On the canvass with Maureen O'Sullivan: Tony Gregory's former election agent is up against big names for his seat in Dublin Central, writes MIRIAM LORD
THERE’S AN intriguing battle going on in Dublin Central.
There are five front runners, four of whom are well-known names and hardened in the ways of electoral politics.
Cllr Maurice – De Udder Brudder – Ahern, lining out for Fianna Fáil and the honour of the Drumcondra mafia; Senator Paschal Donohoe, effervescent self-publicist, trying to snatch the seat for a resurgent Fine Gael; Senator Ivana Bacik, hoping that a gathering Gilmore gale in this Labour-friendly constituency will blow her across the line, and Cllr Christy Burke, who’s always been there or thereabouts for Sinn Féin, perhaps finally on the brink after all these years.
Then there’s Cllr Maureen O’Sullivan.
Who? Maureen isn’t a member of any party. She only has the one sort of leaflet. She hasn’t a clue how to work the media.
If the spin merchants got hold of Maureen, they would emblazon “Gregory’s Girl” all over her literature. She wouldn’t like it, but the headline writers would love it.
Maureen is fighting for the late Tony Gregory’s Dáil seat. She has worked alongside Gregory since the Seventies and was his election agent for over 30 years. She is a committed member of the loosely styled “Gregory Group.”
When Tony died, she says the group wondered whether they should keep going. They decided to continue because Tony was “genuine and independent” and not constrained by the demands of party membership.
The group is a loose amalgam of community workers and volunteers. Their philosophy, as Maureen sees it, is: “You serve the community and the issues they represent. It’s about the people, not the party.” On the doorsteps, the late deputy is her calling card. She says she is the Gregory candidate and doors remain open.
“They all want to talk about Tony. He had a huge personal following.”
This election thing isn’t easy though. “I find the media part of it the most difficult,” she confesses. “I’d never been on television or radio before this. I can’t speak the way the others do – the way the platitudes and clichés can just come out.”
Maureen has been a secondary school teacher for 35 years. “I want kids to answer a question properly and I don’t want them to interrupt each other.” You and the rest of us, Maureen.
At midday yesterday, the independent candidate did the flats around Ballybough, canvassing the heart of the Gregory operation. Maureen is very low key.
The washing is out on the balconies, taking advantage of the sun. A lot of people aren’t too sure who Maureen is, until she explains she is part of the Gregory group and carrying on Tony’s work.
Her campaign workers – Ann, Anne-Marie, Dave and her sister Sheila stress her credentials at every opportunity.
Renée Flood comes to her door and takes a leaflet. Maureen outlines her provenance.
“Ah, Tony. I always vote for Tony. It’s good that you’re keeping it going.”
She explains that Tony Gregory got her the flat and she’s 17 years in it now with her family.
On the third balcony, a man says: “I’d certainly consider giving you a vote. Anything would be better than the muppets we have now. They’ve made a mess of things. They had money but kept nothing by for a rainy day.”
His wife, Donna, comes to the door. “There’s no votes here for Fianna Fáil. There were 70 of us out yesterday for the bank holiday weekend – I have 18 sisters and brothers and he’s the same – and not one of them is voting for Fianna Fáil.”
A lot of the windows have posters up for Sinn Féin’s Christy Burke. The two candidates bumped into each other. Christy’s arm was in a sling.
He tried to open a heavy gate on Friday night by giving it a heave with his shoulder and suffered ligament damage.
“The ligament came out and it’s lying on a muscle. Maureen, it’s cruel. I’m not tellin’ ya – it’s only cruel.” Bad arm or not, the Gregory team had a bone to pick with Christy.
On his leaflet, he features a photo of himself with Tony. The canvassers weren’t happy.
“Everyone wants to claim Tony Gregory,” said Anne-Marie O’Reilly. She tackled the Sinn Féin candidate. “Why did you use that picture? This is like a subliminal message that you’re the Gregory candidate and you’re not.”
“Everyone was a friend of Tony’s,” countered Christy, adding the photo was in the public domain.
“We wouldn’t put a picture of you on our literature,” riposted Anne-Marie. (Tony’s brother was said to be very annoyed when he saw the leaflet.) “He was a one-man band and we want to keep it like that.”
Christy apologised and said he didn’t mean to cause offence.
Maureen didn’t get involved. She was busy taking details from a man with medical problems. “She’s too modest. She won’t blow her own trumpet,” said Anne Marie.
Householders are drowning in literature. There’s a “four-point plan for jobs” just in from Paschal and a new one from Maurice/ Bertie. It’s a card, with “Regards” printed in longhand on the front. Inside “Dear Neighbour” is “A Message for You” from Bertie.
He thanks everyone for being so kind to him “since the commencement of canvassing”. Maurice, he writes, was one of his “closest political advisers” when he was Taoiseach.
“Obviously, as Maurice is not only my bother, but also one of a small group that has organised my campaigns and assisted me greatly over the last 30 years, I would appreciate your number one vote for him.”
Maureen’s leaflet says she worked with Tony Gregory for 30 years. No grand claims. No big promises. No endorsements. No visions. Just issues to be addressed.
Tony’s record is her record.
And she’s standing on it.
