Comments on: GREGORY’S BOY http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/ It's a group blog. What more do you need to know? Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:24:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: WorldbyStorm http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69147 WorldbyStorm Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:02:25 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69147 You make a good argument sonofstan. I'm nearly convinced. That said I still think we're looking at FF, an impression confirmed by the enormous turn out of FF pols at the removal this evening in St. Agatha's. Re Gars point, the Left Archive has some IRSP stuff from the 1980s which relates to Tony's campaigning, but I don't have (ironically enough) any of Tony's early stuff. I'm sure Conor would be grateful for any donations, as would I. You make a good argument sonofstan. I’m nearly convinced. That said I still think we’re looking at FF, an impression confirmed by the enormous turn out of FF pols at the removal this evening in St. Agatha’s.

Re Gars point, the Left Archive has some IRSP stuff from the 1980s which relates to Tony’s campaigning, but I don’t have (ironically enough) any of Tony’s early stuff. I’m sure Conor would be grateful for any donations, as would I.

]]> By: sonofstan http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69134 sonofstan Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:13:06 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69134 <i>MLM will be fighting hard for SF.</i> MLM (or any other SF candidate) has no chance in a bye- election - they are, as someone said on Slugger, 'transfer repellent' (remember its not first past the post, even though only one TD is being elected, it's single tranferable vote still, so the winner has to get 50%+1). Obviously, the 'right- wing' vote i quoted above represents a commanding lead, but remember, 3,000 of that is FG, which won't transfer to FF, and about a 1,000 odd is, variously, Christian Solidarity, Immigration Control and other loopers (and a PD). Unlikely to transfer anywhere much. The 'Left' vote on the other hand, is at least possibly transferable to one candidate in some numbers - Costello, Gregory and Christy Burke when he was the SF candidate used to swap substantial numbers of votes, I think, and while Patricia McKenna is unlikely to run, she got the guts of 2,000 votes last time, which in this constituency is definitely a leftist vote, whatever about the Greens' credentials elsewhere. I wouldn't be so bold as to predict a Labour win, but it's definitely winnable MLM will be fighting hard for SF.

MLM (or any other SF candidate) has no chance in a bye- election - they are, as someone said on Slugger, ‘transfer repellent’ (remember its not first past the post, even though only one TD is being elected, it’s single tranferable vote still, so the winner has to get 50%+1).

Obviously, the ‘right- wing’ vote i quoted above represents a commanding lead, but remember, 3,000 of that is FG, which won’t transfer to FF, and about a 1,000 odd is, variously, Christian Solidarity, Immigration Control and other loopers (and a PD). Unlikely to transfer anywhere much.

The ‘Left’ vote on the other hand, is at least possibly transferable to one candidate in some numbers - Costello, Gregory and Christy Burke when he was the SF candidate used to swap substantial numbers of votes, I think, and while Patricia McKenna is unlikely to run, she got the guts of 2,000 votes last time, which in this constituency is definitely a leftist vote, whatever about the Greens’ credentials elsewhere.

I wouldn’t be so bold as to predict a Labour win, but it’s definitely winnable

]]> By: Seán Báite http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69132 Seán Báite Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:28:56 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69132 Don't mention it WbS - bad way to start off a year that was looking pretty shite all on its own. From what you and SOS say, the left vote looks to be a bit dispersed alright. All depends whether or not those 12,000 Bertophiles turn out and still vote for the Sodgers of Destiny. Would be an absolute shocker if the Sodgers took advantage of his passing away to win another seat in the constituency. Gar - ta for the comment and take from the time you were in Dublin (and I was just beginning to drink me wy through me communion money). For photos and documents and other material on TG - I'm not in a very good position - as I too am no longer in Dublin (10 years away). Conor from this parish and WbS over at Cedar Lounge are far more efficient and dedicated at putting up archive material like that - hopefully one or other will put some up. Don’t mention it WbS - bad way to start off a year that was looking pretty shite all on its own. From what you and SOS say, the left vote looks to be a bit dispersed alright. All depends whether or not those 12,000 Bertophiles turn out and still vote for the Sodgers of Destiny.
Would be an absolute shocker if the Sodgers took advantage of his passing away to win another seat in the constituency.

Gar - ta for the comment and take from the time you were in Dublin (and I was just beginning to drink me wy through me communion money). For photos and documents and other material on TG - I’m not in a very good position - as I too am no longer in Dublin (10 years away). Conor from this parish and WbS over at Cedar Lounge are far more efficient and dedicated at putting up archive material like that - hopefully one or other will put some up.

]]> By: WorldbyStorm http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69126 WorldbyStorm Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:21:49 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69126 Thanks Sean. I can't really describe how flat I feel about all this. It's a bit like being winded. And I know all his organisation feel much the same. Anyone who met him will confirm he had a remarkable presence, he was a small wiry man with an incredible focus and intensity. Not easy to get along with on occasion, but well worth talking to and even more worth listening to. And an intuitive grasp of politics that saw him remain when other figures on the left (many equally good in their own ways) fell by the wayside. As to the future. Well, in addition to Labour, MLM will be fighting hard for SF. Perry may well go forth again, but his vote is largely restricted to Cabra. The Greens might give it a shot with their guy up towards Drumcondra. I have no idea whether the Gregory organisation will put forward a candidate. I can think of two who might go for it. Remember Maureen O'Sullivan was recently co-opted as his Councillor on DCC. But being a pessimist I suspect this is FF's to lose since the left vote will be so fragmented. Thanks Sean. I can’t really describe how flat I feel about all this. It’s a bit like being winded. And I know all his organisation feel much the same. Anyone who met him will confirm he had a remarkable presence, he was a small wiry man with an incredible focus and intensity. Not easy to get along with on occasion, but well worth talking to and even more worth listening to. And an intuitive grasp of politics that saw him remain when other figures on the left (many equally good in their own ways) fell by the wayside.

