In this week’s episode of Cargo of Bricks, I’m talking with Professor Gary Murphy of Dublin City University about last February’s tumultuous general election and the dilemmas facing the now five-month-long process of government formation.
In it, we dissect:
- How Ireland’s swing from right to left, illustrated by the collapse in the Fine Gael vote and Sinn Féin’s unanticipated great leap forward, has nullified Micheál Martin’s long-held ambition to lead a non-SF, left-leaning coalition government.
- The political purgatory now facing the two traditional enemies of the southern state as FF faces up to the possibility that they may never see power again if they don’t do the last thing many of their activists want to see and govern together.
- And through all of this despite taking his party to the unprecedented success of 12 Dail seats the Greens leader, Eamon Ryan faces a last-minute defenestration as leader by his deputy, Catherine Martin, who is also the party’s chief negotiator.
Enjoy and see you next week. You can subscribe to Cargo of Bricks, Slugger TV, and other podcasts on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts or Spotify.
The YouTube version below has subtitles on it if you click the CC button.
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
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