Blow for FF as O’Rourke considers rural ticket

FIANNA FÁIL’S chances of retaining two seats in Cork South-West at the next General Election were dealt a further blow last night, when one of their prospective candidates confirmed he was seriously considering an offer to represent the Rural Alliance Party (RAP) — which has promised him a substantial war chest.

Just weeks after Councillor Donal O’Rourke said he wouldn’t be seeking a FF nomination, it emerged that Cllr Christy O’Sullivan was giving serious consideration to the RAP offer.

Fianna Fáil has been trying to woo back Mr O’Sullivan, a Clonakilty-based independent who left the party in 1998.

“I have spoken to the Rural Alliance people and I will announce my intentions in due course. I’m from a rural background and I’d be very sympathetic to what they stand for. I think it’s time that they had their voices heard,” he said.

RAP chairman John Nolan said a decision on who will be their candidate will be made at a meeting in Dunmanway in two weeks’ time.

“We have had successful meetings in Dunmanway, Castletownbere and Allihies at which up to 500 people attended.

“We are planning to have at least 1,000 people sign up as members and subscribe €20 each, which will fund the campaign,” Mr Nolan said.

He added that his organisation had been in touch with people living in Donegal, Kerry and Connemara who are also contemplating running RAP candidates.

“People in our constituency are dissatisfied with the way politicians have ignored the area and have overseen the demise of fishing, agriculture, et cetera. There have been huge job losses in fishing.

“I have three sons and already two of them have moved to Cork. The region is crying out for more investment,” Mr Nolan said.

He stated that RAP wasn’t targeting any particular seat in the three-seater constituency.

But with Fine Gael’s Paddy Sheehan and Jim O’Keeffe felt to be racing certainties for re-election, the arrival of RAP will put further pressure on Fianna Fáil.

The retirement of Minister Joe Walsh leaves Denis O’Donovan TD looking for a popular running mate to have any change of retaining the party’s two seats.

Over the last six months Fianna Fáil has dithered about announcing a date for a selection convention, angering Cllr Alan Coleman, who has signalled he wants to run alongside O’Donovan.

However, the Irish Examiner understands that Fianna Fáil party headquarters will make an announcement within two weeks.