Foster or Coyle?

Community Activist
Ógra Shinn Féin

The upcoming by election in Fermanagh received a bizarre twist recently when MLA and Minister Arlene Foster, who had vacated the council, and spoke against dual mandates, threw her hat into the ring.

The heavy weight DUP candidature in what was just another by election, has given it added significance and mounted pressure on the DUP to succeed.


To many, and from engaging with activists on the ground and the electorate at the door, it is further evidence of the heightened desperation of the DUP following their current deposing of Papa Doc and Ian Óg, the internal wrangling that followed and of course the humiliating blow in Dromore, where they where outflanked by the ‘forgotten’ Official Unionists.

The DUP do not want another repeat of Dromore, and perhaps they will have Jim Allister’s TUV to thank for not standing, but then again, Fermanagh is a different kettle of fish, and not only do the DUPer’s have to contend with an area that has been traditionally Ulster Unionist, but also an electorate that have a strong legacy of electing Republican candidates, most notably Bobby Sands in 1981.

With a Sinn Féin MP, and many Nationalists and Republicans viewing this as a 2 horse race, Foster or Coyle, an engaged, energetic and vibrant Sinn Féin could realistically upset the apple cart and topple a minister.

This would have severe consequences, reverberations and be morally debilitating to the DUP and the ultra right Unionist psyche that they promote.

Strategically for Republican’s this would be a major step in dividing Unionism, weakening the DUP’s mandate in Fermanagh, and putting them on a weakened footing ahead of any future Assembly election.

The humiliation and reverberations created by Arlene Foster not being elected would not be lost on the Unionist electorate as they go to future polling booths.

If the DUP continue to suffer electoral defeats, and Sinn Féin continue to consolidate and grow, then we could become the majority party in the Northern Assembly which would have major implications, both locally, nationally and globally.

Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself, but with the insecure selection of a DUP minister to fight for a council seat which she already vacated, has changed this election utterly, and the DUP unwittingly or stupidly have presented Sinn Féin with an opportunity to land a crushing blow to them ahead of every election to come, and to stop dead in their tracks any attempts to promote Arlene as a future MP.

There is an onus on every Republican in Fermanagh and further a field to put the shoulder to the wheel and achieve a major success for Sinn Féin.

The election of Debbie Coyle in Fermanagh would not only devastate the DUP, but it would also demonstrate further growth and support for our project, and regardless of whether we are successful or not, the vigour and energy in which the election is and will continue to be fought signifies a re-emergence of Fermanagh Sinn Féin.

That is certain, regardless of a Sinn Féin success, following this by election, the party will have a heightened relevance among communities and a wealth of new recruits that come with every election trail.

The lines have been drawn, the significance has been cast, it is now down to each and every one of us as an activist to play our part in toppling a minister and ensuring a strong republican legacy is kept alive in Fermanagh.

The choice is your’s Foster or Coyle?