Fingal Voice - A Review

national | arts and media | opinion/analysis

Tuesday January 13, 2004 04:11

by Adrian Alienation

This is the second in a series of reviews of publications coming out of the Irish activist scene.

To avoid monotony I have decided to intermingle reviews of the less obvious publications in amongst those of the usual suspects right from the start. With that in mind, this review will deal with the Fingal Voice, the only paper of its kind produced by the Irish left.

The Fingal Voice (FV) is an eight page, A4 sized, local paper produced by the Socialist Party (SP).

The SP puts out three more or less regular publications. The most commonly seen by activists is the monthly newspaper, the Voice. They also have a magazine, Socialist View, which looks at issues in greater depth and is supposed to come out every three months. In reality it seems to appear whenever they get around to it.

FV is by far the least visible of the three amongst activists. It isn't sold on demonstrations or at political meetings. It isn't available in the shops. Instead it is distributed for free through leafletting networks to houses across West and North Dublin. In fact, it is distributed on a massive scale - estimated to include two thirds of the sixty thousand plus households in Fingal.

It is reasonable to wonder how many copies of any free paper are actually read. Even so, we are talking about a publication with a much wider distribution than anything else coming out of the Irish activist milieu, dwarfing even that of An Phoblacht. An Phoblacht of course, has to be paid for and is thus very much more likely to be read by anyone who ends up with a copy, but the general point I am making about scale of operation stands.

Workers Solidarity, the paper of the anarchist Workers Solidarity Movement has certain formal similarities with the FV. They are both produced by one organisation rather than as generally left enterprises. They both come in A4 format. They are both distributed for free on an impressive scale, with perhaps 5 or 6,000 copies of the anarchist paper distributed every couple of months.

The comparison misses the most important point however. What makes FV such an interesting experiment is that it is a direct attempt by a section of the Irish left to root itself in a particular set of communities. The degree to which such an experiment is going to be succesful is difficult to predict, but the imagination shown in thinking to try in the first place is laudable.

The particular issue dealt with in this review, is from November 2003. There is, apparently, a new one due out soon but as I don't live in Fingal getting hold of it isn't as easy as getting hold of most left papers or magazines. The other advantages in this little bit of cheating with the date is that this issue was produced at the height of the bin tax struggle in Fingal.

The November FV is eight pages long. The first page seems to have been reproduced from the front page of a contemporary issue of the Voice. At least, the pictures of Ray Burke and Liam Lawlor seperated from a picture of Joe Higgins and Clare Daly being led away by the cops by the headline "One Law for Them, Another for the Rest of Us", seems familiar.

Joe Higgins and Clare Daly each contribute a regular page. Daly's column is divided into three sections, all bin tax related. The first of her articles explains how the bin tax leads to privatisation. The second compares the levels of tax paid by workers with the tax paid by the rich. The third details how Fingal bin workers have been treated by management. Like the rest of the paper, the articles are clearly aimed not at activists but at the punter in the street and all three are short, clear and persuasive.

Higgin's page consists of a longer article, dealing with the environmental background to the dispute. He argues that "it is not people's attitudes that are the problem, but rather the abysmal failure of successive governments to put in place a comprehensive infrastructre to deal with with waste reduction, re-use and recycling". The amount of waste produced by business is compared to that produced by ordinaty households.

Most of the arguments made by Higgins and Daly and throughout the paper would be familiar to people who have been active in the anti-bin tax campaign. What makes them unusual is the context. The detailed arguments are being addressed directly to every household in most of Fingal rather than being filtered through the corporate media, edited down to a leaflet or restricted to the much smaller number of people willing to buy a left publication.

Understandably, the bin tax features on every page of the FV. The legal situation is explained with regard to putting rubbish in stationary bin trucks, while the centre pages are devoted to a feature by Ruth Coppinger entitled "Bin Tax Battle: The Story So Far". Coppinger's article is a brief history of the Fingal Anti-Bin Tax Campaign. It goes long on praising the courage of ordinary residents in the campaign with, perhaps surprisingly, the Socialist Party only being mentioned twice.

Page six consists of a short article on the local elections, stating that SP members will "organise and take the fight from the Council chamber out into the community". The rest of the page consists of short profiles of seven of the SP candidates, notable in part because of some of the entertaining mugshot photos.

