IF it’s artful propaganda and political trickery you’re after, the elected reps over at Limerick City and County Council have you covered.
Their stalls have been bursting with crafty produce in recent weeks.
As we stare down the end of year one in the new Council term, the pot well and truly reached boiling point with the kettle spitting back outcries of calamity.
More entertaining than Glasto on the Beeb, Council meetings have had it all of late. If you don’t believe me, just ask citizen journalist extraordinaire Seamus Ryan, who regularly live-tweets the carry on, much to the amusement of those of us with no lives to be getting on with.
In the lead up to the summer hols, we’ve had it all — secrets, schemes, even smoke and mirrors, as the big guns were brought out for local government skirmishes on the fringes of Merchant’s Quay.
West Limerick Hellfire Clubs of old wouldn’t have gotten a look in as councillors jostled for pole position after private meetings and private workshops aplenty.
In fairness, if they have to talk about it in private, maybe they shouldn’t be talking about it all?
But as the Council learned, keeping the media out of the conversation doesn’t necessarily entrust the information only to those in the room (and those peeping in the windows). Public representatives, like the press, serve the best interests of the people, and the truth will out if it’s important enough.
We’ve had some of the finest fast shuffling and darkest days ever witnessed – by Cllr Dan McSweeney anyway. I’m talking real sleight of hand shiftiness altogether as every attempt has been made to leave the ‘stone of shame’ at Mayor John Moran’s door.
I have been accused of being a Moran ‘fanboy’ and – for all the man’s flaws, yes, we all have them – I think he offers a rare opportunity for Limerick to reach its true potential. Wasn’t that the whole point of having a DEM?
If only our elected representatives took advantage of his beach on The Crescent to draw a line in the sand.
The ‘not in my neighbourhood’ mentality will do us no favours in the long run for housing, jobs, and investment. Mayor Moran, like him or loathe him, isn’t frightened of ruffling a few feathers, but that’s his job.
And yes, the beachfront on The Crescent has proved as popular as our statues of King Arthur and Terry Wogan, especially when you consider the People’s Park is two blocks away. But to err is human. Build a sand bridge.
And don’t forget, Mayor Moran was barely a twinkle on the electorate’s eye when the Irish Rugby Experience debacle began brewing. He can’t be blamed for everything, as convenient as that might be.
In all seriousness, if you want a recipe for failure, just keep trying to please everybody all the time.
Remember, failure is only inevitable if you stop believing we can succeed. It seems JP McManus has given up the ghost, who will be next?
