Galway Advertiser 1977/1977_06_30/GA_30061977_E1_004.pdf 

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Still recovering from the which Mr. Blaney brought in aftermath of the General as Minister for Local Govern Election, it has been difficult ment way back in the early to keep up with the clean-out sixties), does not speak Irish. in Irish political leadership There were complaints from over the past week. How Fine Gael when a programme things have changed, changed in English by their Donegal utterly, in a fortnight. Even candidates was stopped. It is before the party faithful had interesting to note that the time to take down those "You objection to the Blaney can have confidence in broadcast was not that English Cosgrave" posters, Liam had should not be used on the gone to the back benches. It is Gaeltacht service but rather reported that Mr. Cosgrave's that Fine Gael were not given resignation was announced the chance to do the same under "any other business" at thing. The idea of R.T.E. party meeting. If true, it is sacking anybody because of a typical of the man. For one row about the use of material thing he seemed to have in English being directed at a surprised the political com Gaeltacht area, will be difficult to understand. What do mentators again! R.T.E. broadcast to the BLANEY'S BLARNEY Language problems seem Gaeltacht most of the time? to have erupted in Donegal Do they not even do special where, it is reported, the first programmes and interviews sacking from the R. na G. about Gaeltacht subjects and service has taken place-- personalities in English, so ordered, no doubt, by "R.T.E. that the rest of us can get a officials" who probably never better insight (mar dhea!) into saw the place. The reported the life and mentality of the reason for the dispute--and natives? Remember all the we are relying on reports in the moonshine about poitin re national press--was the de cently? And what about all the cision to allow Niall Blaney miles of tape and film and the time to broadcast in English tons of scripts from Tom from the Donegal station O'Donnell in the second before the election. It seems vernacular, to which we were the big Republican of the subjected, in his attempt to tell North, who then held two the public, and even probably seats in Donegal, but has not himself, to believe that some had his Independent Fianna type of revolution had taken Fail machine registered as an place in Gaeltacht affairs? RADIO MARATHON official party -- (ironically Having said that, we wish to enough under legislation

place on record our immense pleasure at having participated recently in the R. na G. election results special which ran until 3 a.m. on Saturday morning, and which resumed again from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. We are convinced, naturally, that it was the best coverage of all, and were told so by a number of persons. The real test in this case is when you meet people, and not just in Galway but in other counties which depend on VHF reception, that they actually turned off the tele vision to listen to the radio. This big-head is not taking any of the credit for all this. But it is interesting to note how few radio critics in any of the papers (except the Irish Times) even mentioned the effort mounted by the R. na G. staff, and to contrast that with the headlines which appear once again as soon as there is a rumour of a "row" or "trouble" in poor old R. na G. We got a chance to speak to a number of candidates--win ners and losers--during the course of the night. At the end of a link-line, it has to be admitted that the two first past the post in West Galway, Bobby Molloy and Maire Geoghegan-Quinn impressed, despite their obvious tiredness despite the late hour, and despite the fact that we had to call in Tralee and other places in between the various parts of the conversation. Mr. Molloy, of course, is an old and impressive hand. Mrs. Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, whom we do not even know well, was equally impressive. MICHAEL D. AND THE PILL Senator Higgins also turned in a good interview, in spite of all the things that were on his mind at the time, including the shadow of another near miss, michael D. seemed to suggest that he lost votes on the itinerant issue. He even mentioned certain areas which

were involved, and where he said he polled badly. He also seemed to be under the impression that a document from a group calling itself the "Christian Political Action Movement" did him damage, because it urged people not to vote for certain candidates from all parties, and in many parts of the country, because of their alleged views on the issue of contraception. There may be something in this. There was a letter from a group in U.C.G. last week condemning the leaflet, and suggesting that it is "devoid of any theological basis," amongst other things. Be that as it may, the case is a little more complex, in view of the fact that amongst the other candidates people were urged not to vote for were Mr. Jack Lynch in Cork and Mr. Garrett FitzGerald in Dublin. Neither of these fared very badly. In fact most of those on the list were returned to the Dail with big votes. Which logically, would lead to the conclusion that contraception was not a major issue in the eyes of many. It so happens that Michael D. Higgins was the only West Galway poli tician mentioned on the CP.A.M. literature. It was brought to our attention before the election but we deliberately refrained from mentioning it lest we be accused of complicating the matter one way or the other. RUMOUR DAMAGE If Michael D. wished to deny that he subscribed to what was alleged in the document, the political impli cations of denying it might be just as bad as confirming them. As against that, however, the fact that Michael D. Higgins was only one of two candidates in West Galway who openly identified himself with the pro-contraception viewpoint (the other candidate was Mr. Coffey. Mr. Coogan seems to have missed the question

