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Shockwaves as Blaney quits
31.01.11
FIANNA Fáil in Donegal
North East was in disarray last night as sitting TD
Niall Blaney dramatically announced he would not be
running in the general election. He withdrew his
candidacy ahead of the selection convention, citing
'personal reasons' for his decision. The furore has
catapulted young Inishowen councillor, Charlie
McConalogue into the spotlight as the only declared
Fianna Fáil candidate for Donegal North East. The
dramatic developments concluded a week of bitter
party in-fighting. Senator Cecilia Keaveney also
ruled herself out of the race ahead of the
convention.
Mr Blaney was first elected to the Dáil in 2002 for
Independent Fianna Fáil before his organisation
merged with Fianna Fáil in 2006. |
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Cllr McConalogue from
the small rural village of Gleneely, was among eight
Fianna Fáil candidates selected at five selection
conventions around the country on Sunday evening. An
FF spokesperson said other candidates may be added
to the tickets in Donegal North East and Mayo. Cllr
McConalogue will now be pinning his hopes that
voters will see him as a fresh, young candidate who
put it up to headquarters this week amid suggestions
the party was seeking a one-candidate strategy for
Donegal North East |
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Cllr Charlie McConalogue. |
to the exclusion of a runner
from the peninsula.
The candidates so far declared for the local
constituency are Cllr Pádraig MacLochlainn (Sinn
Féin); Cllr Jimmy Harte (Labour); Deputy Joe McHugh
(Fine Gael); Betty Holmes (Independent); Ryan
Stewart (Independent) and Cllr Charlie McConalogue (Fianna
Fáil). |
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