Political highs and lows of a rollercoaster year

This strangest of years has resulted in some very unusual moments and events in politics, and as we head to its conclusion, here – in no particular order – is my list of highlights.

(Big) Political Party of the Year: Sinn Féin. Like all parties it has had an uneven year. It’s found itself in more than one spot of bother (more of that later). But it surpassed everybody’s expectations in the general election including its own. The only reason it wasn’t the biggest party is that it didn’t run enough candidates. And if it had any inkling it would have won so big, it definitely would have chosen different candidates in a number of constituencies.

(Small) Political Party of the Year: The Social Democrats. Another party that defied expectations. Before February it had only two TDs, Roisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy, and both of them were co-leaders. Of all the parties who might gain from the referendum campaign on the 8th amendment, the Social Democrats were the best suited. And so it turned out – the party trebled its number from two to six with four excellent new TDs in Jennifer Whitmore, Holly Cairns, Cian O’Callaghan and Gary Gannon.

Top Scientist: Dr Mike Ryan of the World Health Organisation. Mike is from Curry Co Sligo and studied medicine at NUIG, around the same time as myself. He has spent most of his career at the WHO, often on the frontline - he made numerous trips to Africa to respond to deadly Ebola outbreaks. His comment at the beginning of the year that “speed trumps perfection” has become the phrase that has defined the coronavirus. He has been a rock of common sense and of non-dramatic advice.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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