Politics changed utterly since Meaney’s glory days
EVEN though it’s almost 40 years since Tom Meaney was standing for election in the constituency now known as Cork North West – but then as Mid Cork – the former Fianna Fáil TD and Assistant Government Chief Whip is keeping a keen eye on the local political situation from his home near Derrynagree
Speaking to The Corkman in advance of Saturday’s poll, Tom, now a sprightly 88 years of age, remarks that his own involvement in politics at present is focused on his role as chairman of the Clonbanin Ambush Commemoration Committee, a body whose membership includes former Fine Gael TD Áine Collins and representatives of other parties.
“I’m very broad about politics now,” he says.
During his 17 years in Dáil Éireann, Tom Meaney was an assistant whip for the Government during the period of the Arms Crisis in 1970. His task after that was to ensure Charlie Haughey and other TDs who had either resigned from Fianna Fáil or been sacked would continue to support the government.
And this he managed to do until 1973, when the Government had run its course and during a very tense period in terms of north-south relations and when there was a very real threat to the State.
“I talked to them and gave them my word that I wouldn’t disclose what was happening and I kept to my word and they continued to support the government in crucial votes,” he recalls.
“As soon as the election was over, I burned their private numbers.”
He maintained his friendship with these figures, some of whom made a return to leadership roles.
First elected in 1965, he was returned every election in mid Cork until 1982 when he polled a respectable 7,200 votes - but still was edged out in a tough three way fight in the new Cork North West constituency.
“I think it still stands as a record for the most first preference votes polled by a candidate who wasn’t subsequently elected,” he remarks grimly.
His view of the current electoral fray in Cork North West is that the constituency is very difficult to call with one of the reasons being that a number of candidates who stood for election in 2016 not being involved this time.
He reckons there’s at least 8,000 votes up for grabs given that four candidates from 2016 are not standing on this occasion
– these include SF’s Nigel Dennehy (3,238), Diarmuid O’Flynn of the Ballyhea protesters (2,159), Re Nua’s Jason Fitzgerald (1,568) and Independent Stephen O’Riordan (1,361) – and this doesn’t take into consideration at all the 6,237 votes of former Fine Gael TD Áine Collins. Tomreckons these will be chased by John Paul O’Shea who’s liable to lose some of the 4,500 odd votes he gained last time when he stood as an independent as some at least are likely to go back to Michael Moynihan.
Another factor that will play into the numerology of this election is the distribution of the 19,000 votes in Ballincollig which is being eyed by all of leading contenders though none of them are based in the town. Tom regards the Green Party and Social Democrat candidates, Colette Finn and Ciaran McCarthy respectively, who live in Ballincollig, as unknown quantities.
“I see votes going everywhere,” says Tom. “I really don’t know how it’s going to go.”
The political scene, particularly the election canvass, have changed drastically since his day.
“Now canvassing is a very short day indeed as canvassing after 7.30 in the evening is discouraged with notices on doors telling politicians and their followers not to call after that time.
“People are missing the human intervention – it’s all depending on the media now.”
One notable exception to that trend lies over the border in Kerry where’s he’s impressed by the Healy Rae electoral machine.
“I would have been a contemporary of Jackie Healy Rae but they’ve not lost the human touch, the eye to eye contact, they’ve a lot of people going around talking to people and looking for their votes.”
As far as Tom is concerned, you don’t have to agree with the Healy Raes’ politics to see that their machine is impressive.
“In my time elections were tough and hard and I had a pile of volunteers willing to give of their time.”
One issue he feels strongly about is that politicians are possibly being paid too much. “In the 1930s T.Ds sought extra allowances and Devalera turned them down because he believed that overpaid politicians would be in danger of losing their idealism.”
The days when people approached politicians to solve their problems by calling to their clinics are also over or at least drawing to a close, he feels, because people can alert a politician to a problem via a social media post or text.
Commenting on this week’s opinion polls which place Sinn Féin as the leading party with 25%, Tom feels this shows the middle ground is ‘slipping’ and that it contrasts sharply with the days when Fianna Fáil were up in the low to mid forties and Fine Gael was not too far behind.
A strong factor in this election and possibly causing the fragmentation is the uncertainty over the future which many people are harbouring. Tom points to Brexit and the possibility of another downturn in the economy which would have devastating consequences for workers and families.
As someone who was in active politics when the focus was almost entirely on the manifesto – and back in the 1970s, Fianna Fáil’s 1977 election manifesto stands out – he’s not sure whether people have time to read or take in manifestos any more.
He offers no predictions as to how Cork North West will vote on Saturday – but he will be watching closely where the votes will be going and his analysis will be as sharp as ever once the votes are counted.
He’s also a prime example of the fact that there is indeed life after politics!