The Irish Greens Remembrance Society...

...or how quickly promise can turn to compost. Over the last ten years, Green politics became increasingly fashionable in the Western world as the threat of climate change began to manifest itself across the world. Ridiculous hippies such as Al Gore (okay, poor example) bleated incessantly about poor old Mother Nature's struggle against the evils of mankind. Hip young thangs staged another one of these bloody annoying global concerts in an effort to heighten awareness of climate change (I think it was called I Hart Treez). And so Green politics came to be, as the kids say, "hip" and politics began to look a little bit green around the gills. Or maybe that was me, sick with the smugness of it all. Who knows.

Anyway, Ireland was a prime example of this Green shift. Economic comfort allowed certain voters the chance to support issues which, in the past, were considered on the fringes of mainstream politics. No issue was more latched on to than that of climate change. No party benefitted more from this than the Greens. Drawing support from the newly affluent middle classes and Ireland's youth, the Green Party grew steadily in strength culminating in a hugely impressive campaign in 2007's General Election. When the dust cleared, the Green Party found themselves in government with two parties whose outlooks on the environment differed so vastly from their own that it quickly became evident this coalition would end in tears.

It is not an exaggeration to say that by forming this coalition with the big business politics of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats led the Greens to almost entirely sacrifice their ideology. The swift u-turn on their Shell to Sea policy best exemplified the sudden change that came over the Greens. Unfortunately, if you put yourself forth as an narrow interest ideological party - no matter what the ideology is - you MUST stick with that ideology no matter what the circumstances. The Greens, however, did not and swiftly alienated the voters who believed their policies would save the ozone layer or the greater spotted swamp eel or whatever other cause was in vogue that day. And, at the first opportunity afforded to them, those voters punished the Greens.

However, that is not the whole story. Economic hardship has fallen upon Ireland and with economic hardship comes a certain pragmatism amongst voters. Noeveau poor liberal voters who formerly aligned themselves with the Greens began to see the economic benefit of the left leaning policies of Labour. Indeed, left politics gained across the board with small parties such as the Socialist Party and People before Profit gaining council seats in urban areas; areas where the Green Party garnered most support.

In short, these local elections have been a disaster for the Green Party and the General Election, whenever it occurs, will punish them further. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that they will collapse as a party - as happened to the PD's. How quickly, then, that political promise can turn to shit if you don't maintain your integrity. But John Gormley et al should look on the bright side. At least shit can help grow grass.