I was VERY wrong. #delirastaighre

On the eve of the local and EU elections, opinions polls portend an upswing for the new wave of Independent candidates. Normally, the anti-establishment rebel within me would not be fazed by such a prediction.

However, considering the current political climate - it’s generating a non-negligible cause for concern. There are at least half dozen candidates who I would deem to be dangerous individuals. I don’t use that hyperbolic language thoughtlessly; I am deliberating on all of my words here.

The huge planetary pivot point we find ourselves on is hard to condense into a social media post. Precisely its causes, complexities and distinct challenges even more so. Despite, the brink of extinctions for so many species – climate change is way down the list of priorities for voters. Despite the effects of extreme weather conditions incrementally and devastatingly, rattling multi-locations across the globe, it’s a battle we still won’t entertain…

That is because there is a different ‘battle’ on this island being emulated by a faction of extremists. Call them far-right agitators, call them fascists, call them what you want – I see dangerous individuals. At the very least because their grip on reality seems so scant, that it’s likely there’s a level of psychosis at play. They themselves are experiencing some form of delusion and then proliferating it through mis, dis and mal-information on their social media channels. These people are waging a war against the very spirit of the Irish people themselves, gouging at the core of our psyche: our open, warm and welcoming attitude to the Other.

Which leads me to scarcity... People who are struggling, are existing in a state of fight-or-flight. This means the ‘executive’, that is the logical and rational part of your brain, is offline. What is activated (and over-stimulated) is the ‘instinctive’, namely the emotional, reflexive part.

What is happening is that some particularly noxious individuals have decided to weaponise this state of fear. Rather than being able to see the wood from the trees; and the good from the sleazes - our socio-cultural norm is being co-opted by these dangerous folk. Rather than being able to see out beyond our noses and see the real threats on the horizon: collapse of ecosystems, food (in)security, energy shortages, there’s a fictitious battle disingenuously being woven into reality through the toxic narratives of these poisonous few.

Something else I have observed is that there has been a notable increase in violence and hostility in this election phase. A phenomenological trend that can only be correlated to the rise of this new breed of Independent politician. The Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) has been sounding the alarm and is tracking attacks, including threats to councillors, some involving knives, and at least one case of an assault on a councillor and her spouse. Women for Election have noted that this form of abuse is both escalating and becoming normalised. Meanwhile, if you are unlucky enough to bear the intersectional double-jeopardy of being female AND a person of colour: you are a sure target. Nearly all 16 of Fine Gael’s minority candidates have experienced harassment.

In the last twelve months, we have seen xenophobic arson attacks feature with such frequency in the media that eyelids barely bat at this stage. We’ve seen calls-to-action become calls-to-arms. For example when a photo of a semi-automatic handgun circulated at the Newtownmountkennedy protest. As well as phrases like “tool up” and “ready to kill” being bandied around willy-nilly. We cannot sniff at these incitements. More critically – we must bear in mind that these are the precise people who would talk of protecting ‘the women and children’.

It was hardly surprising when it emerged that approximately 56% of the anti-immigrant sentiment on X related to that protest came from the U.S. We’ve seen this play out in various other geopolitical pivots, Brexit chief among them. Classic “destabilisation” tactics that begin their lives in circuit boards and keyboards of far-flung lands and arrive here to add an extra layer of surreality to the confusion. In addition, we know that algorithms are not neutral and are actively distorting what is actually happening in real time, in real life.

Now don’t get me wrong, they have only gained a toehold. They are still in the extreme minority. And, at the same time we must be vigilant against the lies they spread..

Unfortunately, fear and hatred are contagious. Thankfully - love and empathy are too. These pathetic candidates are opportunistically manipulating the sense of lack that is diffuse across Irish society, to broker it to their own interests. It’s a power grab. They’re going after the lowest hanging fruits. Don’t be fooled. Lead with Love and let us remain united against these dangerous figures.

p.s. please don’t vote for Boylan, Leahy, Blighe at the very least – but I urge you to strongly reconsider support for any candidate running for the Irish Freedom Party, Independent Ireland, Irish People or Ireland First.

p.p.s. Any gender-alising is unintentional. It’s got nowt to do with me that the crème-de-la-crème of these pundits just so happen to all be men (late-stage capitalism dying sputters anyone?).

Sources:

Cormac O’Keefe & Martin Mongan, 'Huge concerns' for safety of councillors amid 'increasingly hostile environment' ahead of local elections’ (Irish Examiner)

Jennifer Horgan, ‘Elections will test how much Ireland has been fooled by the far right’ (Irish Examiner)

Fintan O’Toole ‘A far-right rabble won’t overthrow Ireland’s democracy – but we shouldn’t be complacent' (The Guardian)

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This week is a throwback. I re-share the above post which was first composed on the eve of the local & European elections in early June. Fast forward to December 2024, when the Journal has published delightfully titled "Far Right Fizzle" #GE24 commentary, observing that a whopping total of ZERO of the 70 far-right candidates they were observing have gained seats. 

The total sense of desolation caused by staring down the barrel of yet another term of FFFG BS is ever so slightly offset by the fact that the people of Ireland have very clearly and unreservedly rejected the far right. 

I was wrong, wholly and entirely - I WAS WRONG!. And I have never been happier that I was...

Remember: We are One Another.