Gregory election agent to stand for Dáil

by Silas Marner - Gentlemens Club of St Stephens Green Wed Apr 15, 2009 03:49

Certain matters of public interest continue to intrigue my inquiring mind , as people know only too well the danger of putting a politician on a pedestal
which in time merely serves to come back to bite through the very fabric of our minds , leaving us dissilusioned and angry for being so stupid in the
first place .With the greatest of respect to the late Tony Gregory i think he was an exception to the rule ........However, there are no Tony Gregory's around
anymore, sad but true . I feel we should seek the best from our mish mash politicians which we have stuck ourselves with, for the present at least .

May i be so bold to suggest ,next June for example ,that we grill these Great Imposters as to their fitness for office ,look them straight in the eye and
say what you mean and mean what you say ,after all would you even contemplate buying a new car from most of them, never mind a used car , or do we
want more of the same , what have we allowed ourselves to become as a resuly of voting these thicks into the cosiest jobs in the Emerald Isle .
We have become their' Lackies ' ,bowing and scraping along the way in order to appease their Giant Ego's and full steam ahead to riches beyond
their wildest dreams . Use the Brain that we are blessed with and watch their every move as if its their last , make them accountable for their inactions
at every turn and this time keep our eye on the ball AND the player .

by Phisboro Voter Tue Apr 14, 2009 19:47

What's all this baout "centre-left"? Does O'Sullivan put herself on the political spectrum as "centre-left"? At present I intend to give her my No. 1 vote. But this talk of being "centre-left" has given me second thoughts. I heard that Gregory did not endorse O'Sullivan, Rafferty or his brother Noel for the Dáil by-election. I heard he wanted Joe Higgins to run for the seat. I heard that Higgins is running for MEP same day - I assume that 'Gregory Group' will also campaign for him.

Tony was a socialist. He was clearly on the side of working people. It's complete rubbish to say he was some kind of "Jackie Healy-Rae". He was a good TD that stood firmly on the side of the poor and oppressed.

by qed Sun Apr 12, 2009 21:43

Tony Gregory was indeed a founder member of the IRSP.
He is on record as being approched by Seamus Costello and agreed to join as long as he was not required to sell newspapers. Although the INLA was set up at the same time, Gregory denied that he had any knowledge of it.

He formally left the IRSP, but kept links with that organization. In 1995 he visited an INLA prisoner who was on hunger strike in prison.

by plodder Sun Apr 12, 2009 01:11

Tony began his interest in politics by joining pre-split Sinn Fein at the age of about 16. He went to UCD (with gallant support from his working class parents) in the late '60s and set up a Republican Club there. Then came the northern riots of 1969 and rumblings in Sinn Fein. Gregory's ideological sympathies were with Seamus Costello, the republican socialist. After Costello's views were suppressed Gregory left what had just recently been tagged the stickies. (The name stuck.) He remained friendly with IRSP people in Dublin Central and became involved in local social issues, getting elected to Dublin city council as an independent in 1979. His formal association with the Irps faded as his community issues-oriented activism gathered momentum. He remained resolutely independent and issues-focused for the remainder of his life, but never forgot his Irish nationalism. I suppose in practice he functioned as a constitutional nationalist, but as a social activist was prepared to go to jail for violating legal tripwires.

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Gregory

by sb - SWP Sun Apr 12, 2009 00:23

Wasnt Tony a founding member of the INLA or IPLO or one of them

by Nano - tony gregory Tue Mar 24, 2009 04:18

dont forget the rogues and the bullies going round at the moment in gregorys 'honour ' .
their not fit to lick his shoes .Tony was a grear guy but the same cant be said for the troops he left in the know , they have a long hill to climb to get the
respect Tony achieved from a lfetime of dedication to people he represented from the north inner city of dublin .

by Michael Gallagher Tue Mar 24, 2009 00:34

Just a couple of pointers. The so called 'Gregory Group' sold out to the 'money group', the Dublin Docklands Development Authority/FF quango long ago. While I will never talk ill of the dead, Tony Gregory did do a lot for the North Inner City.
One example of the sell out though, I know of a local resident who recently went to a member of the' Gregory Group/Gang looking for financial support for a community based project. He was lied to and made to feel unwelcome, but was given the very valuable advice to approach a well known wannabe Fianna Fáil councillor, who is also a leading board member of the DDDA.

