The Hidden Ireland blog has a short post listing a number of motions on the Irish language from this year’s Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis. Unsurprisingly these proposals are the very embodiment of the lip-service and tokenism that Irish-speaking communities have been complaining of for decades. Not one single concrete suggestion is offered up nor indeed does FF as a whole have any policy documents of its own beyond some fluffy sentiments in relation to the disingenuous 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 (already four years overdue any significant implementation beyond rolling back the civil rights of Irish-speaking citizens). Is it any wonder that academics and cultural activists around the globe hold up Ireland as the dysfunctional poster-child of minority rights and language restoration? Ireland, the country you go to in order to learn what not to do.
By the by, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin TD intoned the phrase “progressive republican” in his speech to describe his party. Sound familiar oh fellow progressive republican readers of An Sionnach Fionn?
AN SIONNACH FIONN 
I think the single most eloquent factor in all the shibboleths from our political parties (including the self-righteous Sinn Féin!) is there lack of any real web presence in the National Language that they all that they all presume to love and cherish! Compare with Plaid Cymru and copy!
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Absolutely.
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zombies, ideologues lacking any principals! — looks like ff-ing reanimated policos (from 2011) are readying now for by-election in north dublin and possibly more if other TDs stand for the parliamentary elections in May (E-Union) — I can appreciate why some from professions (overwhelmingly Anglophones) might stand for FF in locals, but there should be study published on why some people stand, brazenly declaring they are members of a “republican” party – it’s just beyond shameless and so f*-ing depressing
http://irishelectionliterature.wordpress.com/index-of-electionsparty-literature/leaflets-from-2014-local-election-candidates/
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Another byelection: End of present Dublin E-Unionist gov inevitable –
Breaking: “Longford Westmeath Fine Gael TD Nicky McFadden has passed away following a battle with Motor Neurone Disease”
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At the moment it seems that the coalition is suffering death by a thousand cuts. Deservedly so I might say.
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