Ciaran’s Peculier [sic] Blog

Like many people I am heartily sickened of hearing the infernal claptrap from our leaders, like big-lips Cowan that we must all pull together for the country’s economic benefit and feel the burn, or the even greater twaddle from fatso Harney that we must be prepared to suffer cutbacks and make tough decisions.

A recent edition of the Cavan Echo has revealed how Cavan Senator Diarmaid Wilson is getting a pay increase, from 72,000 to 74,000 euro. (Unfortunately I don’t think he deserves a place on the L’Oreal ad and say he’s worth it.)

Now how many carers would his salary pay for? Carers are one group who for years have never received sufficient compensation for their work. Far from it, the present minister the Lady Bountiful Hanaffin has hinted that the disabled and infirm should be looked after by their families (for nothing of course) and that she would therefore like to cut carers’ benefits.

But there is one big difference between carers (and any other group who are undervalued) and our rulers. The former deserve more but they won’t get it, but when those who sit at the top want more, well, all they have to do is decide when and how much.

Thank goodness that the Cavan Echo had the courage to cover this outrageous occurrence. But I recall how Senator Wilson’s party colleague Deputy Smith responded to even mild criticism from the Echo during the last General Election campaign. In a fit of pique not worthy of any politician removed all his advertising from the paper and switched it to the far more compliant pages of another journal.

Many years have past since I gave Diarmaid Wilson some copies of the Breifne historical journal. Yet despite numerous entreaties I haven’t got them back. I suppose he’s lost them by now, but given that he is so flush with cash he can afford to buy me replacements. One of the volumes contained an article of mine, so I’m in the embarrassing situation of having to read my own work in the library when I have need. He’d have no problems getting them from the present gang in the Cumann Seannchais Bhreifne – aithnionn ciarog, ciarog eile – an dtuigeann sibh?

Just to introduce some balance it should be pointed out that this pay raise isn’t confined to Senator Wilson or to Fianna Fail senators. It does beg the question what do we need a senate for? There are good people there, such as David Norris and Shane Ross but as for many of thee rest … stop the lights Bunny! And then the way they’re elected to “professional panels” (Industry, Agriculture) – a sop by De Valera to the numerous admirers of Benito Mussolini and Fascist Italy in the Ireland of the time.

And maybe I shouldn’t be too harsh on Diarmaid. “Ah jaysus he’s not the wurst o’ them”. Indeed someone who knows him pretty well once said of him “sure yan fella’s a thunderin’ eedjit.”

John Fitzgerald Kennedy memorably if rhetorically asked: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” This should be paraphrased for our ruling class: “Ask not what you can do for your country, but how you can do your country.”

I would like to respond to Cowan, Harney et al and the whole crowd of gangsters and bandits who sit in governance over us, in the words once used by a Fianna Fail councillor (now no longer with us) who said: “D’ yez know what yez can do with it? Yez can shit on it!”