SINN FEIN WILL NEVER HOLD THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM, BUT GUESS WHAT!
NEITHER WILL FIANNA FAIL OR FINE GEAL
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
This quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein—appearing on inspirational mugs, posters, dishcloths, and memes—but there’s no evidence he ever said it. In fact, Einstein wasn’t connected to the phrase until the 1980s, decades after his death. Ironically, the false attribution itself reflects the sentiment of the quote: people believe it because they’ve heard it so many times, despite it being untrue.
This brings me to Ireland’s recent general election. Many voters believe they chose “safety” by re-electing a government led by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, ignoring the ongoing crises in housing, healthcare, and welfare for the most vulnerable. The idea that voting for the status quo ensures stability is as misleading as the claim that Einstein coined the above quote.
The Politics of Perception
For years, we’ve been bombarded with messages from the government, media, and other institutions reassuring us of Ireland’s prosperity while warning that a Sinn Féin-led government would bring chaos. This narrative has been repeated so often that a significant portion of the electorate believes Sinn Féin has no place in Irish politics due to its historical ties to the IRA.
Yet, this conveniently ignores the origins of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, both of which are rooted in the sectarian violence of Ireland’s Civil War.
- Fianna Fáil: Under Éamon de Valera, the anti-Treaty forces engaged in guerrilla warfare, including sabotage, ambushes, and assassinations. Fianna Fáil maintained close links with the IRA/Provos well into the 20th century, including during the era of Charles J. Haughey.
- Fine Gael: Emerged from Cumann na nGaedheal, which included members of the pro-Treaty side during the Civil War, and the Blueshirts, a paramilitary group that adopted fascist-style uniforms and organised to counter anti-Treaty forces. The Blueshirts’ embrace of militarism highlights Fine Gael’s early reliance on violence as a political tool.
If these parties were judged by the same standards often applied to Sinn Féin, their right to govern would be equally questionable.
The Same Government, The Same Problems
Here we are, at the end of 2024, with an incoming government that is virtually indistinguishable from those that have ruled for decades. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are so alike that calling them separate parties feels disingenuous. Together, they have presided over:
- The privatisation of Ireland’s essential services.
- The erosion of welfare, housing, and healthcare systems.
- A neglect of agriculture and tourism—industries that could sustainably fuel our economy for generations—while catering to the short-term demands of multinational corporations.
This is the Prosperity we are warned that we will lose. But this over-reliance on foreign investment is not prosperity, nor is it security. It might temporarily boost government coffers, but it undermines the long-term stability of our economy and communities and one fears that the second coming of Trump may just prove exactly how fragile this so called prosperity is.
Imagining a Different Future
Let’s step away from the well-worn arguments about “safe” and “experienced” government and consider an alternative scenario. Imagine Sinn Féin had gained ten more seats in this election. Many would scoff at the idea, but consider this: Sinn Féin has already returned with two additional seats, making them the second-largest party in the Dáil, ahead of Fine Gael. If current trends continue, Sinn Féin could become the largest party in one or two election cycles.
At that point, the narrative that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael would “never” form a coalition with Sinn Féin becomes untenable. Politicians, for all their rhetoric, are ultimately driven by the pursuit of power. A coalition between Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin—both nationalist parties—would not be unprecedented or impossible.
Would the country implode? Would Sinn Féin destroy Ireland’s so-called prosperity? Emphatically, no. Why? Because they would not govern alone but rather in coalition. Coalition governments are often stronger because one partner holds the other to account. Evidence of this can be seen in the Netherlands, where proportional representation ensures no single party dominates, necessitating coalitions. Similarly, Germany’s system of proportional representation requires coalitions, often involving major parties like the Social Democrats (SPD), Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU), Greens, and Free Democrats (FDP). These systems have produced stable and progressive governments for both nations that are arguably doing much better than us.
In my view, this is precisely what’s missing in Ireland’s current and previous governments, where Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael function more like a single entity. Replace one of them with Sinn Féin, and we’d have a genuine coalition. Wouldn’t that be worth considering?
The Real Author of the Quote
For the record, the true origin of the quote isn’t Einstein but civil rights activist and feminist writer Rita Mae Brown who at the height of her power was feared by the establishment and considered subversive.
In her 1983 book Sudden Death, the line “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” is attributed to a fictional character, Jane Fulton.
But here is a funny thing. Even earlier, similar ideas about repetition and insanity appeared in 19th-century writings.
The lesson? For over 200 years, we’ve been warned against repeating the same mistakes and expecting change. Yet here we are, still practising this self-deception—and unless we buck the trend, we are likely to continue on the same road for the foreseeable future.