“Orators Extraordinaire” – by Des Kelly

It is certainly not because I happen to be a direct descendent of a Paternal Grandfather who was born in Dublin, Ireland, that I decided to review this amazing hour plus of extraordinary oratory-finesse from Mary-Lou-McDonald this afternoon.

I have always admired people, especially Politicians, who should be able to, but generally do not speak, without several “ums & ahs”

creeping into their conversations.

Although he spoke rather slowly, the late, great, Robert Menzies, Prime Minister, at the time of our arrival in Australia was one of them, and like or dislike him, as you may, Peter Dutton, our present leader of the opposition Is another, who can speak and answer questions put to him, without repeating himself or faltering, in any shape or form. There are no 

“you know, who know, or buckamoon knows, (as phrased in Sri Lanka), either, BUT easily out-orating them all, was this Lady Sinn

Fe’in Leader from “Erin”. She spoke easily and fluidly, not a single um or ah, and with a touch of this most  fascinating Irish accent added

in, for good flavour. Personally, I could have listened to her all  afternoon, but had to write this 

piece for e’Lanka. I really do not think so, but here’s hoping that she is a member, and will be able to read this message personally.

CONGRATULATIONS MARY-LOU, &

THE VERY BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.

Desmond Kelly.
(Editor-in-Chief) e’Lanka.

Mary Lou McDonald – National Press Club of Australia

Source:NPC

Mary Lou McDonald, Leader of Sinn Féin and Leader of the Opposition in the Irish Parliament will Address the National Press Club of Australia. 

Mary Lou McDonald has been leader of Sinn Féin since February 2018 and has served as Leader of the Opposition in the Irish Parliament since 2020.  She is the first woman to ever hold that office.

Sinn Féin is now the largest party on the island of Ireland.  In the General Election in the south of Ireland  in 2020,  she led the party to its most successful outcome in modern history.  Sinn Féin got the highest share of the vote outpolling both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael – who have held power in the State for 100 years. Sinn Féin support has continued to grow strongly since that time.  In the recent northern Assembly elections Sinn Féin became the largest party for the first time with Michelle O’Neill elected as First Minister designate.

She recently said “We’re a party that’s serious about reshaping and changing Ireland, and for that to happen we have to be in government.”  Her two driving political priorities are Irish re-unification and equality.

She is one of a new generation of republican leaders focused on delivering real change – tackling the housing crisis, delivering proper healthcare, supporting people during this cost of living crisis and stepping up to deal with the climate emergency.  In recent months she has been on a diplomatic offensive in the US, EU and Britain saying that now is the time to plan, prepare and build a new and United Ireland.  She has been strongly critical of the reckless behaviour of the Boris Johnson government in London in undermining the Irish Protocol and the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement causing huge political and economic instability in Ireland.

She has been a member of the Irish Parliament for Dublin Central since 2011 and was previously a member of the European Parliament.  She is married and has two teenage children and is a graduate of Trinity College and did a Masters in European Integration in the University of Limerick.

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