Rainbow politics in Munster

CHASING RAINBOWS

HOW "PEOPLE FIRST"

LOST ITS WAY

in May 1987 the southern state was. forced to nave a reterendum on the implications of the West Furopean integration. Since the first one in 1977 the handwagon had blithely rolled along. The promises of #411 employment, eternal sumshine and cheap wine has never materialised. Nonetheless the Brussels utopia was still able to spew out more illusions of motorways to Lonnemara, the dole in Crete and Cheap Mercedes in HoallyaArll. The Southern bureaucracy - faced with crisis after crisis - was thrilled to be able to present this latest illusion to the increasingly cynical masses. An agricultural economist who Saw sore in common between Ireland and Jamaica than with Belgium challenged this cosy concensus. Raymond Crotty went on to force a vote. Although it was defeated, the referendum on the Single European Act pushed the question of West European capitalist integration to centre stage, for however brief a time, Issues like neutrality, cultural identity, NATO and nuclear power tock centre stage from the sore mundane concerns of the neo-colony based in Dublin. Crotty’s legal adviser was a Cork radical lawyer called Joe Noonan, His remarkable professionalism and coamiteent did much to put consideration of the implications of the SEA beyond the comems of a wmellintentioned fringe. Noonan had been prominently involved on CN (Caspaign for Nuclear Disarmasent) and other alternative social issues. The result was a campaign that saw a 172 No Vote in Munster and the only constituency in the 7h-comties to vote against the SEA in 198?-Cork Worth Central.

The lessons of this intervention case to the fore in the sumeer of 1968 when attention was focussed on the implications of 1972, Various groups and individuals had eserged from earlier campaigns in Munster who were convinced that further progress towards a united capitalist Europe would spel! the end of radicalism, national resistance to imperialism and ecological awareness.

PEOPLE FIRST /WEDTHEAL

fs a result of these concerns, various individuals cage to the conclusion that a nore effective forua for opposition would be provided by the elections to the EEL parliagent in dune 1987. [t was clear that the fifth seat in the funster constituency was up for grabs. A conference mas held in Cork in November 1968 when these various concerns were articulated. It was decided in principle to run a candidate in the forthcoming European elections.

This meeting also decided to link such a candidacy to a wider political ovement which had the concern for not only the environgent but also the question af Irish identity and cultural and economic iepoverisheent. The role of British and Western imperialisa was specifically raised.

Close on 100 activists decided to call the project “People First/Meitheal’. A sovesenthowever ill-defined- was born. While the danger signs were obvious (Sen, John. A, Murphy delivered a scurrilous attack on ‘fellow - travellers and republicans’) the overwhelaing approach was non-sectarian and progressive.

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ur Cork correspondent Alan Bruce, doe Moonan was subsequently selected to run as 06Co the «Cl camdidate «oof )3=—sthe:~=Ss People First/Mertheal. Initially, enthusiasa was high, [t mas clear that the issues of neutrality, nationa! independence and economic sovereignty were vital issues in the Munster constituency. Mass uneaployaent and cutbacks were the only tangible results of EEC seabership for fumster workers, Noonan, sith a properly articulated campaign, had victory within his grasp.

Links were established with the Rainbow Group of the European parliament and with a radical group in Densark.

WHAT WENT WRONG?

Victory was not to be however. On 15th of dune Noonan secured a 15,00 first preference votes, Munster saw the extraordinary return of that defender of unionisa, dJobn Cushnahan, and the excellent Campaign of Fr. Paddy Ryan, So what went wrong for Noonan?