Election 2014: Team Fine Gael

With counting from most poll centres almost complete the Irish electorate will now reflect on the new political landscape that that is unfolding before its eyes.

It was quickly becoming clear that the main Coalition party, Fine Gael:

had a very poor election. Its vote share has dropped by more than 12 percentage points since the general election and, despite the overall increase in the number of council seats, the party is still going to lose more than 100 from its total of 335.

Its losses seemed particularly pronounced in Dublin City Council.

Nevertheless, the future of party leader and Taoiseach Enda Kenny looks secure.

Gerald Sweetman welcoming new Fine Gael TDs to Dail Eireann, 1958. 

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive

Bankers Booked

Yesterday a small group of protesters gathered throughout the afternoon outside Dail Eireann in protest at the kleptocratic culture that mushroomed in Ireland under the Celtic Tiger, the public face of which in recent times has become the bankers.

Book The Bankers protest outside Dail Eireann on 4/07/2013

Protests in the same location against the banks have taken place in the past.

What made this one different is that atypical for street protests there were no people standing on soap boxes pushing a political agenda. It was a silent protest. Each protester came as an equal, a book in hand, which they stood reading as part of a silent protest named Book The Bankers by the people who made the initial call for a rally. Amongst the books on display were Banksters and Nineteen Eighty Four.

Quieter Times: 16th Dail Reopens at Leinster House, 20/03/1957

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive

Book The Bankers

On Thursday from 1500 throughout the remainder of the day and evening a protest will take place outside Dail Eireann, the scene of a number of protest gatherings in recent years.

Like many Dail protests before it this one is being led and driven by women infuriated at the massive theft inflcited on Irish society by the banks.The women hope to register their anger with Taoiseach Enda Collegue and his fellow TDs, arguing that the government too has been robbed blind by the banks.

You canlisten to ‘Book the Bankers interview on Phantom FM’ on Audioboo

Newly Elected TD Enda Kenny arrives at The
Dail on the 18th November 1975

Purchase framed photographs and prints @ Irish Photo Archive

No Order in the House

Yesterday Dail Eireann hosted a vituperative exchange between Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Louth TD Gerry Adams. At one point the speaker, Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett suspended the house for ten minutes in a bid to restore order. 

Earlier this year Enda Kenny launched the Lensmen book 1950s Ireland in Pictures

Taoiseach Enda Kenny with Lensmen team past and present at book launch