There is a rotten can of worms in the North Inner City that hasn't been breached, yet.

While I don't agree with Sinn Féin on many issues, for his work and long time committment for the residents of the North Inner City, Christy Burke will be getting my vote.

by untied Sun Mar 15, 2009 01:12

Tony Gregory refused to wear a tie in the Dail saying half his constituents never wore one. A backbench Labour MP has recently been rebuked in the House of Commons for not wearing a tie when asking a question.
Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/499....html

by Eddie Woods Sat Mar 07, 2009 16:40

When did Tony Gregory become a "socialist" TD? he may have been socialist in his personal opinions but he kept them well hidden from the voters. The aul bull about the starry plough on his posters was about the old posters, the ones that tony reused so as to save his money! New posters had no logo. O'Sullivan is not a socialist candidate but a community candidate supported by the remenants of the Gregory campaign. Labour are not a socialist party so their victory will not be a left vote. Sinn Fein are a centre right party so their votes will not be socialist. Therefore, there is no realistic socialist candidate running now.

by rosaiskra - young Spartacists Thu Mar 05, 2009 23:59 madcow at busrage dot com

Its rejuvenating to hear political activists debating upcoming byelection nic. Its also hopeful that gregory supporters have called on all groups to rally behind one left candidate, Maureen O'sullivan. Without one coherent voice this seat in the state parliment will be lost to capitalist group. Now that the national liberation is no longer high adjenda, the state govt are looking for some distraction for their failed economics and inevitable mismanagement of workers expenditure. Time not for sniping at each person or groups. Fr what i understand, only candiates standing in nic : on right declared they are : O'donehue and finafail person. Nationalist candidate Mary lou or chris burke would take working class vote from left. Apart fr O'Sullivan, only Malaghy Steenson on left have declared interest. I think it would be difficult for Emer Costello to win this seat, though good, people are reluctant to put husband/wife act, no matter. They will know this and either standaside or more probably another candidate; BUT what they shoud do in my opionion : SF, Lab, WP and other left candidates, is give ther vote to one agreed socialist candidate. Maybe as mentioned already, no agreement would emerge. BUT it would be better than taking individual assasinations. The worst thing that can happen is that we lose this working people's seat and best thing is that we win back seat and a more defined socialist way forward. It is gratisfying to know that their our people in communitiy willing to stand up for people and fight for our rights, all should be respected and challenged ONLY upon their political stance - All candidates should be challenged on their position to class economy at the minute. And lend an ear to dublin's working class hero ; Late Tony Gregory RIP. Freedom from slavery!!

by Plodding Pete Thu Mar 05, 2009 05:14

"Tony Gregory was the Jacky Healy-Rae of Dublin" - nonsense. Tony represented the interests of those living on the edge in Dublin Central i.e. street traders, the unemployed and those doing casual labour. He went to jail for more than a week some years ago when he took part in a protest to defend the famous Moore Street traders whose marginal livelihood was being threatened by collusion by Corpo hacks and property development 'interests'. He lived in the same kind of dwelling typical to the area in which he grew up, and claimed expenses modestly. He spoke intelligently on national and international issues and was always willing to hear pleadings from groups who felt that their concerns were being ignored by the parties and by the media. The use of the expression "the Gregory gang" is another ridiculous hyperbole. The community activists who rallied around Gregory at election time were, and are, deeply involved on a day-to-day basis on housing, health and educational issues affecting the quality of life of the residents.

The begrudgery and exaggeration of some sectarian contributions on this thread iare both laughable and sad.

I imagine that the candidate put up by Gregory's supporters in the by-election will perform well and show that an independent left seat can be won in the next general election in the constituency. And good luck to whoever contests the Corpo seat in May-June.

by Ruben Creedon Wed Mar 04, 2009 19:33

Tony Gregory was the Jackie Healy Rae of Dublin and it appears that Maureen O'Sullivan is playing the role of young Healy Rae, that is, the chosen one without the election. O'Sullivan was not elected yet the Gregory Gang think we should roll over and allow them free reign. Tony was always jealous of Joe and I think his comrades are now afraid of the next Labour TD for Dublin Central. Gregory was a Fianna Fail apologist and Labour are the workers representatives. As for the workers party, they should get real and join Labour like Democratic Left did. We are the future.

by splitter Wed Mar 04, 2009 16:52

Hey Pat, I hope you realise that Gandhi is none other than Malachy himself. This was discussed openly in another forum. The above praise of himself was hilarious, and worrying, in a mental health kinda way. While we are all used to endless splits in the Stickies , are these split personalities in it's members a new trend ?

by pat c Wed Mar 04, 2009 16:45

Malachy said that Sean Garland was arrested to divert attention from the economic crisis. Would any rational person believe that? More to the point: would any rational person say it?

