Diarmuid O'Flynn (original) (raw)

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Diarmuid O'Flynn
Nationality Irish
Occupation(s) Sports writer, activist
Known for Ballyhea Says No campaign

Diarmuid O'Flynn is a pensioner and was the founder of the Ballyhea Says No campaign, and in 2014 began working as one of MEP Luke Ming Flanagan's parliamentary assistants. He was the Irish Examiner's chief hurling correspondent until his relocation to Brussels in 2014.[1] As founder of the Ballyhea Says No protest movement, which from 2011 to 2020 held regular protest marches against repayments to holders of Irish government debt,[2][3] O'Flynn has repeatedly called for debts to be written off for Ireland. Among those to have shared this position are the literary editor Fintan O'Toole[4] and economists Constantin Gurdgiev and Stephen Kinsella.[2]

In June 2011, he and others from the Ballyhea Says No campaign embarked on a three-day walk/run/cycle relay from Ballyhea to Dublin to collect signatures for a petition to the government to seek debt write-off for Ireland, thereafter holding a short march in Dublin that culminated in hand-delivery of said petition to the Fine Gael-Labour coalition government.[5] In August that year, he went on a seven-day "bread and water" diet in the attempt to publicise the campaign, losing "about a stone in weight".[6]

In 2014, O'Flynn ran as an Independent candidate in the South constituency at the 2014 European Parliament election, receiving the support of Irish business website Finfacts. Having received 4.6% of the vote, which placed him 6th of all first preference votes, O'Flynn was finally eliminated on the 10th count.[7][8] In November 2014, he was appointed parliamentary assistant to Midlands–North-West MEP Luke 'Ming' Flanagan.[9]

  1. ^ Ryan, Órla (3 March 2014). "Diarmuid O'Flynn is calling for a debt write down for Ireland and the abolition of the euro". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b Clifford, Michael (12 May 2014). "Diarmuid O'Flynn is the hurler on the pitch for protest votes". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  3. ^ Reilly, Gavan (27 March 2013). "Ballyhea protestors in Brussels to meet MEPs from economics committee". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  4. ^ Freyne, Patrick (19 May 2014). "Underdog candidates at a disavantage faced with the might of party machines". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  5. ^ Kelly, Niall (3 June 2011). "O'Flynn bitterly disappointed by response to anti-bondholder protest". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  6. ^ Kelly, Niall (3 August 2011). "Irish Examiner sports journalist renews his anti-bondholder protest by launching a seven-day "bread and water" fast". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  7. ^ Hennigan, Michael (8 May 2014). "European Parliament: Vote No. 1 for Diarmuid O'Flynn in Ireland South". Finfacts. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  8. ^ Riegel, Ralph (27 May 2014). "Independent Diarmuid O'Flynn eliminated from Ireland South race after count 10". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  9. ^ Gubbins, Eoin (24 November 2014). "Ming appointment for Ballyhea protest founder O'Flynn". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2014.