altogether in the replies which were published in the Galway Advertiser) in this area, led some to believe that it gave him a definite block of votes from that section of the population who share his viewpoint. When asked about this on Radio na Gaeltachta, it seems, he did not agree. Instead there were complaints about a Sunday Independent report that he advocated certain other legislative re forms, which we dare not even mention here, for fear we get it wrong. We are not so clear about the speech reported in the Irish Independent the Saturday before the election. Even if he does subscribe to what is alleged he advocated on that occasion, then again, informed political observers will tell you that there are votes to be picked up on such a platform, though of course you alienate many others. The main point to be made, however, is that the idea seems to have got abroad somewhere that whatever crowd of busybodies issued that CP.A.M. leaflet were not entitled to raise their own set of issues which they considered impor tant in this election. RIGHT TO SPEAK They have no right to speak on behalf of others, or on behalf of other Christians. But if they feel that the sale and promotion of contraceptives should remain illegal or that there should be no change in the Constitutional prohibition of divorce, they have every right to tell the public and the politicians as much. They also have every right to try and publicise the names of those politicians who either agree or disagree with their viewpoint. And the politicians, on both sides, will have to make up their mind what they really stand for. They are just being asked to clarify where they stand. The consequences of either position are pretty well known. Michael D. Higgins

has taken a pretty open stand on both contraception and divorce, a much more honest and open stand than many others. He knows what he has to gain or to lose by so doing, and any attempt to distort his position in any way, is to be deplored by all who do not subscribe to the idea of guilt by association. But he cannot expect those who genuinely disagree with his position to refrain from making their voices heard in opposition. SORRY JACK in congratulating Mr. Jack Mahon on his series on Connacht football in the Western People, we would like to point out that no offence was intended recently when we failed to remain on at his School's Prize-Giving evening having failed to make contact with Donncha O Dulaing. We had hoped to see Donncha about another matter alto gether before the presentation. The main part of the evening, was in fact, booked out to allow attendance at a Galway West Labour Constituency meeting at which Senator Michael D. Higgins had some very important things to say about the Galway housing situation. WRONG B U T CLOSE The media scene in Mayo is really hotting up and, to date at any rate, the real benefactors have been the readers of newspapers in the area. John Healy's predictions on the General Election in the new Western Journal were some of the best that were made, in what was admittedly, a disastrous election for political commentators. Healy did not get it right no more than anybody else but he was close enough to the eventual situation to be recognised as one of the shrewdest type writers in the business, whose retirn to active service will be widely welcomed. When Jim McGuire left Ballina for a Kerryman posting, we ex

pressed the view that the hard hitting editor would be missed in Connacht. It is an indication of the man's concern for this part of the world that he has now returned to Ballina to take part in the very challenging task of launching the Western Journal, at a time when most newspaper people are talking about a contracting industry. It is now in order to welcome him back and to wish the venture well. We have liked what we have seen so far, though this in no way implies that we share Mr. McGuire's views on any given topic. A word of welcome also for the news that Galway Rovers have become big boys in Irish soccer at last. Now that they have new horizons and new standards to meet, we hope they will get the support they deserve locally, and that they will live up to the expectations of their fans, old and new, young and old. WHAT SUMMER? Bonfires blazed in tradition al style on many hilltops around Galway on Thursday last. Not for Jack Lynch, we hasten to add. Just the age-old custom of Oiche Shin Seain which still survives in spite of the oil crisis and the increasing cost of fuel. Long may it cintinue! But it is, however, i reminder that we have passed the longest day of 1977, and that the days are getting shorter already. You will not notice it for a while yet. However, the bonfires are an annual reminder to make the best of what is left of the Summer holidays. We always left it too late in this part of the world. And if the farmers complain of drought COACHMAN HOTEL

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O N T H E R I V E R C O R R I B 1977
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