This article is from page 3 of the 2007-06-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
FINE GAEL has continued its trend of electing younger representatives to public office with the election of Paul Murphy to succeed newly-elect- ed TD Joe Carey on Clare County Council.
Mr Murphy was elected ahead of Tony Mulqueen on Friday night to take the place of his fellow Clarecas- tle man.
Despite pleas from the Mulqueen camp that experience be considered
over youth, the majority of the hun- dred-plus delegates voted to elect 29- year-old Mr Murphy.
Earl Mulqueen, nominating his brother, described the family’s long history in the party, going back to his erandfather, Thomas, who took the side of Collins after the “tan war”.
He told delegates that his brother’s lineage in Fine Gael went back to Cumann na nGael, and that he be- lieved faithfully in the party’s motto of integrity and decency.
“Forget parish loyalties. This is not
a contest between young Fine Gael and old. It is about preparing for 2009,” he said.
Ennis Town Cllr. Johnnie Flynn, who replaced Mulqueen’s cousin Anna Mulqueen in the council in 2004, seconded the Ennis man’s nomination.
“I believe this party wronged him in 2004,” he said, referring to Mr Mulqueen’s 40-vote loss at the local ere nen se
“I believe this party let him down in 2004. If he does not get support
tonight, he would be let down again,” said the Ennis councillor.
When Clarecastle’s Pascal Russell pulled out of the council race just minutes before nomination, it left just one other candidate, Paul Mur- phy, a supporter of outgoing council- lor Joe Carey. He was proposed by Willie Halpin.
“In 1999, we were in a small little room upstairs and we nominated Joe Carey to go for the county council. He was 23 years of age then. Nine years later, he was elected as a TD.
If you invest in youth you will reap the rewards.”
Una Lynch, from Young Fine Gael, was equally sure of his ability and dedication when she seconded his nomination. The two candidates then introduced themselves to the del- egates, before the votes were cast by secret ballot.
The chairman of the convention and director of elections, Paul Bu- gler, confirmed that Mr Murphy was elected by an undisclosed majority vote.