Not quite Armageddon but not quite Paradise either

 

The Conference Hall, post Leader's Address

 

Gilmore’s address contained nothing entirely unexpected. There is little a party leader can say these days that has not been said before, be in in a party address or in the Dáil.

As expected the main focus of the speech was the economy, and – as echoed in the introduction by Senator Alan Kelly – a lack of leadership shown by Fianna Fáil and Brian Cowen. 

Kelly spoke of the knowing smiles of people turning into nods of recognition on his cnavassing routes. The public are all too aware of the economic situation, a shared anxiety Gilmore seemed keen to capitalise on in his televised address.

The film shown beforehand – available here - was of an Eamon Gilmore attuned to the needs of his constituents in his Dun Laoghaire constituency and the broader needs of the population. The Eamon Gilmore being sold by the Labour Party is caring but practical, resourceful and hard-working. The diversity of his knowledge, raised in a rural community on a farm yet living and working in an urban community, was stressed by the short film. The labour faithful were tonight left in no doubt that their leader not only understands, but identifies with his ‘comrades’ in the party. 

The speech itself was not awe-inspiring. Gilmore is a good speaker, he connects with the audience and is, in turns, relaxed, almost jovial and hard-hitting when needs be. 

Gilmore stressed that the economic situation in Ireland is not ‘Armageddon’, and that there is no need for ‘panic’. Name checking one of his predecessors he said that the Celtic Tiger economy was not a ‘mirage’ but was a thriving economy handed to the current government by Ruairi Quinn. 

That we need not panic was, however, qualified by a need for the public to ‘endure’ some pain, a shared pain that will not exempt the bankers, the members of the ‘Galway Tent’ elite and non resident tax exiles who make use of every loophole available to avoid capital gains tax. 

Gilmore’s rhetoric is positive, he discredited Cowen’s recent speech at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce as being too defeatist and said that the future ‘can and will be better for our children’. 

All in all, and not surprisingly, the blame is Fianna Fáil’s. Gilmore knew this would happen 10 years ago. The party knew that the boom could not last but were ignored by the voting public and the government. 

It is nothing the voting public have not heard before though there is every chance they might start listening now. Gilmore is an articulate leader, and seems capable of taking on the might of FF in the next election. It is comforting to hear of the Labour Party as one in itself, and now a tag along friend of Fine Gael’s. Whether or not they could possibly achieve the dreams of those waving the ‘Gilmore for Taoiseach’ signs in the hall this evening remains to be seen. With European Elections looming in June the party seem more confident than ever and Gilmore’s speech can only strengthen their resolve. 

For now the Labour massive are out in Mullingar celebrating a long day of hard campaigning and vote-winning. Expect lots of back-slapping and shouts of ‘comrades’ come dawn. 

Ciara