Looking Back: Link or Sink!
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| The Campaign. |
In the 1992 General Election, Pat Dunlea ran as a Community Candidate on the single-issue matter of seeking a 'northern link' for the town on the then being planned Kilcullen bypass.
Pat knew business in the town would be adversely affected, especially at the north end, because the plan offered only one access point to Kilcullen, where it is today at the southern end. To highlight the case, and to try and have a north link access, and with the encouragement of many individuals and business people in Kilcullen, he ran for the Dail.
It was a particularly difficult election for a Kilcullen candidate, as that year the village had controversially been put into the Wicklow constituency. But, with everybody in Kilcullen behind him, and a seriously cross-community campaign, Pat garnered over 1,300 votes, probably every voter in the then much smaller settlement. But he only managed a tiny level of transfers because of the Wicklow situation and dropped out on the fifth count with just 2.5pc of the first preference vote.
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| The Campaign Team. |
Afterwards, key campaigner Lesley O'Brien penned a Saga in the best 18th-century doggerel ballad form, to make sure the episode remains in Kilcullen's history. We reproduce it below, and while many names invoked are no longer with us, the memories remain.
A Political Saga — Link or Sink ...
It seemed like quite a good idea
whilst drinking in the bar
but he really was quite staggered
that this 'idea' got so far.
Whoever would have thought it,
A few friends and a drink
resulted in a campaign for
'Kilcullen, Link or Sink'.
Pat's political fate decided
a Public Meeting said
'If we don't get a link road
then we're as good as dead'.
The wheel roared into action
The town began to bloom
Posters grew up like wild weeds
wherever there was room.
Veronica threw the shop in
and David bought the fax
Kilcullen held its arms out
'The campaign's on its tracks'.
Staunch Fianna Failers,
Democrats, Gaels and Green
Turned out to burn the pavements
getting the message seen.
Pat Dunlea the message rang
Give him your No. 1
The community demands a voice
He is Kilcullen's son.
Young Vincent left with Eithne
with what we had to say
to return some six hours later
they said they'd lost their way ...
Brendan toured East Wicklow
Fixing posters to every log
Paul Mullen who was minding him
Got bitten by a dog.
The opinion on the 'doorstep'
was, "we'll vote him to the Dail
Kilcullen will not be ignored
The Council's blood will boil."
The famous twins decided
the tale it should be told
They made a tape for broadcast
but it really was too bold ...
With visits from the parties
to our smart Campaign H.Q.
John Dardis said he's sink or swim
to get our link road through.
The political machine in place now
so all we had to do
was wait until the countdown
depending on the few.
The Minister said 'Two Thousand
really doesn't count"
We'll show the stupid clot-head
(I wanted to put 'Bugger' in here
bur Nessa would not let me ...)
How single votes soon mount.
The 25th November dawns
The Polling has begun
Kilcullen people streaming in
To mark Pat Number One
Nobody was forgotten
All turned out to place their vote
the only ones that didn't
were unable to catch the boat.
A phone call came from Russia
many messages from abroad
they wished they could be with us
but "It's the fare we can't afford ..."
Young Seamus Aspell rang home
Good Luck sent via his Dad
but his real feelings, truth be told
were "You're all bloody Mad!"
On Thursday morning we battled
through mountains, fog and rain
to ensure the vote was 'Kosher'
and no votes went down the drain.
The tension was electric
while we hustled by the door
when 'The Old Girls School, Kilcullen'
was tipped onto the floor.
The tallymen were yelling
"Who is this Pat Dunlea?
Seems everyone in Kilcullen's
saying 'He's the one for me'."
After hours of sweaty waiting
the tension was absurd
But now we had a fair idea
that Kilcullen's voice was heard.
One thousand and four hundred
was the final tote
Our efforts got us eighty per cent
of the sixteen hundred vote.
Now on to serious business
Now's the time for drink
Toasts and cheers and laughter filled
the White Horse (In fact it's pink ...)
We had a visit from an Arab
disguised as Vivian Clarke
Pat thought it was Saddam Hussein
(We'll keep him in the dark!).
Naturally dear old Paddy M
appeared to have his say
"I'll give you No 1 for a pint ...
what do you mean the vote was today ...?"
UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY
Emblazoned through the town
and once again we proved it
NO ONE CAN KEEP KILCULLEN DOWN.
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