Martin fishes in footsteps of the Queen
Just four months earlier, fishmonger Pat O’Connell’s cheeky whisperings to the British Queen had made her throw her head back in laughter — creating an image that will forever encapsulate the huge success of that historic trip.
This time, it was the turn of Martin McGuinness, a man who couldn’t have more contrasting origins and whose life’s work has been to banish the British state from these shores.
Symbols and their potential have never been lost on Sinn Féin, however, and he joined Pat O’Connell behind the stall, standing directly in front of a blown- up photo of the Queen’s visit. It was another moment to ponder how things have moved on — with Martin McGuinness making a bid to become President of a state he refused to recognise for years.
McGuinness — a keen fisherman — was quickly given three smoked haddock by O’Connell. Herself had been presented with smoked salmon.
“The poor man’s fish,” laughed McGuinness.
“You can’t afford smoked salmon on a normal working wage, you know.”
The two chatted about the Northerner’s love of fishing. “He was telling me that on the first day he ever went fishing, on his second ever cast, he caught a salmon. That’s some feat,” said O’Connell.
Huge numbers of Corkonians, particularly men in their 50s and 60s, ran over to shake the presidential hopeful’s hand and to wish him luck. One younger man did cycle past the McGuinness pack before turning around to shout back “No IRA”. And then there was the man who hurled abuse at McGuinness about alleged involvement in M16. McGuinness’ “drivers” made sure he disappeared into the crowd.
Overall, however, there was a warm reception for the man widely accredited with electrifying the presidential race. He was stopped five or six times so that people could have their picture taken with him.
One man, Steve Hill from Gurranabraher, sporting a silver H badge on his T-shirt, came straight into the city when he heard the Sinn Féin deputy leader on local radio. He’d brought along a sliothar which Martin duly signed for his son, Aaron. “It’s fantastic he’s running down here. To hell with the begrudgers,” he beamed.
Underestimate the McGuinness campaign at your peril.