As to the future. Well, in addition to Labour, MLM will be fighting hard for SF. Perry may well go forth again, but his vote is largely restricted to Cabra. The Greens might give it a shot with their guy up towards Drumcondra. I have no idea whether the Gregory organisation will put forward a candidate. I can think of two who might go for it. Remember Maureen O’Sullivan was recently co-opted as his Councillor on DCC.

But being a pessimist I suspect this is FF’s to lose since the left vote will be so fragmented.

]]> By: sonofstan http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69122 sonofstan Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:14:49 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69122 <i>God knows where the seat will go in a Bye-election too - is there any chance it will stay on the left ??</i> Every chance, I would have thought - looking at the result at the last GE gives a figure of 15, 131 for 'left' candidates (Lab, SF, Green, Gregory and Ciaran Perry) and 19, 510 for 'right' candidates but, and its a big but, the latter includes 12k for Bertie, which won't be there next time. Given the state of the government, this should be Labour*'s to win; they can attract transfers from all the other left groups AND at least some from FG. *I realise some won't necessarily see that as a 'left' win. God knows where the seat will go in a Bye-election too - is there any chance it will stay on the left ??

Every chance, I would have thought - looking at the result at the last GE gives a figure of 15, 131 for ‘left’ candidates (Lab, SF, Green, Gregory and Ciaran Perry) and 19, 510 for ‘right’ candidates but, and its a big but, the latter includes 12k for Bertie, which won’t be there next time. Given the state of the government, this should be Labour*’s to win; they can attract transfers from all the other left groups AND at least some from FG.

*I realise some won’t necessarily see that as a ‘left’ win.

]]> By: Gar http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69121 Gar Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:57:25 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69121 The poverty of the 1970s, especially after the world oil crisis, plunged Tony Gregory into community activism in Dublin's inner city. The containerisation of commercial shipping had drastically reduced jobs down on the docks. This created a huge blight of unemployment among traditional docker families in the Sheriff Street area and elsewhere. The resort to drug taking and the willingness of drug pushers to supply a market horrified Tony, who saw the human costs at first hand. (Conor Brady, not yet editor of the Irish Times, had a series of three well researched articles on the social blight of the north inner city sometime around 1979, I think.) Tony Gregory was also aware of the decayed slum tenements that people lived in and the Corpo's slow rehousing programme. I admire Gregory for his commitment, not least for having lived physically among the people he so well represented in a dwelling on a narrow street off Ballybough Road. I've lived away from Dublin for over twenty years, but was involved quietly for a few years in the late 1970s in social campaigning activity based in Buckingham Street. Please post more information and photos relating to his life and campaigns. The people of no property or power in Dublin have lost a great champion. The poverty of the 1970s, especially after the world oil crisis, plunged Tony Gregory into community activism in Dublin’s inner city. The containerisation of commercial shipping had drastically reduced jobs down on the docks. This created a huge blight of unemployment among traditional docker families in the Sheriff Street area and elsewhere. The resort to drug taking and the willingness of drug pushers to supply a market horrified Tony, who saw the human costs at first hand. (Conor Brady, not yet editor of the Irish Times, had a series of three well researched articles on the social blight of the north inner city sometime around 1979, I think.) Tony Gregory was also aware of the decayed slum tenements that people lived in and the Corpo’s slow rehousing programme. I admire Gregory for his commitment, not least for having lived physically among the people he so well represented in a dwelling on a narrow street off Ballybough Road. I’ve lived away from Dublin for over twenty years, but was involved quietly for a few years in the late 1970s in social campaigning activity based in Buckingham Street. Please post more information and photos relating to his life and campaigns. The people of no property or power in Dublin have lost a great champion.

]]> By: Seán Báite http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69120 Seán Báite Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:20:16 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69120 Thanks for the comment FP. The bloody cancer doesn't seem to be too discerning about who it takes. Might be the age I'm coming to - but I get the feeling it gets first choice on all of the dacenter people. Donagh - true enough - and by Jaysus, there were a few in the same constituency as him where the mere mention of their names got me retching. God knows where the seat will go in a Bye-election too - is there any chance it will stay on the left ?? Thanks for the comment FP. The bloody cancer doesn’t seem to be too discerning about who it takes. Might be the age I’m coming to - but I get the feeling it gets first choice on all of the dacenter people.
Donagh - true enough - and by Jaysus, there were a few in the same constituency as him where the mere mention of their names got me retching.
God knows where the seat will go in a Bye-election too - is there any chance it will stay on the left ??

]]> By: Donagh http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69118 Donagh Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:19:44 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69118 I think Gregory was the only TD who didn't, at some point, make you feel a bit sick when he appeared on the TV news. I always liked him, and admired his independence. He'll be sorely missed. I think Gregory was the only TD who didn’t, at some point, make you feel a bit sick when he appeared on the TV news. I always liked him, and admired his independence. He’ll be sorely missed.

]]> By: FP http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69117 FP Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:40:49 +0000 http://dublinopinion.com/2009/01/03/gregorys-boy/#comment-69117 With Irish public life infested with people shamelessly, no, proudly, on the make, one of the few who truly understood public good and public service has to die. It's a sad day for all of us. With Irish public life infested with people shamelessly, no, proudly, on the make, one of the few who truly understood public good and public service has to die. It’s a sad day for all of us.

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