Portlaoise Mens Shed pensioners have plenty to say about the General Election in Laois

Ahead of next Friday's General Election polling day, the Leinster Express / Laois Live visited Portlaoise Men's Shed headquarters on the Timahoe Road, to hear their experienced views, and they had plenty to share.

Tom Jacob is a member of the shed, and also a retired local Fianna Fáil councillor, serving for 35 years.

“There will be no change, that’s my opinion. The odds are stacked against everybody else. When you look at the base for the others, they have no history. Willie Aird is the single Fine Gael nominee, it would be unbelievable if he didn’t make it.

Tom Jacob in Portlaoise Men's Shed headquarters at the equestrian centre on the Timahoe Road.

"Brian Stanley on his previous election got 16000 votes including Offaly, he has a very good track record in Laois. I don’t see him being put to one side. Sean Fleming has been there and the Fleming Fianna Fáil base in Laois is strong enough to elect him.”

Retired Irish Rail worker John McIntyre is a Dublin native living in Laois for 19 years.

John McIntyre, member of Portlaoise Men's Shed. 

“I don’t have faith in the present incumbents. I’m left wing and always have been. The present two parties are twins separated at birth, in power since the foundation of the state. They say ‘if we keep going we will sort out the crises in housing, health and transport’, but they’re the ones who caused them.

“Law and order is in chaos in the country and they caused it, our defence forces can barely put one ship to sea, we depend on foreign powers to protect our skies.

“I’ll be voting Brian Stanley, I’d prefer if he was still in Sinn Féin, I’ll vote Sinn Féin number two. I want more public transport, I wouldn’t normally support the Greens but they’ve made a statement that they will invest in public transport. The Portlaoise bus service was supposed to be running by this year, it’s still not. I live in Fairgreen and the only ones to come to my door were Brian Stanley’s people,” he said.

John is supporting the SIPTU campaign to increase the old age pension up to 34% of the average industrial wage.

“The next Government must keep this promise. Fine Gael went two years giving us nothing so we are falling behind,” he said.

On the other side of the tracks, fellow Portlaoise Men's Shedder, retired prison officer Joe Murphy from Portlaoise says he is “totally opposed to Sinn Féin”.

“I’m Labour but there’s no candidates in Laois so I’ll be voting Greens. I got involved with Labour to give people an alternative in Laois that was not Sinn Féin. I want Sinn Féin to lose their seat in Laois and Brian Stanley to lose his seat because they are both the same colour, he will go back to Sinn Féin eventually.  

“The provos years back blew up a bomb in Garryhinch that killed a Garda and injured another who lived in Portlaoise. Stanley marched his troops past his house every year. There’s only one Óglaigh na hÉireann in this country and that’s the Irish army.

“We need to stop the privatisation of services. The choice of candidates in Laois is poor, there’s only one I think could make a difference if they break through, Aisling Moran," he said. 

He won't be choosing fellow former prison officer Austin Stack either, who is running for Fianna Fáil.

“Fianna Fáil blew up the economy twice," Mr Murphy said. 

“I’m extremely content with the way the country is. There are issues in housing but every country in the developing world has that issue. It’s hard to buy a house in Australia too. Emigrants now have a choice, they go and come back with experience. 

“I would ask that Portlaoise Main Street be pedestrianised, and the courthouse be taken out, at least the criminal courts, that would increase footfall,” Mr Murphy said.

Healthcare is a big issue for Men's Shed member Michael Doran, below.

Michael Doran.

He wants more money invested into health services, especially in free dental care.

“It’s a joke they way they promise you this and that. The health system is a joke. They promise you free dental care but you don’t get it. 

I have type 1 diabetes. The problem in Laois is if you have a medical card, there is no dentist to take it. What’s the point? If you get a tooth out it’s nearly €200. I’m on disability allowance, I can’t afford it,” he said.

'Nothing ever changes'

Ronnie Gaunt is a Glaswegian living 20 years in Portlaoise and sees no big change ahead.

“It’s the sameness, nothing ever changes. It’s like Glasgow used to be. Blue collar workers voted Labour Conservative and white collar voted Conservative. Here it’s Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil. I don’t agree with any of them. They are only interested in money and power. They make monumental promises and back pedal with excuses once they’re in.

“The pension format here is a damn sight better than in the UK, but money for Men’s Sheds is being cut back, it’s hard enough to get money now. It’s a rigmarole to get grants. We are doing all the construction for the new parklets project for Portlaoise Tidy Towns, making all the flowerbeds and seats. 

“Elaine Mullally came around to chat to us and I was quite impressed by her,” he added.

See next Tuesday's Leinster Express newspaper for a 20 page election special including in-depth interviews with all 12 Laois candidates.