who is Brendan Smyth?

Fuinseog · 18-07-2011 3:52pm #1

no, not the priest, but a community activist? from Sandyvale.
He has letters in the Advertiser every now and then and appears to be quite erudite. He seems to have a lot to say and I am surprised he has never stood for election. What are his politics?

snubbleste · 18-07-2011 3:54pm

Write a letter to him and ask!

soundbyte · 18-07-2011 3:54pm

Speedie Smith:

http://brenspeedie.blogspot.com/

snubbleste · 18-07-2011 3:58pm

btw did anyone go on any of those day cycle tours? Thought about it during bike week but found something else to do.

Fuinseog · 18-07-2011 4:03pm

soundbyte wrote: »

Speedie Smith:

http://brenspeedie.blogspot.com/

he seems to be a complex character with something to say on a variety of topics. Just browsing through his blog gives the impression that he is of no particular politics.

lasgaviotas · 18-07-2011 5:33pm

He was President of the the Students Union in UCG years ago and a very good President he was indeed..he is still very enthusiastic about anything he puts his mind to..he appears to be a very modest individual with no airs or graces..

galwaycyclist · 18-07-2011 6:17pm

Speedie is good people. That said - he is sometimes seen consorting with class enemies, lackeys or other running dogs of the counter revolutionary elements and the occasional cyclist.

But then they could say the same thing about me

doubleglaze · 18-07-2011 6:33pm

There's great stuff in Speedie.

Sponge Bob · 18-07-2011 7:31pm

A legend in Galway, he drove the Terryland Forestry project and had the whole of Tirellan and Sandyvale out planting trees along the river from the Dyke Road to Riverside one weekend, looks quite nice now 10 years later.

They will name something after him while he is alive, of that I am sure

Fuinseog · 18-07-2011 8:47pm

galwaycyclist wrote: »

Speedie is good people. That said - he is sometimes seen consorting with class enemies, lackeys or other running dogs of the counter revolutionary elements and the occasional cyclist.

But then they could say the same thing about me

what are you on about?

Fuinseog · 18-07-2011 8:49pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

A legend in Galway, he drove the Terryland Forestry project and had the whole of Tirellan and Sandyvale out planting trees along the river from the Dyke Road to Riverside one weekend, looks quite nice now 10 years later.

They will name something after him while he is alive, of that I am sure

a project the city supported., then they wanted to build a road through it. is the planned road still going to go ahead?

Sponge Bob · 18-07-2011 9:33pm

Fuinseog wrote: »

a project the city supported., then they wanted to build a road through it. is the planned road still going to go ahead?

Thats right, it was kyboshed last year.

Is that Ming himself campaigning against the road ???

Fuinseog · 18-07-2011 9:43pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Thats right, it was kyboshed last year.

Is that Ming himself campaigning against the road ???

I see the Crowe was all for the road. he wanted the trees removed from the sqaure as well. What does the dude have against trees?

galwaycyclist · 19-07-2011 9:44am

Fuinseog wrote: »

what are you on about?

Hmmm probably before your time. It was an evocation of the language of cold war politics and perhaps even cold war era student politics - which Speedie was in the thick of. Nowadays treated humorously by those of us who had the good luck to live in a little European backwater at the time. Others might find the attempt at humour crass. Some background reading for you

Class enemy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemy_of_the_people
Counter revolutionary elements: See here under Early mass rallieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution
Running dogs: See here under Struggle sessions and purges http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution

beagle001 · 19-07-2011 10:04am

Fuinseog wrote: »

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Thats right, it was kyboshed last year.

Is that Ming himself campaigning against the road ???

I see the Crowe was all for the road. he wanted the trees removed from the sqaure as well. What does the dude have against trees?