Page seven is a long article looking at the prospect of more attacks from the government on workers, through more local taxes and privatisation. Its main point is difficult to disagree with - the government has shown its willingness to use repression against bin tax protestors and that we have to be prepared for the same in future battles.

The back page is a "join us" call to arms and as such there isn't much to say about it, except that it is well written as these things go. The editors of Socialist Worker might do well to compare its explanation that SP members want to replace capitalism "with a socialist society where all the major wealth and industry is publically owned and democratically controlled by the working class" with the liberal shopping list of questions included in their own most recent call for members.

FV is not a paper likely to fire the blood of the average Irish activist. It isn't, I suppose, intended to be. It is very much a party publication, though there isn't anything necessarily wrong with that. On the positive side, it manages to be straightforward without dripping with condescension. It represents a very interesting idea and it impressed me more than I expected it to. Only time will tell how much of an impact it has but I like the idea of an activist paper that is aimed so completely at people outside the activist scene.

I'm going to move away from the Trotskyist left for the next few installments. Next up for review will hopefully be either Workers Solidarity or Red Banner. After that I will take a look at something from the Republican end of things.

Lastly, as I said at the end of my first review, if you have comments to make about the Fingal Voice I would be interested to hear them. If you just want to rant about how evil the SP are, or worse still you want to have a go at the anarchists/Labour/SWP/Sinn Fein, please keep your bile to yourself. There are more than enough threads of that kind already.

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Comments (46 of 46)

goog god its early

by early morning boy

Tue Jan 13, 2004 07:51

another good review. looking forward to the next one.

Thanks

by Fingal Vice

Tue Jan 13, 2004 10:51

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Correction

by Cork Head

Tue Jan 13, 2004 11:36

"this review will deal with the Fingal Voice, the only paper of its kind produced by the Irish left"

I gather from this and other comments that the reason that you think this is unique is that it is not geared towards other activists but towards a particular community.

The new publication, Cork Anarchist Conspiracy is produced by a left political group (Cork Anarchists) and is directed towards non-activists in Cork. The tone is less serious than that found in the usual lefty publications. Feedback so far has been positive.

To get a copy or to submit comments, letters, articles, e-mail:
corkanarchists@yahoo.com

Good Paper

by Fingalian

Tue Jan 13, 2004 11:46

But whats the latest on the candidates. The FV gave a list of them but there has been some controversy about 2 of them. As Michael O'Brien is barred from standing for the Council due to his job, why is he included in the list of candidates? Is he going to give up his job or withdraw as a candidate?

It looks as if funny business is going on here. Why nominate someone you will be unable to contest the election unless he resigns his job? The people of Fingal deserve an answer.

Not straight forward

by Fingal Flyer

Tue Jan 13, 2004 12:20

The case of Michael O'Brien is not that straight forward. Legally the ban on civil servants standing in elections is dodgy, there is a directive about it but whether that has any real legal standing is an open question. There is precedent, civil servants have stood before. In any case I think a law banning civil servants from being fully politically active is undemocratic and should be challenged. As there is no mention of it in the Voice it seems as though O'Brien is willing to lose his job if necessary?

Hmmm

by Jonah

Tue Jan 13, 2004 13:30

While the review is in and of itself pretty good, I think the definition of newspapers has been broadened out to a rather unusual level.

This is a constituency newsletter. Not knocking it, sounds like, as such things go, a pretty good production. But frankly, if we are going to start reviewing constituency newsletters you're going to be there a long time.

Sinn Fein in Tallaght recently distributed The Fenian, the third issue since the General Election and a four to six page newsletter. I wouldn't consider it a newspaper in the same category as the Socialist Worker or Voice.

And again using SF as an example, the irregular Dublin News would be worth a look. A Dublin wide edition, amounting to 120,000 copies was distributed in Spring 2002. A recent Dublin South Central edition was distributed to almost 40,000 homes and in both cases it was a 12 page tabloid distributed free to homes. I suggested reviewing An Phoblacht last time. I wouldn't have even thought of suggesting those papers because they are basically party newsletters.

I don't want this to degenerate, as it might, into a pissing contest about how much material any one group produces. I am merely suggesting that the scope be narrowed a little.

