Peadar Tóibín is a man on a mission, focused wholeheartedly on cultivating his party, Aontú. Despite this fervour, there’s an undeniable presence of personality worship in the atmosphere.
A mere five years after instigating Aontú and on the cusp of their second local elections bout scheduled for the 7th of June, Tóibín, the TD for Meath West, is the focal point at a member’s gathering and meet-and-greet for intrigued voters in a sports club in the most westerly precincts of Dublin.
He engages the crowd of roughly fifty at the Castleknock Lawn Tennis Club, inciting them that voting is the most potent tool to influence backstage policymakers and shake up institutionalised conformity. “This means expanding our branches, getting more activists on board, increasing door-to-door campaigns, and distributing more leaflets,” he appeals, drumming up support for community-driven party growth.
There are quiet murmurs of consensus, illustrating clear respect for the party leader’s opinions. Tóibín is unmistakably the centre of attention, overshadowing the three local and European candidates present around the small function room table.
In the wake of government referendums that ended in calamity and his endorsed double negative votes, Tóibín is on a roll. His party was the sole campaigner for a double negative vote in the family and care referendums, a boost for them as the Government Coalition of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Greens faced a stinging defeat.
In the interim, his party testifies to have seen an enrolment surge of approximately 400 new members, nearly a quarter of the party’s overall membership.
“I believe that soon, people will see the robust competency and capability we’ve fostered within our organisation enabling us to progress further and secure victories,” Peadar Tóibín confidently states.
“People desire a trustworthy alternative, someone honest. Someone whose political pursuit isn’t merely a cry for attention,” says Anne O’Connell, a party member and previous Fine Gael constituent.
The referendums were a reality check for us, he was the solitary champion against it. Ultimately, good always prevails,” she added.
Tóibín, previously a Sinn Féin TD, is certain his political approach, Aontú’s foundation, has had sufficient time since the party’s birth to carve out a distinct identity, attract an expanded voter base, and clinch more elected positions.
/”Peadar Tóibín’s political group, Aontú, strives to break down the walls of the bureaucratic bubble prevailing over the government, civil society, and media by adopting a ‘down-to-earth’ attitude towards societal issues. This approach emerged due to a rift created by the abortion referendum in 2018, which led to Tóibín’s departure from Sinn Féin, where he was a renowned TD known for his persuasive speeches. Since its inception, Aontú has grown steadily into a substantial entity capable of winning seats, contrary to what it might appear to the external observer who assumes it to be solely dependent on Tóibín’s leadership.
In the early part of 2019, they introduced around 65 candidates similar to the number standing in the forthcoming elections, with the hope to firmly establish their roots in a populace dissatisfied with government strategies concerning a plethora of subjects. This includes the management of the coronavirus crisis, the abortion referendum, housing concerns, migrant affairs, EU ties and the seldom discussed gender identity topic.
Their appeal, shared by Kathleen Henderson, a former Fianna Fáil backer, is the capacity to listen and engage in meaningful conversations about these pressing issues. Likewise, the meeting attendees feel aligned with their party leader when asked about their party. Despite Sinn Féin’s popularity in surveys, the real consensus, gleaned from common folk chatting in grocery stores or takeaway spots, suggests otherwise, as per one participant in Tuesday’s meeting who wished to remain anonymous.”/
“[ Understanding why the affirmative didn’t succeed and the negative triumphed ]
“Individuals are no longer allured by hollow pledges; they desire solutions to their issues.”
Tóibín’s contenders portray themselves as ordinary community participants, activists synchronized with the societal pulse.
At the local tennis club, Gerard Sheehan, the representative for the Ongar sector in the Fingal County Council elections, incites friendly jeers and enthusiastic clapping with a premeditated verbal jab at the Green Party.
“I’ve cultivated more saplings than any of them,” he confidently stated.
“However, the Green Party frets over the world’s demise; I’m concerned about getting through the month.”
When Tóibín’s turn arrives, he dedicates 38 minutes to unloading a barrage of criticism at government policies and entrenched ideology. Using a volley of facts – Aontú is known for advocating a research-oriented policy method – he serves to underline his complaints related to the M50 toll system, the problem of ambulances jammed at emergency departments, and the issue of unoccupied council houses among many other concerns.
The party has merely four elected officials, including Tóibín; the rest are council members in Wexford, Cavan and Meath. Tóibín withholds projections on the number of seats the party may secure in the local and European elections in June, but he does suggest that the party ought to fare well in about twenty council domains and one European constituency – Midlands North West – where he is contesting for a place among the four seats.
Is there a chance that Tóibín’s charisma – or the influence of what is claimed to be Ireland’s “quickest expanding political movement” – could amplify the tally of the party’s elected officials beyond a handful in the June elections?
“We aren’t sure,” responds Kathleen Henderson to the query about Tóibín’s capability to boost the party’s popularity. “But in terms of supporting the most promising contender? There doesn’t seem to be another viable option in the competition. What other option do I have?”
###
– Tune in to our Inside Politics podcast for top-tier political discourse and analysis
###