Would Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin have done better than McGuinness??

woodoo

I think Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin would have done quite well. He doesn't have the baggage that McGuinness has and in a field of 6 other mediocre candidates he may well have received a good result.

He is intelligent, well spoken and presentable.

dabestman1

I think it was the correct decision to run MMG and besides Caiomhghin is doing good work in cavan/monaghan while building a good base there which should net SF 2 seats in the next general (very close the last time).
Besides i'm sure the usual tripe will be levelled at any SF by vested interests.

flutered

himself or mcdonald would have been a better choice, gay mitchell could not have started the negative campaign against either, the guy whos father was shot by a uzi holder could not have come out and attacked either, neither could mrs mcabe, also enda kenny would have had to keep his mouth shut, i have also posted that he should be still the sf leader in the dail, adams has not the delivery nor the rapartee to do the job justice.

kksaints

Not really. McGuinness had a far bigger media presence then O caolain so thats why SF went for him.

jonniebgood1

Yes.

It seems obvious to me that he would have done better. He is the best SF speaker in the Dail IMO, even more effective than Doherty. That SF chose McGuinness over him is a victory for the x-factor, celebrity generation over substance.

Sponge Bob

Christ no, O Caoláin is a blustering pedant. Bobby Ballagh would have been a much better choice or even better Colm Meaney. They were teh speakers who launched McGuinnesses campaign too as it happens.

nesf

I don't think so, I think MMG has a broader appeal despite (and in some cases because of) his past in the IRA and as a peacemaker.

walrusgumble

woodoo wrote: »

I think Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin would have done quite well. He doesn't have the baggage that McGuinness has and in a field of 6 other mediocre candidates he may well have received a good result.

He is intelligent, well spoken and presentable.

He is all of that, but he is not well known and does not have the "X factor" and ability to raise publicity (not actually a good thing). Anyway, SF could possibly survive in the North without McGuinness and Adams, SF in the SOuth would have big problems without Ó Caoláin from the Dáil.

walrusgumble

flutered wrote: »

himself or mcdonald would have been a better choice, gay mitchell could not have started the negative campaign against either, the guy whos father was shot by a uzi holder could not have come out and attacked either, neither could mrs mcabe, also enda kenny would have had to keep his mouth shut, i have also posted that he should be still the sf leader in the dail, adams has not the delivery nor the rapartee to do the job justice.

Is Mary Lou getting on anyone's nerves? (I ask the SF supporters) She does not really come across as one with substance. Gay Mitchell would have killed her on legitimate basis (absence from European Parliament - thats what killed her in the last EP election ). Some sad act would bring up her time in Ogra Fianna Fáil. ohhh They would have attacked her , just like RTE did with young Ferris and demand that they condemn the the past and admit that they their colleagues were wrong, for them to refuse to do so. SINDO will always use McCabes, sure they must be on speed dial by now.

Seriously though, she is likely to be the next SF President, if Belfast get their way.

FreudianSlippers

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

Yes.

It seems obvious to me that he would have done better. He is the best SF speaker in the Dail IMO, even more effective than Doherty. That SF chose McGuinness over him is a victory for the x-factor, celebrity generation over substance.

Personally, I think that there is a plan here. MMcG gets out and makes an impression and gets people interested for Caoimhghín to run in 7 years.

Ozymandius2011

They would have fared better in Cavan-Monaghan where McGuinness lost to Gallagher. It remains to be seen is the fall of 23,000 inn their GE vote in their existing constituencies is a portend of things to come rather than just a function of the quirks of a presidential election.

pubview

Lads, lads, let's all remember that this wasn't a Sinn Féin candidate.

imme

No, I don't think O'Caoileain would have fared better than McGuinness. People would have been asking the question "Caoimhin who?".
They would have thrown their money down the drain on poor old Caoimhin, much as they did with MMcG.