!
By Sean O Donaile
Obsessions (RTE1)
GayTime TV (BBC2)
``Ah sure you'll give us an aul stroke'' was the catch cry of the day in downtown rural Ireland as the Sinn Féin local election bandwagon rolled on.
``Sure you're all the same! What can you do for me? Where's Europe? Will I get a free tractor? were some of the comments from the doorsteps, although, on a serious note, there has been a very positive response to Sinn Féin candidates contrary to media (non) reports, which would have you believe that Sinn Féin does not exist.
Bad roads, post office closures, poor water supply and the decline in farming are among the primary concerns among Ireland's rural electorate, with the peace process and the plight of Garvaghy Road residents trailing behind.
Unfortunately, the ``What can you do for me?'' syndrome is rife in Free State politics, created and encouraged by generations of gombeen-style politicians from the two main parties.
This aspect of Irish political life has, as usual, been ignored by the media, which bears a responsibility to effect some form of change.
Sinn Féin has never been party to this style of clientelism (votes for favours) and this may partly explain consistent low support in many Southern constituencies.
In party political brioadcasts, Ian Paisley was sporting his latest Union Jack loveheart tie and grisly footage of Omagh, while John Hume proudly donned his Oslo Peace Medal, Michelle Smith style.
Fine Gael were busy avoiding content in their broadcast, with John Bruton gazing out to sea, where he belongs.
Many TV and radio journalists have been trying to link republican candidates to the ``search for the disappeared'', reminding the electorate repeatedly that Sinn Féin's chances will be ``damaged''.
The local elections will most likely see the obliteration of the PD ``fat cats'' and the continued growth of Sinn Féin and a small number of progressive individual politicians.
But ``strokes'' are out of the question in Dublin, unless one is visiting a masseur!
Mitchel McLaughlin, meanwhile, is hot on the heels of Jim Nicholson and a repeat of the 1998 vote of 17.6% would ``leave him in third place at the start'' and ``in with a chance''.
We could yet be in for an interesting Six-County European result.
A trip to Lisa's tattoo parlour,featured in ``Obsessions'' last week, might just be the tonic for a stuffed up Tory hack, where he could tatoo or pierce any part of his body `canvas'.
Tattoo imagery and culture, normally associated with lager louts, skinheads and building sites, is on the increase in Ireland, be it a Union Jack, Tricolour, ``I love my Mammy'' or the most popular religous ``rock of ages'' symbol, giving some ``something to cling to for one's life''.
Everyone needs to have at least one obsession, be it Clare hurlers, birdwatching or Sinn Féin cavalcades, if only for making life more interesting, although the tattoo advocates featured would not be my cup of tea.
While rightly stating that ``society is still not comfortable'' with tattoos and body piercing, the idea of covering one's back and nipples with lovehearts and steel bars is a bit much for most of us.
``GayTime TV'' is back on BBC2 for another series, reporting on the homophobic Soho bar bombing, which ``created a turning point for gay and lesbian society in Britain'' and an interview with the ``famous at 15, fabolous at 50'' Lulu, complete with her ``transglobal Scottish accent'' and Eurovision successes.
Lulu is not running for election, though believe it or not country music star TR Dallas, of Who shot JR Ewing? fame, is pitching his big hat into the ring in Longford. Yeehaw!
By Sean O Donaile