ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ BLOGS - The Devenport Diaries
Β« Previous | Main | Next Β»

Washer Woman

Mark Devenport | 17:33 UK time, Thursday, 3 April 2008

Sinn Fein councillors in Armagh have complained about "SDLP bullying" after a female republican councillor was allegedly called "a washer woman". Not very pleasant, nor politically correct, but given the shenanigans and fist fights that used to happen inside Belfast's "Dome of Delight", it's maybe also a sign of how far we have come that it merits a complaint.

°δ΄Η³Ύ³Ύ±π²Τ³Ω²υΜύΜύ Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 10:42 AM on 06 Apr 2008,
  • Susie Flood wrote:

Mark

INSULTING ADVICE FOR THE SDLP

I have no knowledge of the circumstances of the incident at the Coleraine Council meeting but your Blog inadvertently highlights a major deficit in the SDLP’s verbal armoury. The lethal put-down is a devastating weapon in trumping a political adversary and in gaining favour with the Electorate. Using the pointless term β€œWasher Woman” (more of that later) as a form of abuse typifies the SDLP’s pitiful standard of put-down. Clearly the SDLP has no β€˜insulting’ policy. Here is an area where Mark Durkan needs to arrange training for his MLAs so that they can go into the Chamber fully prepared to dish out wounding insults to the DUP/Sinn FΓ©in Fascist Coalition at every opportunity.

Perhaps it would help Mark Durkan if I give some examples of the type of pithy ripostes that could be used to cut down to size the mouthier elements of the cosy Fascist Coalition:

Β· [to Mervyn Storey] Let's play pantomime horse. I'll be the front end and you be yourself.

Β· [to Barry McIlduff ] Just keep talking, someday you'll say something intelligent!

Β· [to Paul Maskey ] Brains aren't everything. In fact, in your case they're nothing!

Β· [to Iris Robinson ] Sit down and give your mind a rest.

Β· [to Junior Paisley ] He does the work of three men: Curly, Larry and Moe.

Β· [to CaitrΓ­ona Ruane ] Go ahead, tell us everything you know. It'll only take 10 seconds ……… in both English and Irish.

Β· [to Rev Wm McCrea ] He has one brain cell, and it is fighting for dominance.

Β· [to Jim Shannon ] He’s depriving a village of an idiot.

Β· [to Allan Bresland ] He’s living proof that you don’t have to be dead to have rigor mortis.

Β· [to John O’Dowd ] You have an inferiority complex - and it's wholly justified.

I hope Mark Durkan finds this list helpful in preparing a training course to guide his MLAs in implementing the new insulting policy. It is important that he overcomes the inbuilt middle-class reserve of many of his MLAs about hurling a good insult at the opposition. MLAs such as Alasdair McDonald and Alban Maginness are a bit sniffy about getting involved in a robust exchange of meaty insults so I recommend some cramming for them. He will find ready converts to his new insulting policy in streetfighters like Dolores Kelly and Alex Attwood who are really very good in finding β€˜le mot juste’ to floor opponents. A concerted effort by the Party over the next few months to throw as many well-chosen insults as possible across the Chamber will set the Fascist Coalition back on its a**e and raise the SDLP’s standing in the eyes of the Electorate. I shall watch proceedings in the Chamber with interest in the coming weeks.

Let’s return to the β€œWasher Woman” in Coleraine. As I have already said, that was pretty poor put-downery. Having noted the often shrewish and coarse behaviour of some female MLAs in the Fascist Coalition, I think the most fitting collective epithet for them would be β€œFish Wife.” Now that’s a half-decent insult rooted in whole truth.

Susie
Carryduff
6 April, 2008

  • 2.
  • At 09:41 AM on 07 Apr 2008,
  • RJ wrote:

The "washer woman" in question was, according to the Sinn Fein website, Cllr Mary Doyle. You can see her at .

Let's face it, she's no Michelle Gildernew.

  • 3.
  • At 11:53 PM on 15 Apr 2008,
  • DB wrote:

I once asked a Free Presbyterian Minister why Ian Paisley was so scornful mocking and rude during his rally speeches and made nasty personal observations of those he despised; I was shocked at some of his language being a minister of the gospel. It was explained to me that it is a tactic to get your listeners to laugh at someone you want to debase and make them look very foolish. It is hard to find scripture justify such behaviour by a professing christian.

This post is closed to new comments.

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ iD

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ navigation

ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Β© 2014 The ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.