An unforgiving column piece published in the Irish Mail on Sunday which took issue with the appearance of a number of Fianna Fáil politicians who attended the party’s think-in last week, has been branded ‘nasty‘, ‘deplorable‘ and ‘unacceptable.’
Overgrown facial hair, ‘bulging bellies‘ and creased dresses were among the comments made against no fewer than ten Fianna Fáil politicians in viral article from journalist Niamh Walsh.
Walsh identified targets Niamh Smyth, Erin McGreehan, Fiona O’Loughlin, Minister for Education Norma Foley, Barry Cowen, Willie O’Dea and Darragh O’Brien, pouring vitriolic scorn on their looks in a stupifying puff piece.
Ms. Walsh prefaced her article with a warning say she ‘didn’t care‘ if her opinions were ‘unpopular‘.
Senator Erin McGreehan was named in the piece and agreed with the Taoiseach Micheal Martin, who described it as ‘nasty‘.
”Deplorable. Its such horrible language and you know there is no need for that. We went to that think-in with so much more on our minds.”
But former Fianna Fáil government minister Mary O’Rourke says unwelcome comments are part of the job as a public representative
”As long as its even-handed and its dealing with both sexes, dealing with how men are looking and how women are looking I wouldn’t have a gripe.”
CEO of Women for Election Caitriona Gleeson says articles like this need to be addressed:
”I was reluctant to respond at all but if we don’t name it then it can be facilitating the future so I do think that sanctions are needed for both the writer of this and for the editor.”
Why the need for such a personal, nasty and unkind article?
An article written in an attempt to demean women who take politics seriously, and work hard to make people’s lives better. https://t.co/dDCIUBCb0B
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) September 12, 2021
Politicians put themselves out there, thankless job sometimes,abuse unfortunately goes with the territory. I tolerate it but it’s a thinning line for many.We all know there is not enough women in politics. Articles like this don’t help the cause of increasing their participation pic.twitter.com/hgrUHgYnJK
— Barry Cowen (@CowenBarry) September 12, 2021
