You have to feel sorry for Fianna Fáil North West MEP Sean Ó Neachtáin. He serves the party loyally in Galway and Europe and yet, when it comes to elections, HQ seem to be permanently trying to undermine him.
In 1997 he was to be the third FF candidate in Galway West, only to find Margaret Cox added as the fourth candidate. In 2004 he stood for election to the EU Parliament seat that he was co-opted onto a year before. HQ was keen for Frank Fahey to run instead but at least Mr Ó Neachtáin won the vote at the selection convention.
In 2009 it’s happening all over again. Mr Ó Neachtáin will be running to keep his EU seat but faces the prospect of having to contend with another challenger to his dominance of the North West, and he is not a politician, he is one of the best loved sportsmen this country has ever produced - Packie Bonner.
While the former Celtic and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper has made no decision on whether or not he will stand, FF is very keen for him to run. His high profile, popularity, and connection with the ‘golden age’ of Irish soccer, might just be enough to counteract the hostility many feel towards Fianna Fáil right now and secure the party a seat.
Certainly HQ will want to see the party take two seats in the North West, or at least hold the one it has. HQ would also argue that the strategy would be for Mr Ó Neachtáin to take the south of the constituency and Mr Bonner the north and then transfer to each other.
Not everyone sees it this way - Mr Bonner would easily outshine and eclipse Mr Ó Neachtáin in the name recognition stakes. Also, if the public can be convinced that Mr Bonner can cut it in EU politics, then they could have a winner on their hands.
All of this is what Mr Ó Neachtáin fears which may explain why he gave a forthright interview to the Sunday Times last weekend where he likened Mr Bonner to Dana and described him as a “parachute candidate”.
“I have great regard for Packie Bonner saving goals but I don’t know how that would transfer to being a politician in the European parliament,” Mr Ó Neachtáin told Mark Tighe.
“There is one thing I would say about the European Parliament, it needs experience of local, national, and European politics. Anyone coming in to the European Parliament without experience would need two years to get up to speed with what happens there.”
Mr Ó Neachtáin admitted in the interview that FF needed a second candidate in the north but argued that Mr Bonner was not suitable.
“I don’t agree with parachute candidates. Big name candidates are fine. They have an advantage, no doubt. But do they transpose into worthwhile political people? I have my doubts,” he said.
Clearly the Connemara man is worried about any candidacy from the Ulsterman, and reading the interview makes it clear he does not want Mr Bonner on the ticket.
“I don’t know anything about him,” he said. “From what I heard he was not interested. I don’t think he lives in Ireland so there is a problem there...There is no use talking about two seats. They’re not there. That one seat will not be easily secured because we’re down whatever we are in the polls.”