Money and a thirst for recognition and power,ohh Crowe probably the worst politician to come out of Galway since Frank 40 gaffes Fahy.
Both have no interest in a public service but a self-service.

snubbleste · 19-07-2011 10:41am

108197pre_8fb06161ab4d773.jpg?v=2010-04-05+17%3A33%3A47

mikom · 19-07-2011 1:18pm

snubbleste wrote: »

Crowe got a root up the hole in the General election, so everything worked out well in the end.

biko · 19-07-2011 2:18pm

This thread is about Brendan, not Crowe.
If you want to discuss Crowe's politics, use Politics forum.

Fuinseog · 19-07-2011 6:03pm

galwaycyclist wrote: »

Hmmm probably before your time. It was an evocation of the language of cold war politics and perhaps even cold war era student politics - which Speedie was in the thick of. Nowadays treated humorously by those of us who had the good luck to live in a little European backwater at the time. Others might find the attempt at humour crass. Some background reading for you

Class enemy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enemy_of_the_people
Counter revolutionary elements: See here under Early mass rallieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution
Running dogs: See here under Struggle sessions and purges http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Revolution

speedie is presumably Brendan Smith?

Galwayps · 19-07-2011 6:29pm

I think he was the first person in Galway to put in condom vending machines.
Searched in his blog and found this

Fuinseog · 19-07-2011 6:45pm

Galwayps wrote: »

I think he was the first person in Galway to put in condom vending machines.
Searched in his blog and found this

indeed he was. I read part of his extensive blog yesterday. You would need days to get through it all. as others have pointed out he appears to be quite humble.
i heard him speak briefly and he seemed to be well informed and a good speaker. I guess if he were to go into politics he would have to compromise his principles.

celty · 19-07-2011 10:33pm

He also used to run an excellent live music venue, back in the mid-1990s. Called Setanta. Located where the Oslo is now. Used to feature a host of late night gigs by the likes of Frank and Walters, Sultans of Ping, etc, basically every good Irish band at that time, apart from the obvious big ones. An excellent venue, but it didn't work out.

Fuinseog · 19-07-2011 11:11pm

celty wrote: »

He also used to run an excellent live music venue, back in the mid-1990s. Called Setanta. Located where the Oslo is now. Used to feature a host of late night gigs by the likes of Frank and Walters, Sultans of Ping, etc, basically every good Irish band at that time, apart from the obvious big ones. An excellent venue, but it didn't work out.

Setanta is a blast from the past. I wonder why it did not work out.

TheCosmicFrog · 20-07-2011 12:14am

He's the Community Outreach Officer for DERI in NUI Galway. Does a lot of excellent work for Galway, especially with local schools. Was meant to work with him in teaching school kids how to program, but it never transpired. Must take a walk down that road again some day in the future.

He also curates the Computer and Communications Museum up in DERI. Well worth a look. Not sure if it's open these days, but they move it around from place to place. It was at the Science Museum in NUIG this year.

celty · 20-07-2011 8:55am

Fuinseog,

Setanta didn't work out because the focus was completely on live music and it just wasn't making enough money. This is pre the Roisin Dubh days. Speedie was also involved in Monroe's when that pub actually sprang up the whole revival around 'The West', before the Roisin, Massimo, Blue Note, etc. came on the scene. It totally transformed night life around Dominick Street.

dilallio · 20-07-2011 10:09am

celty wrote: »

Fuinseog,

Setanta didn't work out because the focus was completely on live music and it just wasn't making enough money. This is pre the Roisin Dubh days. Speedie was also involved in Monroe's when that pub actually sprang up the whole revival around 'The West', before the Roisin, Massimo, Blue Note, etc. came on the scene. It totally transformed night life around Dominick Street.

Yes. I think they called it 'Club Rapparee' or something like that.
They did a legendary breakfast and on sunday mornings there were often large queues outside at 12pm waiting for it to open at 12:30.

