This article is from page 3 of the 2006-10-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
FINE GAEL selected its Clare officers that will see it through what is likely to be one of the party’s bitterest elections in the county in years.
Despite assurances from members that the new team of officers selected on Friday will act as a unifying force for a party divided by a controversial selection convention, one Fine Gael source said it would be every candidate for themselves come the election.
On Friday last Cree man Dick Pilkington was elected chair of the Clare Fine Gael branch when outgoing chair Ciaran O’Halloran from Meelick did not seek re-election.
Connolly’s Eugene McMahon was elected vice-chair while Bríd Hanniffy from Ennistymon became the new secretary.
The Carey name continued to hold prominence in the party with Michael Carey from Ennis elected to one of the treasurer positions and Sinead Carey as the Youth Officer.
Earl Mulqueen, Ennis and Sean Chambers, Cooraclare, as well as Michael Howard and Michael Griffin were also selected for prominent positions within the local party.
Former county councillor Paul Bugler has the position of organiser while Myra English retains her position as PRO.
Already stories have emerged as to which officer is loyal to which of the four candidates.
But the party was adamant that the officers would play no role in the canvassing – in an official capacity.
Candidates have admitted however that gaining the second seat will be difficult with so many vying for the blue vote.
Following a disappointing vote in 2002, the lowest since 1954, the party had built its confidence, re-marketing itself in the run up to the convention in May, where the sitting deputy Pat Breen and then Shannon mayor Tony Mulcahy were selected.
A promise by the leader, Enda Kenny, to Cllr Taylor-Quinn saw her name added to the ticket with Cllr Joe Carey.
Pundits now fear however that history will repeat itself for the party that was poised to take two seats.
At the 1997 convention, then councillor Pat Breen and former Deputy Madeleine Taylor-Quinn were selected ahead of sitting TD Donal Carey, who was later added to the ticket.
This according to Sean Donnelly in his book “Election 2002” left the party with one candidate too many “and in the end undermined their challenge for a second seat.”
With such consequences still in their mind, many predict blue murder during the coming months, in the lead up to the 2007 contest.