Text sparks bitter political row

A TEXT message sent to members of a GAA club in Co Cork has sparked a bitter row between two political rivals from the same party.

Text sparks bitter political row

The message which led to the controversy, congratulated Councillor Frank O’Flynn, a member of Cork County Council, for securing €60,000 National Lottery funding for Glanworth GAA Club.

However, ex-junior minister and local TD Ned O’Keeffe has claimed he was the person who lobbied Sport and Tourism Minister Martin Cullen to release the funds — and not Mr O’Flynn. “He [Mr O’Flynn] even told a friend of mine that he was responsible for getting the money for Glanworth GAA. I got a copy of the text myself,” said Mr O’Keeffe. “I went mad.”

The FF TD said: “I influenced the decision on their [Glanworth GAA] behalf, especially as they were a deserving applicant. I just don’t take Cllr O’Flynn seriously any more.”

The county councillor, who is also vice chairman of Glanworth GAA club, denied he had any involvement in sending the text.

However, Mr O’Flynn did admit that he might have mentioned it to club officials. But the north Cork councillor said he totally refuted the claims made by his own TD. “This is just typical of Ned O’Keeffe, he had nothing to do with it. He knew absolutely nothing about it. He’s like a dog without a bone,” said Mr O’Flynn. “I left no stone unturned to ensure the club would get the grant aid...”

The chairman of Glanworth GAA club Kevin O’Callaghan said he would be making “no comment”.

The argument is the latest in a series of clashes between the two men.

Although they only live a few kilometres apart in north Cork, Mr O’Flynn has allied himself to the Cork East constituency’s other Fianna Fáil TD Michael Ahern. An advert placed in a local newspaper just before the last general election caused controversy when Mr O’Flynn urged FF supporters in the north Cork area to give their first preference to Mr Ahern, ahead of Mr O’Keeffe.

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