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Donnybrook: Big and Little Things
- iIrish Admin
- November 25, 2024
- Edited 2 weeks ago
Table of Contents
The last thing I really wanted to do was watch some Hollywood movie on the failings of the Catholic Church, especially in Ireland. The Church disgraces of recent times are a miserable and depressing chronicle.
I impulsively thought the release last month of “Small Things Like These” was just another opportunity for those on the squishy left and those on the Christian Nationalist right to join in on Catholic bashing, one of the few prejudices seemingly still sanctioned by both the far right and the far left.
However, when I focused to remember that this film was based upon Ireland’s Claire Keegan’s book of the same name.
Keegan, the recipient of the Irish Book Awards Author of the Year Award (2023), and the writer for the basis of the beautiful movie, “The Quiet Girl” (nominated for Academy Award for Best International Film 2023) as well as several other well received novellas, had me thinking of taking a look at this movie. And then to see that the film was produced by and starred the ever-watchable Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer,” “Wind that Shakes the Barley,” “Dunkirk,” “Peaky Blinders. …”), I concluded it was worth checking out.
In addition to his acting skills, I still chuckle at the time Cillian was introduced to Prince Harry, who said to Murphy: “Your English. Murphy answered, no Irish. Harry kept pushing, and said Oh you mean British. Murphy said, “No, I am Irish, a big difference.”
Regardless, I am glad I did go to see the movie and I would encourage you to give it a go. The cinematography is excellent, the acting is great, and the themes are universal.
Murphy plays coal man Bill Furlong, from New Ross, County Wexford (home of the JFK Kennedy Clan) and the site of one of the Magdelene laundries; brutal workhouses for young women who found themselves pregnant without the benefit of marriage. The newborns were taken from the young mothers and put up for adoption in Ireland and the U.S.A.
One of the lines, “Sometimes you have to ignore things to get ahead” sort of sums up the age-old, universal human quandary of choosing to speak out against injustice or to keep quiet to “get ahead.” The book and the film are less about bashing Church clergy, but rather, turning it around to our own, individual choices and how we respond to injustice put before one.
It hit home with me, as I was living in Ireland around the time this film was set. How did we not see any of this? As we enter uncertain times in our own beloved U.S. of A., I hope we will follow the lead of Bill Furlong, searching our own souls and choosing what is right and just.
Snap Election
One of my favorite local piano players was Tommy “Eighty-Eight” Stanton. Eighty-Eight was brilliant at working all 88 keys found on the piano, later in life a regular entertainer at Ferris’ Steak House. 88 will be the new magic number of seats, the majority threshold to control the new 34th Dáil.
Taoiseach Simon Harris (Fine Gael) travelled to Aras an Uachtaráin (translates to “House of the President”), the Irish “Whitehouse,” shortly after the American election.
The House was built in 1751 in the middle of Dublin’s Phoenix Park and became the official residence in 1938. (A side note for visitors to Dublin: tours are available most Saturday’s). The Taoiseach asked President Michael Higgins to dissolve the 33rd Dáil Eireánn (Irish Parliament) and called for a very quick or “snap” three-week election, with Polling Day set for Friday, November 29th, 2024. (This writing is prior to that date, so results will be in before this publication).
The new Dáil will have an increase in constituencies from 39 to 43, with an increase of 14 seats, from 160 to 174 seats, again with 88 being the goal of all parties. However, it is very unlikely any one party will win 88 seats.
Look to see Ireland to return to coalition government, a situation present for a couple of decades now. After the exact number of seats won by the parties is determined on November 29th, the real jockeying will take place as the parties haggle to form a coalition to get to the magic 88 votes.
Look for the unholy alliance of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to continue. While historic enemies, both have joined together to stop Sinn Féin party from entering government.
After historic gains to become the largest party in the Dáil, Sinn Féin stalled its forward progress in the last General Election and the last local elections. The pressure is on Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald to deliver enough seats to ensure their leadership in the next Dail.
Sinn Fein Tested
After over 100 years of Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael or some combination of the two controlling the government of Ireland, it is a good opportunity to try something new. This will be the thrust of Sinn Féin’s outreach to the voters in Ireland. With a severe housing crisis and a health care system failing to meet the nation’s expectations, the opportunity is ripe to push Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael off their “Confidence and Supply Agreement” and their doubling down on the same failed policies that lead to the current crisis.’
And it is a great opportunity to advance the cause of a United Ireland. The current governing parties have been derelict in their duty to the Nation and have pathetically failed to even begin to lay a foundation for Unity. Time for a change. Time will tell.
SF President McDonald stated: “If Sinn Féin wins, you win, your family will win, your future will win. In this election, there is a clear choice. After a century of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil it is now time to make that change, to give Sinn Féin the chance to lead and deliver.
“In Sinn Féin you will get a government that will move heaven and earth to bring home ownership back into the reach of working people, restore hope for a generation. A government that will transform our health service, deliver affordable childcare and invest with ambition and purpose in our communities, and advance the preparations for Irish Unity.
“We are prepared, and we are ready. We have the policies; we have the team.
“Tá Sinn Féin ag dul san iomaíocht chun bua a bhaint amach, chun rialtas a stiúradh ar son oibrithe, ar son teaghlaigh agus ar son ár bpobail. Rialtas faoi stiúir ag Sinn Féin.”
Find this and other John Myer’s Donnybrook columns HERE!
This Just In: Longtime Friends of Sinn Féin supporter Pat Donaghy passes away
November 30, 2024
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Donaghy was also a front line supporter of Sinn Féin and a significant financial contributor to Friends of Sinn Féin in the U.S.
This Just In: Sinn Féin Launch Manifesto for the Diaspora
November 29, 2024
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Following a weekend of online engagements with the diaspora, Sinn Féin has launched a manifesto for the diaspora.
The online meetings with Mairead Farrell TD and Rose Conway Walsh TD attracted attendees from across the USA, Canada, Europe, Britain, and Australia.
The representatives outlined the party’s priorities for government including tackling the housing, health care, and cost of living crisis. As well as progressing the cause of Irish Unity.
Speaking on the unveiling of the Manifesto for the Diaspora, Rose Conway Walsh TD said,
John Myers
*John is an attorney in Cleveland. He can be reached at [email protected].
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