Why not review all publications

by Harold Bishop

Tue Jan 13, 2004 13:36

OK the definition of the Fingal Voice as a newspaper might be stretching it. But where's the harm in reviewing all publications including the Fingal Voice or whatever equivilant SF have. Lets face it the left in Ireland only has a handful of regular pepers.

Send us an address where papers can be sent for review

by Tom Nagle

Tue Jan 13, 2004 15:06

We're not all in the capital either.

SP in Cork

by Corkhead Eile

Tue Jan 13, 2004 15:20

For the record, the SP in Cork produce the same kind of thing - a 4 page A4 leaflet or paper or newsletter or whatever that is distributed through letterboxes around the northside of the city. It's called the Northside Voice and wouldn't have the same circulation as the Fingal one, but I expect the same basic idea is at play.

To those with bated breath (all 3 dozen of youse)

by James - Workers Solidarity Movement

Tue Jan 13, 2004 16:52

The next issue of Workers Solidarity is due out next week.

Interesting review, I haven't come across Fingal Voice, but the review perks my interest. Perhaps it's some of the similiarities the reviewer sees between in it and WS.

Certainly that's an impressive distribution, well done. For a publication which is often distributed to non-politicals it makes sense not to address it overly to 'activists'. WS is distributed a bit more widely, but similar considerations apply.

Replies to three people

Tue Jan 13, 2004 18:12

The point is well taken about me pushing the definition of "paper"a bit. I was somewhat arbitrarily willing to include anything with a degree of size (ie eight or more pages) and regularity. I had heard about the FV, but I hadn't previously seen it and it made me curious, so it made the list.

I had forgotten about Sinn Fein's Dublin News. I saw it once and again I quite liked the idea. Just how regularly does it come out?

I am of course willing to review local publications that aren't from Dublin and the Cork Anarchist Conspiracy sounds like it is worth a look. If I get time to add it to my list and I don't see it around I will contact you about getting one.

Other Voices

by Voice

Tue Jan 13, 2004 19:46

There are also 'Voices' published and distruted to large areas of Tallaght and South Dublin. Although not on a very regular basis like the FV.

Crumlin

by Little Voice

Fri Jan 16, 2004 12:17

There was a sort of local newsletter by the SP in Crumlin. It announced that Joan Collins would be standing for Dublin City Council. But now in the the latest Voice I see that she has been dropped from the list of candidates. Its all a bit strange. Joan is very well known in the area and has been in SP/Militant for about 20 years. Why would they drop such a good candidate?

Trolls please stop fabricating stories

by stopthetrolls

Fri Jan 16, 2004 13:11

Nowhere has it said Joan Collins was dropped as a candidate. It just did not go into details about who was standing in the Dublin City area, probably for reasons of space. I find it interesting the fact that the other candidate that was announced as standing in the City Council area and like Joan not mentioned in the latest Voice was not noticed at all by you trolls.

Asking A Question Is Not Trolling

Fri Jan 16, 2004 13:39

Who are you talking about? Which other candidate? If there is a simple explanation for the Collins case then lets hear it. If you have abandoned Crumlin then let me know. I had intended giving Joan a No 1. Surely I have a right to know who is running in my ward.

Stop fabricating stories

by stothetrolls

Fri Jan 16, 2004 13:51

Look at the July edition of the Voice
http://www.socialistparty.net/pub/pages/voicejuly03/9.htm

It clearly states that the SP will be standing in the South West Inner City ward. Online it doesn't name the candidate, I presume that's a typo, but it is well known that the candidate will be Diarmuid Naessans.

This was not mentioned in the current Voice but nobody is on claiming that Diarmuid has been shafted or suffered the wrath of the imaginary 'troika'.

It is clear that trolls on this site are intent on throwing up rubbish and making up stories about the SP. Why don't you all go and get lives.

As You Say

Fri Jan 16, 2004 13:55

It didnt name the candidate. I never heard of this character before. Who outside of the SP knows him or would know he was running? But it did name Joan Collins. If Joan Collins was still a candidate then surely you would be doing everything possible to build her profile, not make her invisible.

