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01 Sep 11
10:38
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Date Joined:
05 Jan 10
Former Fianna Fail leader Bertie Ahern’s savage attack on the party he led has provoked a spirited reaction from current Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin.
Mr Ahern described some members of cumainn - local party branches - as "useless good-for-nothings".
In an upcoming documentary with TV3 on the demise of Fianna Fail, he said rank and file were having "tea parties" during the 1970s and 1980s about the state of the world.
"But as far as building up the Fianna Fail vote in these areas, they were useless," he said.
Staunchly defending his own stewardship of the party leading up to its electoral meltdown, Mr Ahern singled out a cumann in Dublin's north inner city during the 1970s, who he said were not northsiders and were frightened of crossing the Liffey.
"They were afraid to come into Sean McDermott Street, to drive through it, never mind canvass it," he said.
"So, quite frankly, they were a bunch of useless good for nothings."
Reacting to the remarks, Mr Martin said he would wait to see the documentary but would be appalled to hear the party grassroots described in such a way.
"That would be a completely unacceptable comment to make of the members of the party," he said.
Mr Martin said he had great respect for every member of the Fianna Fail party and was trying to encourage people to enter public life.
"I would be appalled if that description was made of any party member," he said. "Members of cumainn are the life blood of politics."
Yesterday, Mr Martin confirmed that Fianna Fail will not run an internal candidate in the upcoming Presidential election.
After a three-and-a-half-hour parliamentary party meeting, the leader said it was a difficult decision that would disappoint many within its ranks.
"Nonetheless, it is a strategic decision," he said.
Mr Martin said the party needed to rebuild and renew itself to remain a force in Irish political life.
He said the next local elections would be the most significant electoral milestone facing the party, and he was concentrating on that.
- Brian Hutton
Mr Ahern described some members of cumainn - local party branches - as "useless good-for-nothings".
In an upcoming documentary with TV3 on the demise of Fianna Fail, he said rank and file were having "tea parties" during the 1970s and 1980s about the state of the world.
"But as far as building up the Fianna Fail vote in these areas, they were useless," he said.
Staunchly defending his own stewardship of the party leading up to its electoral meltdown, Mr Ahern singled out a cumann in Dublin's north inner city during the 1970s, who he said were not northsiders and were frightened of crossing the Liffey.
"They were afraid to come into Sean McDermott Street, to drive through it, never mind canvass it," he said.
"So, quite frankly, they were a bunch of useless good for nothings."
Reacting to the remarks, Mr Martin said he would wait to see the documentary but would be appalled to hear the party grassroots described in such a way.
"That would be a completely unacceptable comment to make of the members of the party," he said.
Mr Martin said he had great respect for every member of the Fianna Fail party and was trying to encourage people to enter public life.
"I would be appalled if that description was made of any party member," he said. "Members of cumainn are the life blood of politics."
Yesterday, Mr Martin confirmed that Fianna Fail will not run an internal candidate in the upcoming Presidential election.
After a three-and-a-half-hour parliamentary party meeting, the leader said it was a difficult decision that would disappoint many within its ranks.
"Nonetheless, it is a strategic decision," he said.
Mr Martin said the party needed to rebuild and renew itself to remain a force in Irish political life.
He said the next local elections would be the most significant electoral milestone facing the party, and he was concentrating on that.
- Brian Hutton
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It's about getting that balance betwwen the guys good at mobilising people and the guys who can formulate policy well, we haven't cracked it yet in Ireland I don't think.
Thats a very unfair interpretation of his comments,you are doing down a good man.
analogs wud u ever stop postin this shyte
bertie may have done a lot wrong but he knows better than anyone about what was going on in his party in the north inner city at that time
bertie may have done a lot wrong but he knows better than anyone about what was going on in his party in the north inner city at that time
Freddie report me if you don't like it. . .
Poor Bertie everyone is against him now,we still like him.
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