Words on Wednesday...with Gerry McGeough

Welcome to another edition of Words on Wednesday here on United Irelander, a concept unique to the Irish blogosphere, which sees me interview various figures from all walks of political life.

Taking my questions this week is Independent Republican candidate for Fermanagh-South Tyrone Gerry McGeough.

My thanks to Mr McGeough for kindly agreeing to be interviewed at this busy time. With that being said, let's begin:

First off, you are an Independent Republican Candidate for the upcoming election in the North. What is it that convinced you to run for office?

Well the fact that Sinn Féin have become a pro-Establishment party insofar as they have recognised the British Crown forces and, as a consequence, have legitimised the British state in Ireland. I therefore feel that someone needs to provide the people of Fermanagh/South Tyrone with an alternative, authentic Republican voice, and that's exactly what I'm doing.

You have been critical of the direction Sinn Féin has taken in recent years. Who do you hold responsible for this?

One simple answer: British intelligence services, and their well publicised manipulation and infiltration of the various ranks of the Republican movement, particularly the leadership.

If you could change three things about Irish society, north or south, what would you change and why?

Partition, partition, and partition!

What is the best way to achieve a United Ireland in your eyes?

To get the British out of here as quickly as possible.

I note that you were Sinn Féin's National Director during the first successful No to Nice campaign in 2001. Presumably like myself you were disgusted that the initial vote against it was not respected and that another vote followed it. Are you worried about the power of the European Union and the EU constitution which refuses to go away?

Yes, very much so; the European Union presents the Irish Nation with a very serious threat. They want to reduce us to a province once again, and we must carefully and vigilantly guard our nationhood against this.

You hit out at Sinn Féin's recent decision to support the PSNI. Why was this?

Because by supporting the PSNI, which is a British police constabulary, they are giving de facto recognition to the British state in Ireland, and are therefore legitimising the "right" of the British to rule in Ireland, and that's something we can't accept.

You have had a storied life which includes being imprisoned several times for your involvement with the Provisional IRA. Any regrets about this period of your life looking back?

Well, it is the obligation of men to carry out their patriotic duty, so it's not a case of regrets or otherwise. However, I would have rathered that it was seen through to the end in that we got a concrete guarantee of a full British withdrawal from Ireland.

You were active in the 1981 Bobby Sands election campaign in Fermanagh/South Tyrone. Give us your thoughts on Bobby Sands.

What more can I say - a great Irish patriot and hero, and a role model for younger generations.

Where should Ireland be twenty years from now?

An independent, sovereign and united Irish nation - and if all this talk of global warming is true, I'd hope that it'll be well above sea level!

You graduated from Trinity College with an Honours Degree in history and you earned a Higher Diploma in Education from UCD. I'm curious to learn from your study of Irish history what you think should have happened at the Treaty talks in 1921.

Instead of surrendering to British threats of swift and terrible war, I think the Treaty delegation should have called their opponents' bluff.

I'm aware that, like myself, you are opposed to abortion. Portugal recently went from a country opposed to abortion to one that will soon legalise it. Do you worry about abortion becoming legalised in Ireland in the near future?

I worry about it becoming legalised at any time, and I believe it is the duty of all Irish patriots to do everything in their power to oppose the introduction of abortion in this country. Any country that introduces abortion is one that's ultimately finished.

What reaction have you been getting locally from the constituents of Fermanagh-South Tyrone?

They've been very supportive, very warm, and very encouraging, and I'm privileged to have put my name forward for a chance to serve them.

What would you say to anyone from Fermanagh or South Tyrone reading this who isn't sure who to vote for in the next General Election?

If you want political leadership with integrity, that is prepared to work in your interests, and has a proven record of patriotic honesty, then you should consider voting for myself in order to provide the people of Fermanagh/South Tyrone with a viable alternative to the current, stodgy status quo we currently endure.

Finally I'd like to play a small round of word association. I'm sure you know what it entails. Basically just outline what word comes into your head when you hear the following:

Bertie Ahern - Taoiseach...
Tony Blair - Resignation.
Ian Paisley - Anti-Catholic.
Gerry Adams - Very disappointed.
Mark Durkan - Not surprised.
Sinn Féin - U-turn...
Repartition - Of Britain?
Irish language - Maith go leor.
United Ireland - Absolutely.
Gerry McGeough - Sincere.

Best of luck to Gerry in the upcoming election.

Stay tuned to United Irelander for future interviews. Previous interviews can be read here.