One man’s journey from prisoner to politician

Fenian Army

When Bellaghy native Sean McGlinchey was in the Cages of Long Kesh no one would have thought, just a few months ago, he would launch this year’s National Hungerstrike Commemorations during his reign as Mayor of the Borough of Limavady. DALE MOORE takes a look back at the Sinn Fein councillor’s journey, from prisoner to politician.


Sean’ McGlinchey’s journey over the past 40 years has been nothing short of remarkable and covers an unprecedented period of Irish history.

http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local/one-man-s-journey-from-prisoner-to-politician-1-4128271
An interesting piece I read in the Derry Journal.

It's titled "One man's story" but really it is the story of many. Many county councilors, MLA's, even some TD's, MPs and MEPS (former MEPs anyway) are former IRA members.

This got me thinking...

People go on about the IRA having had minuscule support and of being repulsive to the vast majority, but if that is the case how can this support today be explained?

I can understand people like Pearse Doherty getting support from people who didn't like the IRA as he was never a member and is part of the "new generation" but if the IRA were so universally loathed, as many would have you believe, how come so many ex members are today elected reps?

If someone was a member of a group which I truly hated I would never vote for them - especially not when they still claim that said group was justified to do xyz. I'd say most people would be the same, no?

So what conclusions can we draw from this? The IRA were not as hated as people would have you think - there must be sympathy there otherwise people would never vote for former members surely?

I'm curious to see what people think about this. Especially in the context of the six counties were people aren't scrambling for an alternative like they are in the 26.

Chucky the tree

It just means the IRA were not as hated in certain parts of the country as compared to the majority of the island. However I honestly never thought the impression was that the IRA were hated in the 6 counties. They wouldn't have been so successful along with SF if they were. Different story in the Republic though.

Fenian Army

Former IRA members have long been getting elected in the south too though.

SocSocPol

Fenian Army wrote: »

http://www.derryjournal.com/news/local/one-man-s-journey-from-prisoner-to-politician-1-4128271
An interesting piece I read in the Derry Journal.

It's titled "One man's story" but really it is the story of many. Many county councilors, MLA's, even some TD's, MPs and MEPS (former MEPs anyway) are former IRA members.

This got me thinking...

People go on about the IRA having had minuscule support and of being repulsive to the vast majority, but if that is the case how can this support today be explained?

I can understand people like Pearse Doherty getting support from people who didn't like the IRA as he was never a member and is part of the "new generation" but if the IRA were so universally loathed, as many would have you believe, how come so many ex members are today elected reps?

If someone was a member of a group which I truly hated I would never vote for them - especially not when they still claim that said group was justified to do xyz. I'd say most people would be the same, no?

So what conclusions can we draw from this? The IRA were not as hated as people would have you think - there must be sympathy there otherwise people would never vote for former members surely?

I'm curious to see what people think about this. Especially in the context of the six counties were people aren't scrambling for an alternative like they are in the 26.

It appears from your post that you link support for SF directly to support for the IRA.
SF themselves do not do so, and claim(particularly in this juristiction) that their support emanates from their grassroots campaigning on social and economic issues.
For myself I see their support coming from their ability to campaign in a populist way with catchy slogans on issues which either many people dont understand (their anti-Eu treaty stances for instance) or are fearful of.
I certainly would be very surprised if, as you seem to claim, their support emanates from a support for the 40 year terror campaign they launched not only in these islands, but indeed across Europe.

whitelines

PIRA always had support in NI. I would estimate that support during the troubles as between a third and a half of The Nationalist community to one degree or another. Some just had a 'sneaking regard', but others went much further, offering safe houses, smuggling weapons, providing political support. I would also say that support for PIRA was probably around 5% in The Republic during the troubles. Of course, all Irish Nationalists, north and south of the border, supported PIRA's central aim of an independent, united Ireland and this, along with The Republic's chauvinistic claim to NI, gave PIRA a massive psychological boost when carrying out their campaign.