Galway City East Councillor Alan Cheevers claims a whispering campaign about his health was waged to dissuade delegates from voting for his candidacy as a Dáil hopeful.
“I am currently seriously considering my position in the party,” he told the Advertiser, adding that he has requested a face-to-face meeting with senior Fianna Fáil officials. “I want clarity on the dirty tricks campaign that certain people waged about my health [insinuating] that I was not able to be a candidate. My personal health issues should never have come into it, and if I wasn’t capable of being a Dáil candidate, then I wouldn’t have put my name forward.”
Councillor Cheevers, who polled 1,031 first preferences in the Galway City East ward in May, publicly revealed he was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in early 2021. Following successful chemotherapy treatment, he has been cancer-free since last year.
“Look, two good candidates have been selected, but my own view is that if [Fianna Fáil] is serious about winning two seats in Galway West then a third candidate is essential to get votes in a big population area from the Huntsman to Carnmore, Oranmore and Claregalway,” he said.
Galway City West Councillor John Connolly and Gráinne Seoige were chosen by local party delegates at a selection convention held in Oughterard last Friday evening. It is understood no final vote was necessary as five candidates withdrew from the process 24 hours before the meeting, with Councillor Cheevers withdrawing on Friday morning. Galway West’s sitting Fiana Fáil TD, Éamon Ó Cuív, will not contest the next election.
Connolly is from Barna. He has been a city councillor since 2019, and is a school principal in Athenry – outside Galway West’s constituency boundary. Seoige, from Spiddal, has returned to live in Galway after a broadcasting and business career which took her from TG4 in Connemara to Dublin, London and South Africa.
“As a proud Connemara woman this locality is not just where I’m from, it is a part of who I am. This community has shaped me and I have brought my Galwayness with me wherever I have gone all over the world,” said Seoige after her selection. She also praised the “incredible and remarkable” legacy of Ó Cuív in a speech which indicated that housing and incentives to keep young people in Connemara were her priorities.
In his speech to delegates, Connolly said he felt Ó Cuív had been treated poorly by elements in Fianna Fáil, and that he had supported the Cornamona-based veteran’s ambition to lead the party. In 2020, Deputy Ó Cúiv, a grandson of party founder Éamon de Valera, called for Micheál Martin to be replaced as party leader. He opposed forming a government with Fine Gael and the Green Party at the time, and suggested Fianna Fáil talk with Sinn Féin about coalition.
In a 10 minute speech given to party faithful after the selection, Deputy Ó Cuív recounted his own 42-year political career, and promised to assist the new candidates in an election expected in mid November.
In a statement, Tánaiste and party leader Micheál Martin said: “I’ve no doubt Councillor Connolly and Ms Seoige will work together to create a positive campaign.”
