MAYO FIANNA FAIL CONVENTION WILL BE HOTLY CONTESTED
12 June 1996
By TOM GILLESPIE
THE Mayo Fianna Fail convention to select candidates for the new Mayo five-seater constituency for the next General Election will be held in the Travellers Friend Hotel & Theatre on Saturday June 29 at 3p.m.It is scheduled to be one of the most hotly contested for years following on the last controversial party convention which saw a dog fight between Beverley Cooper-Flynn, daughter of EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn, Newport's Frank Chambers and Al McDonnell from Carnacon.
Ms. Cooper-Flynn received the nomination but her poor showing at the polls was because of a split in the party vote over alleged phantom Cumman's being resurrected to support her nomination and allegations that she was intent on preserving the Flynn dynasty.
But with the opening up of the constituency many more names have been mentioned as likely candidates for this convention. Outgoing Dail Deputies Seamus Hughes (Westport ) and Tom Moffatt (Ballina) will be automatic choices.
But the real battle will be fought in Castlebar with the party anxious to win back the seat taken in royal fashion by Fine Gael's Michael Ring, a candidate who will be very difficult to displace given his tremendous work rate.
Beverley Cooper-Flynn, Al McDonnell and Frank Chambers will have their names in the hat. But there are several dark horses in the form of Seamus McCormack, a Castlebar based business consultant, local solicitor Aiden Crowley who has been building up a reputation as an astute and knowledgeable political commentator on CRC-fm and auctioneer Brian Moran a nephew of former Justice Minister Micheal O'Morain who are all likely candidates.
So too are chartered accountant Kieran Duffy (25), son of Cathal Duffy, who has just returned from England, Castlebar and Claremorris solicitor Ward McEllin., Castlebar Urban Council member Sean Bourke and close Padraig Flynn confidant, plumbing contractor Sean McCann.
Others mentioned are Sean Nestor, a former County Councillor and Castlebar businessman and publican Rocky Moran.
However, another scenario would be for Fianna Fail to get an agreed candidate. The most beneficial would be in the form of Paddy McGuinness, an independent Castlebar Urban Councillor, who collected over 6,000 first preference votes as the RTC campaign candidate last time out.
But it would take a firm assurance from Bertie Ahern, to win Mr. McGuinness's support, that once in power the Castlebar campus would be given full independent status.
Fianna Fail party leader Bertie Ahern will attend the convention which is expected to last for several hours. However, unless the many splits which resulted from the last convention are mended, we could see the selection process being adjourned for another day.
Up to 800 delegates will be entitled to vote at convention. Many feel that a strong Castlebar candidate will be vital if the party is to counter the high profile of Trade and Tourism Minister Enda Kenny who has delivered several multi-million pound schemes to the area.
As always the press will be excluded from the proceedings in contrast to
other party conventions where they are allowed free access.
Connaught Telegraph - News - June 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - June 1996
