Gombeen Politics Alive In North Tipperary

Vote for me in next General Election

I believe it was Ben Franklin who coined the phrase “Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God.”

I use the word “Gombeen,” more than most when it comes to describing some politicians. So to be fair to these gombeens, I think I should explain my use of this regular apt descriptive adjective.

The word gombeen is a pejorative Hiberno-English term used in Ireland for a shady, small-time “wheeler-dealer” politicion or businessman who is always looking after his own needs, rather than the needs of those they interacts with on a daily basis. The term originally referred to merchants who exploited the starving, during the Great Irish Famine, by selling goods on credit at ruinous interest rates. Todays term “gombeen,” has been enlarged to express a broader description, best conjuring up pictures of those who pretend to look after the needs of their constituents, while really attempting to gain kudos for their next election campaign.

Allow me to give you an example of political gombeenism. As you read further, (and I hope you will) I want you to consider the costs involved in sending this letter, e.g. PR Secretaries wages, Politicians time, Paper, Envelopes, Dictation time, Stamps, Computer services and Telephone calls to local radio stations etc.

Having added up all this unnecessary expenditure, of course you may take the view that my case study of Mr Alan Kelly, TD’s exploits, are creating jobs and driving consumer spending, but remember in the age of fast Broadband, Skype, Email, Twitter and Facebook, you, the taxpayer, may feel that you have just paid for unnecessary modern day political gombeenism.

See a letter recently posted to households resident between Molly Gorman’s Cross and Seskin Boreen, from Mr Alan Kelly, TD. (Click on letter, top left, to see full resolution image.)

Google Maps are not even aware of the presence of Molly Gorman’s Cross, but for the benifit of my readers and Mr Kelly, TD, it is a “bóithrín,”  and like the word “gombeen,” it is an anglicised, Hiberno-English term, normally meaning a narrow, rural road in Ireland.

This road epitomises “Forgotten North Tipperary,” from a political point of view. The narrow passageway has its hedgerows kept neatly trimmed each year by passing motorised vans, cars and trucks who break off all attempts by briar’s to hold hands across this forgotten way.

This forgotten narrow passage (Referred to as a road) is unique in other ways also. Unlike the R639 (Formally the old Dublin To Cork main road, prior to the building of the M8 ) from Urlingford to Longfordpass, which has a speed limit of 80 kilometers, this stretch of road referred to in Mr Kelly’s letter, was overlooked by the NRA, with regard to speed restrictions and therefore is enjoyed by local boy racers, because of its sharp bends, which allow vehicles travel legally at 100 kilometers.

Yes there is something you can do for your constituents Mr Kelly, stop wasting our money on self promotion and organize the NRA to place speed limit signs on this dangerous “bóithrín.”

When you are finished that little job, Thurles would like your department to investigate where you can get the €48million for our Bypass. Think of it as a stills photographic opportunity or maybe RTE will send down a camera to record you cutting a red ribbon.

Thirty years ago we had Steve Jobs, Johnny Cash and Bob Hope today, thanks to gombeen politicians, we have no jobs, no cash and here in North Tipperary no hope.