Fianna Fáil strategist is cross-party counsellor

GOODWILL to all men — even those of a Fine Gael or Labour persuasion — has broken out in the office of a leading FF strategist in Limerick.

In a unique act of cross-party friendship, Limerick East campaign manager Cllr John Gallahue is advising Fine Gael and Labour candidates in Limerick West.

Even though Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fáil continue to attack one another at national level, an advisory arrangement between Fine Gael and Labour candidates in Limerick West and Cllr Gallahue still stands.

Mr Gallahue, who describes himself as a member of outgoing Limerick West Fianna Fáil TD John Cregan’s “kitchen cabinet”, admits to “advising” Fine Gael’s Senator Michael Finucane and Labour’s James Heffernan, who are both fighting for a seats in the same constituency.

And to add to his diverse role in the campaign, Mr Gallahue is acting as campaign manager for Fianna Fáil Limerick East candidate Noreen Ryan.

Fine Gael’s Mr Finucane said yesterday he had known Mr Gallahue long before he entered politics.

“Our friendship has stood the test of party politics and I know that while in his own area round Ballylanders he would be looking for number ones for John Cregan, he would be well disposed to people giving me their number two.

“He often gives me useful advice even though he is very close to John Cregan as a Fianna Fáil councillor. On individual issues he would ring me up and tip me off.

“He often passes on words of wisdom as a personal friend and information relating to FG in his part of the county.”

Mr Finucane, who is a former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said Mr Gallahue had entered into politics as a member of FG, helping found the Anglesboro branch of the party before moving on to Fianna Fáil.

Mr Gallahue says party politics are a threat to communities.

He said: “Forget the flag they’re flying and concentrate on the personalities instead. The rotten thing about party politics is that it splits communities and instead of producing the best candidates, it often produces the biggest buffoons.”

On his association with West Limerick Labour candidate James Heffernan, Mr Gallahue said he had given advice to the candidate’s father Pat Heffernan when he ran as in independent at the last local elections.