Well known outside the SP

Fri Jan 16, 2004 14:18

Diarmuid is well known in the area in which he is standing. If you were involved in the anti bin tax campaign in the City centre area you should know Diarmuid.

Questioning is not always trolling

by Taking Liberties

Fri Jan 16, 2004 14:22

Correct Diarmaid is a well known activist and a good one at that.
But enquiring as to why Joan Collins name was not listed in the Voice as a candidate is not trolling.
The SP know why the question is being asked.

I Dont Know Him

Fri Jan 16, 2004 14:23

Who outside of the SP knows that he is running? Am I a troll because I dont know every SP non-entity? Is he one of the SY puppies? Anyway less of the Red Herrings, I was talking Joan Collins so dont try to sidetrack things. She is not unknown, she a great track record as an activist and has been in the Militant/SP for over 20 years. If she is replaced by one of the Troikas puppies then I certainly wont vote for the SP in either the locals or Euros.

Stopthetrolls says

Fri Jan 16, 2004 14:37

"Look at the July edition of the Voice
http://www.socialistparty.net/pub/pages/voicejuly03/9.htm"

Well ok, I looked and guess what it says nothing about considering running a candidate in Finglas and on another thread one of your members says that they are still considering it.
So your answers prove nothing.

South West Inner City

Fri Jan 16, 2004 15:01

Diarmuid is very well known in the area and has played a key role in organising the anti bin tax campaign in the Liberties. He is not some paper candiate or 'puppy'. Everyone that is in anyway active in the City Centre anti bin tax campaign would know Diarmuid. Your not knowing him is probably because you are not from the Liberties area and/or confine yourself to your immediate area or maybe or not active at all. It has been well publicised through leafets canvassing meetings etc that Diarmuid is standing.

i really don't see with what is wrong about still considering standing in various areas. Maybe you would prefre if the SP made no mention of where they were considering standing?

Fri Jan 16, 2004 17:20

"really don't see with what is wrong about still considering standing in various areas. Maybe you would prefre if the SP made no mention of where they were considering standing?"

I just wish you would give a straight answer as to why Joan Collins was named as a candidate in the July Voice but not in the present one. Diarmuid wasnt named in either. Its the first I've heard of him standing, I'm sure hes a fine guy, maybe I know him to see.

The July Voice didnt say you were considering standing in Crumlin it actually named Joan. If Joan Collins is still a candidate for the SP in Crumlin then just say so. Simple as that.

Fact

by High Pitched Voice

Fri Jan 16, 2004 18:47

Regarding the situation in Crumlin, the SP leadership or at least its stalinoid wing have a serious dilemma which they are finding hard to resolve:

Joan Collins is a well known and respected activist with a fair prospect of winning a council seat or at least getting a very respectable vote. On the otherhand she is outside the loop in the SP, regarded as ideologically unreliable simply because of the fact that her partner is the former SP head honcho but now heretical outcast Dermot Connolly. Which risk to take: throw away a possible victory or face the prospect of having an 'unreliable' representing the SP on the Council?

Fingal and Crumlin

by Baritone

Fri Jan 16, 2004 19:32

Similar situations really. In Fingal the Troika has imposed Helen Redwood to stop an "unreliable" from standing. The SP have a chance of winning 2 seats in the Ward but they prefer to throw that away and stand Redwood who was sent to Ireland by Peter Taafe to ensure that the line was adhered to. Michael O'Briens candidacy is also rather dubious, as things are he cannot stand and retain his job. No one should expect him to make such a sacrifice.

SP candidates for local elections

by SP Member

Fri Jan 16, 2004 21:37

For clarification:

The candidates listed in the current issue of the VOICE are those candidates that have been selected by SP branches through a selection convention. The SP is obliged to do this under the rules of being a registered political party. The branches that have not selected a candidate are not listed. There has been at least one further candidate selected since publication of the VOICE - Ashling Golden in Limerick. Stir the shit all you want and don't let the facts get in the way.

More Trolls....

by Khalid

Sat Jan 17, 2004 03:08

What is this bollocks about Helen Redwood being flown over and 'imposed' by some showdy figure in London? She has been living in Ireland for years and is very active in West Dublin where she is well known for her years of work in assisting Joe Higgins constituency work and in organising the anti bin tax campaign. During the recent battles in Fingal she was one of the main organisers in the Mulhuddart area.

