The man Fianna Fáil has continually, albeit unsuccessfully, tried to shaft, and the man the electorate have successfully shafted twice are the party’s EU Parliament candidates for the North West.
The Fianna Fáil selection convention for the North West constituency - which includes Connaught-Ulster, Co Clare, and Co Westmeath - was held recently in Castlebar.
MEP Sean Ó Neachtain and former senator Pascal Mooney emerged victorious, beating off the challenge from former ICMSA leader Pat O’Rourke and secretary of the Dromore West comhairle ceantair in Sligo Gerard O’Connor.
The win must give some satisfaction to MEP Ó Neachtain who has often had to fight for his political survival in the face of opposition from Fianna Fáil HQ.
He was chosen as the third candidate for Galway West in the 1997 General Election but found himself somewhat sidelined when Margaret Cox was parachuted in as the fourth candidate. In the run up to the last European elections, he had to fend of the challenge of Galway West TD Frank Fahey, who HQ wanted on the ticket instead.
This year proved no different. Fianna Fáil sought to convince the former Celtic and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Packie Bonner to run. Although Mr Bonner would have looked after the northern half of the constituency, his high profile and membership of the ‘golden age’ of Irish football would have completely overshadowed MEP Ó Neachtain. In the end though Mr Bonner turned the offer down.
An Ó Neachtain-O’Rourke ticket was seen as the most likely outcome but Mr Mooney won the right to be on the ticket. Given that Mr Mooney is a former senator who twice lost his council seat, he is an interesting choice.
MEP Ó Neachtain admitted in an interview with Sunday Times that “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”.
As such, Mr Mooney can only expect to be a ‘sweeper’ candidate, there to ensure that MEP Ó Neachtain gets over the line. Keeping the one seat in a three seat constituency has to be the top priority for Fianna Fáil, especially as the party is persona non grata with the public - and here is where MEP Ó Neachtain can help.
For an MEP he has a relatively decent profile and is a passionate advocate of the EU. His past tribulations with Fianna Fáil show he is also a survivor who has many grassroots elements on his side.
All of this will be important if he is to keep his seat, for not only must he compete against such other strong candidates as Independent Marian Harkin, Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins, Libertas’ Declan Ganley, and Sinn Féin councillor Padraig MacLochlainn, he must also fight against the public disgust with Fianna Fáil at this time.
If MEP Ó Neachtain can hold on to his seat he will have done Fianna Fáil a massive favour and HQ might, just might, think twice before trying to shaft him again.
