This article is from page 25 of the 2011-01-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 25 JPG
WITH just six days until the Fianna Fáil convention, the party which was traditionally considered the political strong hold in Clare is struggling to even find candidates.
Fianna Fáil has been thrown into further turmoil with the retirement of Minister Tony Killeen (FF), leaving sitting TD Timmy Dooley as the only sure candidate prior to the convention.
The number of candidates to be selected on Sunday is also unclear, with no direction as yet from the party’s head office.
Up to last Wednesday the party was scouring west Clare for a third candidate, sure that its two sitting TDs would again contest the General Election.
Now just days before the convention, and it is not only struggling to find the much talked about candidate from the west, but any candidate that will appeal universally to a very disgruntled electorate.
As Minister Killeen stepped down early indications were that the party were Keane to return to the Daly days, with five names to the fore solicitor and Kilkee native Marina Keane, who has repeatedly refused any approach to run; former Clare hurling star and Dublin manager Anthony Daly; Ronan Daly, son of former TD Brendan Daly; Eire Óg football manager and former Lissycasey footballer Martin Daly, and Ennis councillor Pat Daly (FF).
Anthony Daly was quick to rule out a career in politics, preferring to leave his running to Dublin hurling training sessions.
Cllr Pat Daly, who has worked closely with Minister Killeen for more than 18 years, is also thought to be out of the running on medical grounds.
Other possible candidates being suggested since the stepping down of Killeen are three Fianna Fáil members from the north of the county or with strong connections with the area.
Among those suggested is Dr John Hillery, son of the late president Dr Patrick Hillery and former president of the Irish Medical Council.
The Dublin-based medic still retains strong ties with his ancestral home.
Inagh woman Michelle Moroney, who contested the local election for the party in 2009 is seen as another contender, but many favour Spanishpoint school principal Mary Crawford.
The principal at St Joseph’s Secondary School would be strongly supported not only by the Killeen camp, but also the Daly camp if Ronan Daly was not to contest the election.
The north Clare woman would also provide an ideal geographical location for the party if she were to be selected.
In the west of the county Coora- clare county councillor Bill Chambers is also in the running as a candidate, with many hoping CEO of the Ennis Chamber of Commerce Rita McInerney will return to the Fianna Fáil fold to run as a candidate, having ran as an independent candidate in the local elections.
While Minister for Defence Tony Killeen (FF) is confident that with the right candidates selected Fianna Fáil can retain two seats, many within the party are preparing for a difficult and disappointing election.
Sources close to the party say that as of the beginning of this week finding candidates for the convention is proving difficult, without even looking as far ahead as the general election.