| Champion of the Irish Diaspora loses his seat
 By Siobhan Breatnach
After 20 years working to highlight the issues affecting the Irish Diaspora
in Britain Paschal Mooney has lost his seat in the Seanad.
The former journalist and broadcaster was first elected to the cultural
and educational panel in 1987 and had retained his seat at each subsequent
election until now.
He said: “It’s been devastating both personally for the family
and for the wider community. It was absolutely and totally unexpected.
I’m really just in a limbo right now and not sure what the future
holds.”
The former Senator went on to say that he now wants to put down a marker
for a possible political future.
And he indicated his intention to seek a party nomination to run in the
Dáil.
But speaking to The Irish Post he also spoke of his fears for the plight
of the Irish community in Britain in the aftermath of the elections.
Having himself lived in London for seven years in the 1970s, Mr. Mooney
often used the Seanad as a platform to highlight the issues of emigrants
among those being the availability of Irish television in Britain.
He said: “The biggest single fallout from this political disaster
is that all work now stops at national level. It’s always been seen
as a marginal issue and many do not understand the psyche of the emigrant.
I have always been acutely aware of it.”
Following his shock departure Mr. Mooney spoke of the support he has received.
He said: “It’s been very thoughtful. There has been a tremendous
out-pouring of emotion as people come to terms with it and that has been
comforting in a way.
“That’s come from individuals and various emigrant groups
in Britain. They have been making strong representations to make sure
the emigrant voice is continued.”
British MP Andrew MacKinlay expressed his regret that the Co. Leitrim
politician had not been re-elected to serve in the next Seanad.
He said: “Paschal has done a lot, quietly behind the scenes, in
promoting and championing the welfare of Ireland’s Diaspora, particularly
those living in Britain’s big cities, for whom wealth and fortune
passed them by.
“I know he was particularly concerned for that generation, now in
the evening of life, who came to Britain in the 1940s and ’50s.” |
