RTE’s recent four-part documentary on the life and times of Charles J. Haughey may have received mixed critical responses but it can be considered a success in terms of its impact.

This dramatic portrayal of ambition, infighting, secrets and lies set tongues wagging all over the country. It was almost as if Charlie had never left, and we were transported back to a time when Irish politics had an edge to it.

Although it was a retrospective piece of television-making, the makers of ‘Haughey’ did their very best to bring vividness to proceedings. Music was dramatically used to reinforce the idea that what was being presented to us was more than just another yawn-inducing, overly sombre, run-of-the-mill political documentary.

Padraig Flynn was rolled out and– one presumes– encouraged to give it his all as he recalled his glory days playing the role of pack member and enforcer. If the music didn’t grab our attention, Flynn’s dramatic contributions would surely guarantee that we tuned in for the following week’s instalment.

As ‘Haughey’ showed, Charlie could be charming, intelligent and a great innovator. But he was also portrayed as a bully who could be ruthless, abrasive and combative. He was the lonely yet talented outsider, the keeper of bad company who entertained a false self-conception.

Much as they tried to get to the bottom of what it was that made the man, it sometimes felt as if they should have entitled the series ‘Charlie The Unknowable’.

So what did members of the local community make of ‘Haughey’? People had varying views about the series, and when it came to the man himself there was no shortage of stories and recollections.
Mr Tom Foy, a production manager from Donnybrook, thought that the makers of the series could have done more: “It was quite good and I think it should have been made, but it could have been more critical of him.” Mr Foy was not a great Haughey supporter: “I’m sure he was a good father and politically he did some good but as a man, as an individual, he was a crook.”

Mr Sean O Hiceada, a retired man from Sydney Parade Avenue in Donnybrook, disagreed: “He did more good than bad– he introduced free travel for pensioners and did a major refurbishment of Leinster House. Fianna Fáil today is not the same Fianna Fáil that I knew many years ago.”

Michael Mulready, a taxi driver in the Ballsbridge area, was scathing in his opinions of Charlie: “The documentary was brilliant in that it highlighted a lot of the corruption that went on and still goes on today. I think it’s still very much a case of jobs for the boys, and when I look at the Fianna Fáil tent at the Galway races I wonder if they are a mafia or a political party. Michael went on: “I remember living in Finglas and having to go to a stewhouse for my dinner while all the time Charlie was going around buying expensive shirts. He wasn’t tightening his belt.”

He did acknowledge Charlie’s political acumen: “He was a fantastic politician in the way he was able to present himself as the people’s champion. I was in Kealy’s pub in Clocken recently when Charlie walked in the door. The locals reacted as if God himself had just walked in and they started buying him champagne.”

Over in Irishtown, Breda Kiernan and June Dwyer are sitting on a wall and having a chat. “The documentary was good without being great”, says Breda. “Charlie was a crook in his own way but that’s still going on today. I have to say that I don’t agree with the pension he has.”

“People were working on the docks and digging coal boats for fifty pence while he was out spending the taxpayers’ money. It’s just not right.”

June is more sympathetic towards Charlie: “I feel sorry for him. He should be left alone. Charlie Haughey was a great politician– we were down on our knees in this country and he brought us up.”

Down the road at the Everything shop in Ringsend, Brian Orr and his nephew Shane are arguing about Charlie. Says Shane: “He was a good politician at the beginning but then he got greedy and in the end he was just plain crooked.”

His uncle Brian couldn’t disagree more: “He helped himself but he also helped this country by putting us back on the map, and in my opinion if you help others you’re entitled to help yourself.”
Whether or not he is remembered as a great politician is another matter altogether according to Brian: “You’re only remembered for the bad things you do– never the good. Unless of course you leave on a high note which Charlie did not.”

With so many conflicting opinions and so much emotion surrounding the man that is Charlie Haughey, I asked Shane if he had an explanation for it all.

“People are always going to be divided about Charles J. Haughey. A lot of people loved him so much and everybody looked up to him, and then for him to go and do what he’s done… well, you know the rest yourself.”

It seems no two people share the same opinion on Ireland’s most controversial Taoiseach.