Greens compromised an election too soon

ALL compromise comes at a price and sometimes the price is too high.

In the 1960s, some Georgian buildings in Hume Street, Dublin, were to be demolished in favour of a glass greenhouse office.

Architectural students from Bolton Street college occupied them. Matters came to a crunch. The demolishers attacked. A ‘deal’ emerged, facilitated by, among others, the late George Colley, soul-guide to what were later the PDs.

A classic ‘revolutionary’ debate ensued. ‘Realos’ engaged with ‘fundos’ (with a few ‘pragmato-idealos’ on the edge). The deal was accepted.

Among those genuine young bricks-and-mortar patriots who walked away with mixed feelings into the night were Duncan Stewart and Marian Finucane. It was the right decision. Not a victory — but not a defeat either. Heritage was ‘mainstreamed’ into our national life. Hardly any jobs existed in 1970 for archaeologists and heritage curators. Now there are hundreds.

But this national struggle continues — with the lucre-loaded enemy as strong as ever. With poetic irony, the latest battlefield is the site of the last great battle of the Fianna of old: the Gabhra Valley.

The Greens have bartered away real power to effect real change in a real alternative government next time for a strictly curtailed role now in a coalition whose dominant partner is innately opposed to all Green values.

In doing so, they may well have destroyed their party as a relevant force for change.

The sight of the two Green ministers arriving on their bicycles in the rain was vaguely comic and, ultimately, pathetic. My heart was moved — momentarily — by the integrity of Trevor Sargent’s almost Roman ritual resignation from the leadership. The eagerness with which he then thrust forward his hands for the ‘soup’ — a half-ministry for food — simply moved my stomach.

Maurice O’Connell

19 Forge Park

Oakpark

Tralee

Co Kerry