RSF not Behind Removal of 'X Factor' Posters

derry | miscellaneous | press release

Wednesday November 19, 2008 01:43

by Richard Walsh - Republican Sinn Féin

tiocfaidh at btinternet dot com

+44-7835 620 592 / +353-87 261 8603

It has come to the attention of the John Mitchel Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin in County Derry that rumours are circulating in the Dungiven area that members of the organisation were responsible for the removal of posters supporting singer Eoghan Quigg’s ‘X Factor’ campaign. Following a thorough investigation, it has been established that there is no truth to such allegations.

It has come to the attention of the John Mitchel Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin in County Derry that rumours are circulating in the Dungiven area that members of the organisation were responsible for the removal of posters supporting singer Eoghan Quigg’s ‘X Factor’ campaign. Following a thorough investigation, it has been established that there is no truth to such allegations.

The Director of Publicity for Republican Sinn Féin, Richard Walsh – himself a member of the John Mitchel Cumann – said that such false allegations were unhelpful.

“We have established that members of the Republican Movement were not behind any campaign to remove posters in support of Eoghan Quigg. Like everyone else, we are delighted to see a local lad performing well in the competition.

“Whilst we cannot endorse the promotion of the British Crown Forces either through the wearing of the British Imperial Poppy, or the release of a single to help fund the British Legion, we hold the blame for such activities firmly at the door of those responsible for the production of the ‘X Factor’.

“Indeed allegations were levelled against me in a number of publications, suggesting that I supported threats levelled against Eoghan Quigg. In fact, I clearly stated that it was those responsible for producing the show who were to blame for cynically using an Irish contestant to promote the nefarious activities of British forces throughout the globe, and therefore for politicising the show. It was not me who brought politics into the equation.

“We would ask that those behind false allegations levelled against our organisation have the honesty to cease representing them as the truth.”

ENDS

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Comments (7 of 7)

Shame on Richard

by Cael - RSF

Wed Nov 19, 2008 03:14

Richard Walsh is perhaps the biggest esgotist I have ever encountered. He reeks pure opportunism. He has used his PRO position in order to promote himself. PRO's always work in the back ground and draft statements and arrange interviews for spokespersons, why not quote Ruairi or Des?

And he spends his time tracking his name on google... I found this comment on another site, supposedly anonymous but sounding surprisingly like the above statement,

"3 Republican,Derry 06/11/2008 00:47:45
I agree with Richard Walsh and Republican Sinn Féin. Eoghan is being cynically exploited by the X Factor to further their own political agenda. It was not Mr. Walsh who politicised this - it was X Factor.

Shame on X Factor."

Shame on Richard I say, RSF should get rid of him.

Disgusting

by X-factor fan

Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:47

The Republican community are absolutely pathetic.
Eoghan Quigg is just a wee boy who likes to sing innocent pop songs to entertain other kids and wants to help people.
What the hell does this have to do with politics anyway? Why the hell does the Republican community have to denigrate a local boy and try to bring him down?
The people of Northern Ireland have moved on and they do not need the wizened talons of sectarian political extremist bigots coming out from under their rocks to drag us all back to the dark days of murder and mayhem.
That's all these people have to offer - violence and division and destruction and death.
I'm pretty sure most young lads and lassies do not know or care less about the Troubles and if they are watching innocent stuff like X-factor all the better.

You're right Cael!

by Northlands

Wed Nov 19, 2008 13:04

I agree with Cael, I hear more about Mr Walsh in RSF press release statements than I do content. His self promoting politics.ie account doesn't say much about him either. I'm not an RSF man myself but they would do well to reconsider him if his ego inflates itself for any longer.

So many daft comments

by What utter nonsense

Wed Nov 19, 2008 14:43

How on earth would it make sense for someone from County Derry to quote someone else from outside the county about something which had happened within the county? That would be so remarkably stupid.

Surely the job of the publicity person is to get publicity.

Are you seriously suggesting that someone who lives in Derry is not the obvious person to comment on the story? Particularly when he was publicly attacked in the press about it - surely he has a right to reply?

As for comments made below an article appearing similar, could it not be that the original statement made reference to 'cynical exploitation' or whatever it was, and as such was quoted by the poster?

Whether you like him or not he was returned unopposed by the Ard-Fheis just over a week ago. It is their democratic right to select who they want, whether it be the current incumbent or someone else.

Get over yourselves.

Good reply there Richard

by Duffman

Wed Nov 19, 2008 15:26

I suppose if noone else cares about you or is going to come to your defence, you better do it yourself. Good reply Richard! ;)

Best of luck to Eoghan

by Jacqueline Fallon

Thu Nov 20, 2008 00:45

I am sure Sinn Féin Poblactach has more important issues to occupy its time with than engage in petty activities such a taking down 'X Factor posters'.

With regard to money being raised from this British singing competition for their broken British soldiers who returned home without limbs and have to now rely on charity funds from a singing competition to sustain them - as their own Government can't look after them now they are useless to them. Well, that really says it all really, and let it be a salutary lesson to all young British men/women of the folly of joining the British military forces, and making the world a very unsafe place in the process.

With regard to PR people in general. In my opinion, all the PR people I have come across over the years have all been brilliant self-promoters, I suppose, if you can't promote yourself, how are you going to promote anyone or anything else? Although, I have to say it is one of the reasons I dislike PR people in general, as the PR area does attract a certain type of person.

I wish Eoghan the best of luck in the competition, as I'm sure everyone on this island does no matter what the colour of their politics.

The Real Cael

by Cael - Republican Sinn Féin

Mon Nov 24, 2008 18:35

The above post using my username is a fake. I did not write it, and I ask the mods to remove it. I have the height of respect for Richard Walsh and I consider him an excellent PRO. None of the accusations made in the above fake post are true.

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RSF not Behind Removal of 'X Factor' Posters

Comments (7 of 7)