Mary Ellen Synon
Mary Ellen Synon (born 1951) is an Irish journalist. She is a frequent contributor to Irish radio current affairs programmes.[1] Through her career, she has been an outspoken critic of the European Union and an advocate of laissez-faire capitalism.[1]
Family background
Synon was born in
Education and career
After studying at
Synon worked at the London bureau of the American television current affairs programme,
In 1995 Synon made headlines in the British and Irish press over her affair with
Views
Synon has repeatedly expressed opposition to any form of socialism in her articles and has referred to
Among other people she has criticised are the two female presidents of Ireland: "that other ambitious small-town lady lawyer", Mary Robinson, who worked for the "headquarters of moral corruption, the United Nations"; and the "arrogant Mrs McAleese".[13]
Synon has expressed admiration for the American philosopher Ayn Rand.[14]
In 2015, Synon gave a speech to the Bruges Group where she criticised David Cameron's policy on the European Union, arguing Cameron was not doing enough to take the UK out of the E.U.[15] In an interview on the TV show Pat Kenny Tonight, Synon said she was pleased with the victory of Donald Trump in the 2016 US presidential election, adding that she was "beyond thrilled" that Trump became President.[16]
Controversies
This article's "criticism" or "controversy" section may compromise the article's neutrality. (December 2022) |
Economist article on Ireland
In January 1988, Synon and Frances Cairncross wrote an article from the Economist that depicted Ireland as poverty-stricken and bureaucratic.[3][17] The article angered both the Fianna Fáil government of the time and the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, who believed the article, published in an influential magazine, "did serious damage to the image of Ireland overseas".[3]
Comments on Susan O'Keefe
When Irish journalist Susan O'Keeffe was brought before the Beef Tribunal for refusing to name her sources, an article Synon wrote about O'Keeffe caused a public outcry: "Just before the appearance, Ms. Synon wrote in the Sunday Tribune that she would be happy to see Ms O'Keeffe in handcuffs, a remark Ms O'Keeffe's counsel complained about in court".[1]
Travelling Community
In 1996, Synon wrote an article stating most rural crime in Ireland was caused by the travelling community and that traveller life was "a life worse than the life of beasts, for beasts at least, are guided by wholesome instinct".[18] An unsuccessful attempt was made by a Travellers Rights Group to initiate a prosecution under the Incitement to Hatred Act.[19]
Paralympics article
In 2000 Synon criticised the
The article, which was criticised by the
References
- ^ a b c d "Mary Ellen: Ice Maiden of the Right". John Maher, Irish Times, 22 March 1995 (pg. 6)
- ^ "John J. Synon (Obituary)" Rappahannock Record, 13 April 1972, (p.3)
- ^ a b c d e f g Sam Smyth, "Mary, Ellen, Quite Contrary". Sunday Independent, 13 March 1990.
- ^ " Wallace Embodied The Heart of Dixie". Mary Ellen Synon,Sunday Independent 27 September 1998, (p.13)
- ^ "A thoroughly modern mistress". The Independent. 23 March 1995.
- ^ Reliable Rupert leaves Old Lady in disgrace[dead link]
- ^ Mistress of her own destiny[permanent dead link] Sunday Tribune, 27 August 2000
- ^ Clark, Andrew. "Scandalous". The Guardian, 28 October 2006; Retrieved 27 February 2009
- ^ a b Leonard, Tom "Athletes outraged as Paralympics called 'perverse'"[dead link]. The Telegraph, 27 October 2000; Retrieved 23 September 2007
- ^ Simon Goodley, "The Good Life. Hop on: we are taking sex tourism global", Sunday Telegraph (16 March 2008), p. 8
- ^ Mary Ellen Synon Sunday Independent 24 January 1999, (p.9).
- ^ Mary Ellen Synon, Sunday Independent 9 May 1999, (p.13)
- ^ "Quit, Mary, the Cooing is Turning into Booing" Foundation for Defense of Democracies, 18 February 2006
- ^ "Let the philosopher Ayn Rand, writing in the 1960s about American Federal controls on broadcasting, give the solution to our current 'outrage'." Mary Ellen Synon, "Another Fine Mess the State has gotten us into", Sunday Independent, 23 July 2000.
- ^ "EU Referendum: breaking the Brussels code". eureferendum.com. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ^ Brendan O'Regan,"Political Correctness From The Echo Chamber".[permanent dead link] The Irish Catholic, 16 February 2017. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ "Paying Tax" The Irish Times, Monday 25 September 1989 (p.9)
- ^ McCarthy, Dave (2004). "Time to get tough on tinker terror 'culture'". Sunday Independent, 28 January 1996 (Independent Media Centre Ireland) Retrieved 29 December 2006
- ^ "Traveller anger as charges dropped", Irish Independent, 3 September 1996.
- ^ Dundon, Mary (10 February 2005). "Pressure on Times to say sorry for Myers". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 September 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Synon's rant backfired and did some unintentional good". Irish Independent, 11 December 2000.