As for all this crap about City Council candidates, you got your answers, not all the candidates have been selected and not all decisions has been made by the various branches. The SP is a democratic organisation that has a legal responsibility as a registered political party to go through proper selection proceedures.

And as usual Michael O'Brien is singled out for attack. But here it is not really clear what you idiot trolls have a problem with. Michael is no fool, he is well aware of the possible work difficulties that will go with him standing and has decided to still stand. Surely the fact that someone is willing to fight for the right of civil servants to be politically active while putting his career on the line in order to put forward an alternative to the crooks in Fingal co co should be commended. But instead because he is SP and he is M'OB he is attacked by every idiot troll on this site.

Is Ashling standing?

by hs - sp

Sat Jan 17, 2004 14:59

Fair play to her! Good luck to her and all the other candidates.

elections

by pat c

Sat Jan 17, 2004 18:38

i'm sure the stuff about helen redwood is nonsense and the mention of m'ob is just stirring it. fair play to michael for taking on an unjust law. ictu are supposed to be partners with the government. some partnership if they cant get full civil rights for civil servants.

in germany even cops and soldiers can stand , not just for councils, but for the federal parliament.

but the sp are leaving themselves open to trolling by not saying whether or not jc is still a candidate.

Sp and indymedia

by sara - Greens

Sun Jan 18, 2004 20:50

i've been coming to this site a bit over the last few weeks. One thing that I have noticed is that people on this site want and demand every single minute and trivial question answered by the SP while other parties are not given the same treatment. It's really stupid.

I Agree With Sara

by Civet Cat

Wed Jan 21, 2004 11:13

A lot of whats printed here is just trouble making. There is no evidence of any funny stuff in Fingal. But the Collins case is different, if Ms Collins is still a candidate, why dont the SP simply state so. So far all they have done is avoid answering the question.

problem with questions on indymedia

Thu Jan 22, 2004 17:15

the simple problem with questions on indymedia is usually unamed people launch questions basically in mid air. Not every member of the SP will know if whether joan wants to stand or not or what is the problem if any. Standing is a big thing to do and many people have things to do! If someone in some thread or other simply throws out a question most likely no one will see it. Then we get the "sp refuses to answer". Of course no one asked! My favourite slogan of indymedia is "don't hate the media be the media". If you want to be the media and you have a question do what any journalist would do. Pick up a phone call the sp office and ASK. Its really very very simple. If you suspect something is up INVESTIGATE. Simple journalist stuff. Questions in the wind are just that.

On the point of the conspiricy theory it doesn't stand up for one simple reason. If Joan wanted to stand and someone else didn't want her to. All she would have to do is go to her branch and get their support. And anyone who has ever met Joan would know how easily she would win it. And not just in her own branch. So really this is just shit stirring.

So next time you have a question rather than playing at David Hanly behind a computer pick up a phone, its that simple.

by Watcher

Thu Jan 22, 2004 17:20

The SP are quick enough to come on Indymedia and demand answers from SF and Labour. Why is it that you have problems when you are the ones who are questioned? As you well know Joan Collins was named as a candidate in the Voice, now she is dropped from the latest list. If there is a simple and innocent explanation then the SP should provide it. Just as they expect other groups to do so.

like I said...

Thu Jan 22, 2004 17:30

..pick up the phone. We're all waiting for your report.

Thu Jan 22, 2004 17:32

The SP as usual are applying double standards. Why dont you say that to your comrades when they demand answers from other groups. It is now obvious that the SP have a problem over the Collins candidacy. Guilt by association. First DC is forced out as GS, then he is forced out of the SP, now JC is dropped as a candidate.

still waiting

Thu Jan 22, 2004 17:41

Watcher are you serious or are you simply a troll? I'm suspisious because you refuse to let anyone know who you are. Or which party or group you're in. And don't give me the bosses oppression nonsense. I suspect you do this as your a member of a rival organisation and you would make it far to obvious. And also because I think you would be embarrassed. (I would be too! if I did nothing but troll) If you were really concerned about Joan Collins or any other problem you would probably check it out. Go to socialistparty.net and you will find all the contact numbers. As for the SP "demanding answers" the sp as an organisation has never "demanded answers" on indymedia. Maybe some indiviual sp or sy members have but I would give them the exact same adive I give to you. Stop shit stirring and if you really care pick up a phone. We're still waiting for your report. If you don't do this I conclude you are nothing but a sectarian shit stirrer with too much time on his or her hands. Everyone else can make up their own mind. Have fun.