The WP have no base in Dublin Central, the last time they stood in an election there was in 1999.

In the whole of Dublin in 2007 the WP got the following votes:
Dublin North West Owen Martin 240
Dublin South Central Andrew McGuinness 256
Dublin Mid West Mick Finnegan 366

Truly a threat to the state.

Ghandi I fear that you are starting to believe your own propaganda.

by Ghandi Wed Mar 04, 2009 16:35

Plus I would suggest his work on the ground over many years, and current activity much of which has concentrated on the economic situation. He regularly put out statements as you have noted and debates both at public meetings and in debates with other candidates where he holds his own fairly well and also on radio etc.

by pat c Wed Mar 04, 2009 16:03

But Hansard was based in the North Inner City and he only got 102 votes. There is no evidence of any increased support for the WP. The fact that the WP did not even stand in the 2004 locals or 2002 and 2007 general elections speaks volumes. The only thing which has increased is the number of press releases issued by Malachy.

by Ghandi Wed Mar 04, 2009 15:52

Whatever about the past we are clearly in a different climate now in many ways, whilst I note your comments in respect of previous elections, Linda Kavanagh was based in the Ballyfermot end of the constituency.

Its true that WP have not previously made an electoral impact in Dublin Central but its clear that their policies have been consistant and are more relevant now than ever in terms of he class struggle.

by pat c Wed Mar 04, 2009 15:27

I don't think the WP will make any significant intervention in the Dublin Central by election. The last time the WP stood for the Dail in DC was in 1997, Linda Kavanagh got 509 votes, 1.42% of the poll.

In the North Inner City Ward in the 1999 local elections, Paul Hansard got 102 votes for the WP, 1.09% of the poll.

by mal content Wed Mar 04, 2009 14:56

The workers party candidate will be Malachy Steenson . He recently failed to get enough votes to join the board of his local credit union. The right wing are not yet shaking in their boots. The left are, with laughter .

by Ghandi Wed Mar 04, 2009 14:42

The Workers Party will be announcing its decision on the bye election shortly, and are expected to stand. At this point there have been no discussions with “The Gregory Group” in regard to any issues, nor would I suggest are there likely to be.

The bye election will effectively be a choice between a continuance of current policies by right wing governments and right wing opposition and a left wing position.

by John Maguire Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:56

I thought one of the objectives of the Left was to end cronyism, like Pat C, I had barely heard of O'Sullivan. It would seem obvisious that Gregory had selected Rafferty, who won a council seat based on Gregory's patronage and then could'nt be bothered to do the job and was replaced by O'Sullivan.

by pat c Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:18

What do you mean by playing politics? Disagreeing with you. How do you know that Tony would have wanted this woman to stand? Did you hold a seance?

She has never been elected to anything. She got Mick Raffertys council seat when he stepped down. I was involved in the Dublin Inner City Partnership for eight years and I never met or even heard of her.

Its nonsense to suggest that other progressive candiates should step down and give a clear run to someone who has no track record and is only known to and selected by a small circle in the North East Inner City.

by Wayne Wed Mar 04, 2009 00:05

Maureen has done trojan work in the area and deserves election and Tony would have wanted this.

by Ruben Creedon Tue Mar 03, 2009 18:53

I knew Tony for years but never saw this women at meetings etc..,. Is she new to politics? Why would anyone vote for somebody that knew a previous candidate? It does not make sense.

by Arnold Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:48

"The Gregory Group has also asked Sinn Féin and the Labour Party to 'put their money where their mouth is' "

I'm not sure what this means. Why should parties who have contested against Tony Gregory for 20 years stand aside? Did they give a commitment to do so? That's what the post implies and if they did they should certainly abide by it but I've never heard of it.

by Peader Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:58

Good. Tony trusted her, so do I. She has my vote.