I remember back in the early to mid 80's, Brendan was also involved in a computer shop somewhere on Eglington Street. They used to sell Commodore Vic 20's and Commodore 64's. Can anyone remember the name of the place? Dr. Bob Loughnane was also involved.
I remember saving up for 18 months with my brothers to buy an 8K memory cartridge for our Vic20 which cost over 130 pounds at the time! How times have changed.

thesandeman · 20-07-2011 10:06pm

He also ran 'Calico Jacks' where Massimo is now.
One of the soundest publicans I ever met (and Ive met a lot).
I might not always agree with with his politics (mostly do) but he would always be prepared to discuss any differences of opinion. Used to bump into him now and then in strange places like Tesco etc after and he would always stop for a chat.

serfboard · 20-07-2011 11:04pm

Fuinseog wrote: »

He seems to have a lot to say and I am surprised he has never stood for election.

He did once, many moons ago. Stood as an independent for the City Council. Despite a good vote, he didn't get elected.

celty wrote: »

Speedie was also involved in Monroe's when that pub actually sprang up the whole revival around 'The West', before the Roisin, Massimo, Blue Note, etc. came on the scene. It totally transformed night life around Dominick Street.

Indeed. You could say that he created the whole Dominick St./West thing (apart from The Crane, which was there before). Without Monroes, there would have been no Roisins. Before he took it over, Monroes was doing very little business.

dilallio wrote: »

I think they called it 'Club Rapparee' or something like that.

Spot on. Used to have set dancing on Monday or Tuesday nights.

Fuinseog · 21-07-2011 11:27am

thesandeman wrote: »

He also ran 'Calico Jacks' where Massimo is now.
One of the soundest publicans I ever met (and Ive met a lot).
I might not always agree with with his politics (mostly do) but he would always be prepared to discuss any differences of opinion. Used to bump into him now and then in strange places like Tesco etc after and he would always stop for a chat.

what are his politics in your view? maybe he is a tad left but unlikely to froth at the mouth if you disagree with him.

Fuinseog · 21-07-2011 11:30am

serfboard wrote: »

He did once, many moons ago. Stood as an independent for the City Council. Despite a good vote, he didn't get elected.

.

that did not stop Ming who also stood in Galway and did not get elected. Do you know what his policies were all those moons ago?
I could be wrong but he seems to be limited to Galway and never tries to go on the national airwaves.
I wonder why he does not campaign for a better hospital.

Sponge Bob · 21-07-2011 2:12pm

Fuinseog wrote: »

I wonder why he does not campaign for a better hospital.

He can campaign for whatever he wants, what did you ever campaign for anyway ??

I don't campaign for a better hospital because I know too many of the managers in there ....which means it is impossible to have a better hospital.

Fuinseog · 21-07-2011 3:33pm

Sponge Bob wrote: »

He can campaign for whatever he wants, what did you ever campaign for anyway ??

I don't campaign for a better hospital because I know too many of the managers in there ....which means it is impossible to have a better hospital.

Because I am not a campaigner. Smyth is and Smyth has achieved a lot with his campaigning. The hospital would be a local issue.

BTW, there is no need to get all emotional and personal in your response.

Aiel · 21-07-2011 4:25pm

He went for the local elections for the Terryland area once.The Terryland area doesnt have a proper local rep on the council,hasnt for years,hence the 25 year wait for a community centre in the area:mad:.
I remember Brendan years ago coming up to my house to talk to my dad who was briefly the chairperson of one of the local residents associations around there.He'd come up at all hours of the night talking about minor little things.You have to admire his energy still campaigning away all these years later.

Fuinseog · 21-07-2011 4:31pm

Aiel wrote: »

He went for the local elections for the Terryland area once.The Terryland area doesnt have a proper local rep on the council,hasnt for years,hence the 25 year wait for a community centre in the area:mad:.
I remember Brendan years ago coming up to my house to talk to my dad who was briefly the chairperson of one of the local residents associations around there.He'd come up at all hours of the night talking about minor little things.You have to admire his energy still campaigning away all these years later.

Terryland is a massive area which still has very few facilities. A politician would be putting on pressure for improvement because he would be looking kudos and votes but Smyth seems to be doing it for selfless reasons.

who is Brendan Smyth?

Comments