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.

This time the rivalry is internal. The party was threatened with a split when headquarters decided the incumbent, Sean Ó Neachtain, should step aside in favour of two junior ministers, fellow Galway man Frank Fahey and Donegal's Jim McDaid.

The Connemara man, who took the seat as Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher's substitute when he was recalled to Government, was not dismissed so easily.

As a result he has in effect been campaigning since February when he went into battle to win the convention. Since he has never before contested an election the row has proved invaluable publicity.

His party comrade, Mr McDaid, has continued to provide the former teacher with controversy. Mr Ó Neachtain has been given the lion's share of the constituency but the junior Trade Minister has been fighting this publicly at every opportunity.

Despite the backing of director of elections, Gaeltacht Minister Eamon Ó Cúiv, for Mr Ó Neachtain the row continues and both men are ignoring the boundaries for campaigning.

The Galway man cannot depend on picking up votes from the same area as his Donegal predecessor and is working to ensure he does not suffer the same fate as Noel Tracey in the 1999 election, who got the fourth-largest share of first preferences and was eliminated to elect Dana.

He is working to win as many of the 103,000 traditional Fianna Fáil votes in Clare a new addition to the constituency as possible. But he will have to share with Fine Gael's Madeline Taylor-Quinn and Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty in this county.

Mr Ó Neachtain made his mark in the European Parliament in fisheries where, against the odds, he won support for his reports. But many of the voters who might appreciate this work are in Killybegs and are likely to support Mr McDaid, Marian Harkin and Mr Doherty.

Mr McDaid on the other hand has a long history in the public eye from his various ministries to his colourful private life. Despite the party ruling, he is working hard in Roscommon, a county without a native candidate but one that could swing the final vote. He is also reputedly extending into Mayo.

It is difficult to see how two Fianna Fáil candidates could be returned this time from this constituency.