Thu Jan 22, 2004 17:46

Come off your high horse. There are plenty of examples on this thread alone of anonymous SP members. If there is no problem with the Collins nomination then all the SP have to do is say so. Yes this is an awkward question, but asking such questions is not trolling. Your comrades ask awkward questions all of the time. If you have a problem with awkward questions then Indymedia is not the place for you.

I am still waiting for a straight answer.

if you want an anwser...

by hs

Thu Jan 22, 2004 17:51

...ask. I am living in Italy I have no idea whether joan is standing or not. But like I said what 3 times now, call the sp office and ask there. They will know the latest and then you can write your report. If you don't it must be simply because you don't want an answer. Or you tell me why you won't call? If you just want "a simple answer" make a simple phonecall. Do it now the office should still be open. Again as I said before if you don't I can only conclude you are another anonoymous troll. Have to go now but I'll be happy to see your report if you're not a troll. Thats up to you.

Thu Jan 22, 2004 17:58

The fact that you are in Italy is irrelevant. You know how this site works. People ask questions and expect answers. If the answers are not supplied then people draw their own conclusions. Look back over LP and SF articles and you will see the questions asked by SP members. You would have credibility if you had intervened anytime over the last two years to tell your comrades to phone Labour, SF , the Green Party and others.

I am still waiting for an answer about Collins.

Also HS

by William Millar

Thu Jan 22, 2004 17:59

It is well known that leading members of the SP also use aliases and stir it up a bit themselves. Let he/she without sin and all that. Blockader evaded questions and hated the detective work. And we all know who he is.

Interesting

Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:29

HS - Your silence on the subject of SP trolls is deafening.

Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:38

hs has a good record of criticising sp members who carry on the same fights across numerous threads. he is no party hack and is prepared to disagree with other sp members on indymedia. if anyone has the standing to tell questioners to ring the sp then he does.

the trouble is that sp members have posted here and have skirted around actually saying who is standing. i am putting no demands just suggesting that the sp members concerned reflect on how this looks.

Fri Jan 23, 2004 11:41

I stand corrected.

Indymedia or Indygossip? Reclaim indymedia!

Sat Jan 24, 2004 16:54

Now the crux of the problem is that this is gossip. Go to any indymedia in the world and see how much concern there is about one candidate for a council election. Now that is one candidate not one cllr. Most indymedias will be discussing councils.
I'm sure the brazillians are discussing the four senators kicket out of the PT. But one local candiate?

As I said before it is up to Joan if she wants to stand or not. And no anon commenter (like yourself watcher) has any right to tell her what to do. And if she doesn't want to stand for political or personal reasons thats her business. And when you yourself decide to stand you can critisise. (you won't even tell us what party you're in!) If an "evil leadership" tried to stop her standing she could easily canvass the membership. She knows most if not all personaly. So really it's gossip.

The truth is watcher even if she stands I doubht you'd vote for her. Its pretty obvious you're in the SWP and just out to stir shit. Its a shame because people like yourself are really doing damage to indymedia and it's about time the rest of us stood up to you (from whatever party, and that includes sp, anarchists and especially trendy "anarchists") From now on when someone trolls and asks great QUESTIONS i'm handing out phone numbers and suggest everyone else (especially editors) do the same. Time to reclaim indymedia from leftie gossips!

As for those with great concerns about the SP, the answer is very simple. If you don't like the party or candidate don't vote us. If you want to change the direction or policy of the party I'm afraid theres only one way. You'll have to join the party and try to change it. No ones going to take trolling on indymedia seriously.

kicket?

Sat Jan 24, 2004 17:27

I'm getting worse! That was kicked.

bleh

by youknowho - swp

Sun Jan 25, 2004 17:53

Just because the evil twins of the sp troll around this board dosent mean all sp'ers do.

I suspect that most of the people trolling here are right wingers or armchair activists.

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Fingal Voice - A Review

Comments (46 of 46)