I live in Dublin and I'm sick of our government and the green washing we see on a daily basis. We are overun by US companies to the point where we are corporate slop and data centres are our second colonisation. I want to find a collective, or create a collective if there isn't one already, where we make the ACTUAL change we need done in this country to create climate justice for ourselves and for the land we live on, because god damn im so sick of the land not being given recognistion at all!! The land comes first before everything!!! Who would we be without out land!!!

I am sick of protests and blocking roads and all the other things that seem to not even get any media attention and make the public hate climate activists even more. Surely there are things that we can do to take power into out own hands that is not just creating another climate cafe or community dinner, although they are super important too, they are only a very small part of the battle. I WANT TO BE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE ACTUAL BATTLE!!!

As Irish progressives, there are months when you can make yourself aware about your own personal outlook on life. And by God did May 2026, due in large part to the British & Irish political landscapes, give you that option.

If you’re optimistic, you revel in the success of our Dan, the party’s 1^st by-election success, surfing in on a wave of transfers you never thought possible. In addition, Andy Burnham might delay fascism til 2034.

If pessimistic, you watch the post-locals UK with their almost limitless appetite of infighting within the left (yes, I can feel you typing “Starmer=left?!” through the screen, so relax), created by supposedly matured political actors on all sides. Done in a manner ignorant of the consequences of abandoning mutual interests, for the benefit of Farage-esque outcomes.

And amid this, what do you see your party doing? They’re having a dig at Sinn Fein……

A member for six years, I feel hope & concern, desire & frustration, optimism & resentment. All mixed together, but still with the very real prospect that many of us never thought possible. Having held out (correctly) of the last three negotiations, we might help form the first left-majority government. But, with Independent Ireland & Aontu on a routine 10%+ in polls, this outcome is BARELY a possibility and/or still the hope of many.

Whatever differences exist & the clear validity of criticism, the SocDem-Shinner relationship is now as crucial to government formation as any other combination of parties. And with this in mind, I write the following critique, to either 1) stop patterns of behaviour that could be detrimental to this outcome. Or 2) start new positive patterns, which add a degree of understanding across the two parties.

1)       Policy Differences: This doesn’t mean holding back criticism of Sinn Fein, you’re allowed to be as negative as possible. Please paint the town purple with things you think they do wrong. But at some point, giving way to the potential of what we could accomplish together has to be considered a good thing. Even to a cynic like myself, the chance of talking positively about the feasibility of potential shared aims isn’t something from The Twilight Zone. Maybe nothing comes out of it, maybe it causes arguments, but there’s more harm in not trying to consider viability between the two Parties. As bad as they are, Fianna Fail & Fine Gael’s ability to collaborate builds a sense of trust to the public that’s missing on the Irish Left.     

2)       "Well the press seem to like it": If, after 10 years of almost complete silence, in a manner that attempted to imply irrelevancy, a journalist or broadcaster suddenly promotes your party in a manner that also knocks a rival like Sinn Fein, it’s acceptable to highlight the pattern. Not only is it acceptable, but it’s very worthwhile to provide understanding, specifically about how people have been obliged to tolerate a level of criticism in the media that others have never received. Moreso, in instances where Sinn Fein didn’t do great, such as the by-elections, it’s worthwhile to strategize a media approach that avoids appearing to kick Sinn Fein when they’re down. Even now, during a Seanad By-Election campaign that the combined left cannot possibly win, being aware of attempts at fermenting infighting can be something you’re capable of dealing with. So there’s value in controlling your own narrative, instead of having to react off of someone else’s.   

3)       Different Strokes: Although it pains me to say, we SocDems are unlikely to ever get 10k first preference in say, the Cavan-Monaghan constituency, so please send on your condolences. That said, there’s another party that is & I’d rather them succeed than the likes of others who may feel more sympathetic of Fianna Fail & Fine Gael. So, without getting into too great a detail about Rural/Urban, Middle/Working Class or High/Low Income, there’s nothing wrong in engaging in a process that reflects your own background. What’s more important is that someone aware of the differences is able to direct all various types of identity toward a mutual benefit. Right now, I’ve very little to doubt this as a successful option.

4)       Sum of our parts: Before NATO membership & Sweden’s bohemian COVID policy, our position in reflecting the Scandinavian model seems like a strength, including how the left parties tended to either go into government or opposition together. As such, there are people who couldn’t give the slightest about distinctions between the SocDems, Labour & Greens, limited to the fact that they expect being able to collaborate. What is something to be frightened of, is an election where a left majority is achieved but fails to create a government, due to distinct policy differences. And in no uncertain terms would we collectively be allowed to forget it, and/or how pointless it is to work with the left when Fianna Fail & Fine Gael are there.

5)       How People vote: After you read this, stand up, put on a cardigan, go to Mass & thank God that both Independent Ireland & Aontu exist, particularly due to their ability split a vote. And when you lump in Fianna Fail & Fine Gael too, there has never been such sizeable fractures among the right-of-centre & the chance for both the Social Democrats & Sinn Fein to rise over them.

Happy to hear people's thoughts.

The fact that Provisional Sinn Féin went down 4% on a RedC Poll, with a 3% Margin of Error, re-affirms Seamus Costello's emphasis on Local Politics.

Outside of the humiliating defeats for SF in the Bye-Elections, they humiliated themselves in the last two Local Elections, and General Election.

They brought over a sitting councillor from Finglas to run 4/7 SF candidates in Cabra/Glasnevin in the Local Election in 2024. Of all SF candidates, she finished last, even though she was the only sitting Councillor.

They took a councillor from Cork South Central and ran her in Cork North Central in 2024. She lost.

When it came to the 2026 Bye-Election, Mary Lou attempted to bus in a candidate from Clondalkin, but she failed. The Local Option crashed and burned.

Instead, what we ended up with winning Local Candidates who are existing Councillors, none of them Sinn Féin.

Mary Lou is starting to look like Arne Slot, a stopgap that needs new leadership, like David Cullinane.