Four-candidate strategy
for Fianna Fail
by Damian Dowds, Inishowen
Independent
FIANNA Fáil has opted for a four-candidate strategy
in Inishowen for June’s local elections. It is
understood sitting councillors Francis Conaghan,
Rena Donaghey and Marian McDonald, along with first
time candidate Charlie McConnellogue, will seek
election in the Inishowen Electoral Area. The
candidates are expected to be formally ratified
later this month.
Clonmany’s Kevin Kelly, secretary of Inishowen Ogra
Fianna Fáil (the party’s youth organisation), was
also nominated but was informed by letter before
Christmas that he had been unsuccessful.
Fianna Fáil ran five candidates in the 2004 local
elections winning four of Inishowen’s six seats, and
surprise has been expressed by local party members
at the reduction in the number of candidates coming
when the number of seats has been increased. The
Inishowen Electoral Area has been extended to
include Manorcunningham, and the number of seats on
offer has been increased from six to seven.
“I’m very disappointed that HQ has opted for a four
candidate strategy in the Inishowen Electoral Area,”
Kelly, a student at Dublin City University and
columnist with this newspaper, said.
“I’ve been contacted by a number of grassroots
members of the party in recent days who have
expressed deep concern at the decision and have
restated their preference for a five candidate
strategy. I will continue to liaise closely with the
grassroots and bring their concerns to HQ’s
attention.”
Mr Kelly has written to a number of senior Fianna
Fáil figures seeking a review of the decision.
Fianna Fáil dispensed with its usual local selection
convention when deciding on candidates in favour of
selection by the National Constituency Committee,
chaired by Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise,
Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan, following a
series of interviews with candidates.
“In the case of Inishowen, the local Fianna Fáil
organisation suggested a four seat strategy and the
National Constituency Committee agreed with this
recommendation,” a Fianna Fáil spokesman said,
adding that electoral strategy is decided on a
case-by-case basis in each of the State’s 171 local
electoral areas.
Sinn Féin duo Pádraig MacLochlainn and Sean Ruddy,
the Green Party’s Sheenagh Mahon and independent
candidate Shane Carey have already been confirmed as
candidates for the election, while Fine Gael has yet
to hold its selection convention. Geographically,
the south and east of Inishowen are well served with
candidates, while the north and west of the
peninsula currently has no declared candidates. |
