Locals full of pride but say Martin ‘not blameless’

“IT TOOK a great Corkman, Jack Lynch, to put the trickies out of office. It’s taken another great Corkman to do the same.”

That was how one sprightly and quick-witted elderly lady put it yesterday after noon Mass in Micheál Martin’s political heartland in Cork South Central.

As Mr Martin and his family left the grounds of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ballinlough, most Mass-goers backed the former Minister for Foreign Affairs to become the next leader of Fianna Fáil.

But several said he must bear some responsibility for the state of the country.

Mary O’Leary said she is delighted that Mr Martin will contest for the leadership. “He is the right man for the job,” she said.

“He stood up to Brian Cowen and was vocal in his opposition. He would make a great Taoiseach.”

Jennifer O’Brien and Con Cremin agreed.

“He is the right man for the job,” Mr Cremin said.

But Sean O’Sullivan said he feels Mr Martin is politically “immature” and now is not the right time for him to lead Fianna Fáil.

“I appreciate his honesty, integrity and consistency, but he is too young for the job. But I will be voting for him in the election.”

But another man said tersely: “Don’t talk to me about Fianna Fáil or Micheál Martin.”

Kieran O’Mahony said he has always voted for Fianna Fáil but would never vote for the party again.

“Micheál Martin is alright, he’s a local,” he said. “But Micheál Martin has been in Government for the last 12 years and he bears some responsibility for the mess we’re in. We need new people in office.”

Ann Buckley said she had delivered a similar message to Fianna Fáil canvassers who called to her door recently. “I always voted for Micheál. He is local and he is good,” she said.

But she cited a lack of facilities for young people in the Ballinlough area.

“All the money we had in this country is gone. And he was there [in Government]. He must have known what was going on. On a personal level, I feel sorry for him. But I wouldn’t vote for Fianna Fáil again,” she said.

Thomas Frawley disagreed. “He has a great chance to be the next leader of Fianna Fáil. He’s the right man for the job. He handled the last week well and is the clear favourite.

Mary Crowley said she thinks Mr Martin will make a good leader.

“It’s time for change in Fianna Fáil,” she said.

“And I hope the next leader of Fianna Fáil will come back to Ballinlough.”