In the independent TD’s Thurles political heartland some say they don’t believe the findings against him, others feel he made forgivable mistakes that are now in the past, and some subscribe to both theories at once
In the Independent TD’s Thurles political heartland some say they don’t believe the findings against him, others feel he made forgivable mistakes that are now in the past, and some subscribe to both theories at once. Nearby is the beautiful 12th-century abbey which is said to keep a relic of the “true cross”.
Eithne O’Gorman, who is sitting behind the counter of Flowers R Us, is a retired legal accountant who has known Lowry since they were at school. She says. “He was a very good friend of my late husband.” Images of Thurles this week including, on right, the Main Street. Photographs: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
He only put a bit of a wing on the house and they made a big song and dance about it. He didn’t deserve all the things that happened to himWhat about the Moriarty and McCracken tribunals? “I don’t know if there’s anything proved.”Moira Morrissey, the manager of the Anew charity shop, tells me that Lowry was “at a funeral recently and they were calling him ‘Minister Lowry’ and he was saying ‘Oh no, I’m not going there’.
Breda Kennedy, behind the counter of The County Bar, is balancing the till when I ask about Lowry. “He’s the only one that does anything for us,” she says. “All the politicians we had over the years never came near Thurles, never did one thing for the town. The beet factory was closed down . Anything we had was closed down and nothing else replaced it.”
A little later I meet an older man who is sitting at the bar. Larry Kiely is a retired army colonel and show jumping champion. He tells me to google his name to see his bona-fides, so I do. “My last big win was in Madison Square Gardens,” he says. Lowry supporters generally think that what has happened to him is unfair. Some say they don’t believe the findings against him. Others feel he made forgivable mistakes that are now in the past. Some subscribe to both theories at once. All of his supporters believe the controversies are being raked up unfairly now by his political enemies.In the Turkish barber shop on Liberty Square, a chorus of people, including a small boy, tell me how well-liked Lowry is but don’t want to go into detail.
Nearby, I meet a father and daughter who prefer their real names not to be used so I am calling them John and Ciara. “The only experience I’ve ever had with any politicians, local or otherwise, would have been when we lost the post office from the square,” says Ciara. At that time they attended a public meeting.
“People see him as an alternative to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael,” says Mark. “But if you look on the Oireachtas website, you can clearly see the voting records, and you can see that he votes in line with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for every single vote. So, he’s not an alternative. And then when he’s actually asked to voice his opinions on things he won’t because he’s happy to sit on that fence.”“But he’s not a councillor, he’s a TD,” says Mark. “Local stuff is a councillor’s problem.
They don’t want to give their full names. “I just wouldn’t want people talking,” says Michelle. She sighs. “This f**king town!” And the tribunals? “It doesn’t impact,” says Catherine. “It comes down to, ‘It’s only the fecking tax man’. If you’re trying to understand the psyche of people who continue to vote for people who have obviously crossed a line – it’s just that he has been such a superb politician. That’s the appeal.” He is also, at heart, she believes, “a good person”.And the fact he is now near the heart of government again? “Great for us and bring it on,” says Catherine.
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