Internal rivalry may spoil party for FF

FIANNA FÁIL has succeeded in taking two of the three seats in the former Connacht-Ulster constituency several times in the past and they hope to do so again.

However, whenever they have been faced with a strong Independent they have lost their advantage, even more so than Fine Gael.

In the past the spice has been provided by the Independents running, or, as was the case in 1989, by former Fianna Fail deputy, Neil Blaney running as an Independent. He took 10% from the FF vote and added 6% of his own, much of this from Fine Gael.