Grizzly Adams makes a break for Mexico

To the frank astonishment of the leader writers over in the Belfast Telegraph, Gerry Armani is leaving the politics of the Six Counties behind for a tilt at TD-ship in the Free State.

Adams: Afraid of the dark? 

Can’t say as astonishment was the response here at The Rusty Wire Service.  The question for us with Adams and the South was never ‘if’, it was always ‘when’.

The whole canapé circuit of the international conflict-resolution industry must surely be grating on Adam’s nerves by now. And apart from TV appearances and book-signings, what else has he really been doing in public life for the past few years?

To be fair, The Deptford Croppy is guessing that the only person more surprised than the Belfast Telegraph at this turn of events was Sinn Féin Councillor Tomas Sharkey, who clearly had his sights set on taking the Louth seat over from Arthur Morgan. Morgan himself announced last week that he wouldn’t be contesting the next election in order to spend more time with his business or concentrate on his family or both or possibly neither.

All I know is that the Dundalk Democrat was able to speculate that even as he prepares to step down, Morgan -- who is his party's spokesperson on Finance, Enterprise and Trade and Social and Community Affairs --confided that “he felt he had enough support from the people to continue on after the next election if he hadn't decided to call it a day.’I think I would've had an easy enough task to be returned by the people of Louth.’”

So Arthur’s not stepping down for want of support and more to the point, he wants you to know that. At this point, you either believe that he really is, after nearly 40 years of frontline involvement in political activism, going to step down and concentrate on his business interests or you draw the not unreasonable inference that Arthur was shown the advantages of standing aside for the big lad.

The Herald in Dublin meanwhile was prophesying splits in the party and trying to make some hay on the fact that some in the grassroots organisation were not consulted about this golden parachute for the leader.

Retiring TD Arthur Morgan : work offers 
considered as a Dennis Farina lookalike
 (him out of Snatch and Get Shorty)

Then again, why would the leadership (of Sinn Féin especially) consult the grassroots about what amounts to a major strategic decision for the party? The tight orchestration of Sinn Féin moves like this don’t allow for the tabling of motions in Louth local cumann meetings.

The Wee County's Sinn Féin-voting electorate will most likely suck this one up and take it for the team. I suspect the permutations offered by Adams in Leinster House may be too tempting for dwelling on local enmity.  

But above all, there is the dawning reality of the gamble that Adams is taking. Still hanging over the announcement of Adams’ intention to run for the Dáil, is the spectral presence of Brendan ‘The Dark’ Hughes.

That disembodied voice, like a dead emissary of the Disappeared or the disembodied chorus of a Greek Tragedy, accusing Adams of complicity in Jean McConville’s demise from beyond the grave....is this the stain that won’t wash away?

If Adams fails to get elected in Louth where he will be running against seasoned Leinster House campaigners like Justice Minister Dermot Ahern, the golden parachute might turn very quickly into a lead balloon.