Voters break political ties as family dynasties crumble to dust

Seán Haughey witnessed the end of his family’s political presence in Dublin going back some 54 years, while the Andrews brothers, Chris and Barry, both lost their seats in their respective constituencies.

While it was a historic day for Fine Gael, Deirdre Clune lost her seat in Cork South Central — a seat previously held by her father, Peter Barry.

And while not a family political dynasty, the Bertie Ahern machine fell apart disastrously in Dublin Central, with sitting TD and former running mate of the former taoiseach, Cyprian Brady, never in contention.

The other Fianna Fáil candidate, Mary Fitzpatrick, fared much better but still failed to seize one of the seats on offer.

Elsewhere, seasoned big-hitters lost their seats. Mary Hanafin was under immense pressure to retain her seat in Dun Laoghaire, while in Kerry South former ceann comhairle John O’Donoghue was eliminated.

One of the first Fianna Fáil people to accept they would not be returned was former junior minister Seán Haughey in Dublin North Central.

Arriving at the count centre in the RDS, he said his party had been sent a powerful message by the electorate, but did not accept that the Haughey name had cost him votes.

His grandfather, Sean Lemass, was responsible for the other half of the dynasty, and he said: “People have said I got the vote I did in North Central because of the Haughey name and despite the Haughey name.”

He said he himself had not put such a focus on the dynasty aspect of the loss of his seat, but said he was disappointed.

He said people were experiencing real difficulties and that Fianna Fáil as a party had to accept that message.

“I am a true Fianna Fáiler in the same way that my father and grandfather were,” he said.

However, Mr Haughey said Fianna Fáil had let down its core supporters. As for his own future, he said he would consider his options and that the aftermath of an election was not the time for “rash decisions”, adding “There will be no tears.”

His vote had fallen to as low as 13% in some parts of north Dublin, meaning he was always fighting a losing battle given Fianna Fáil’s toxicity on transfers.

Backbencher Chris Andrews and former Children’s Minister Barry Andrews have followed in the footsteps of their father, former foreign minister David Andrews, but both bowed out in Dublin South East and Dun Laoghaire, respectively.

Chris Andrews was eliminated in the crowded field in Dublin South East, while his brother fell victim in part to Fianna Fáil’s strategy of running two candidates in the same constituency.

One Fianna Fáil family which kept a toehold in Dáil Eireann was the Lenihan clan, but here too there were losses.

Former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan took the fourth seat in Dublin West, but his brother Conor lost his seat in Dublin South West and his aunt Mary O’Rourke was eliminated in Longford-Westmeath.

Ms O’Rourke said: “We deserved a fair bit of what happened to us. I would have liked to have been a part of the rebuilding challenge.”

In Kerry North, Fianna Fáil also lost Tom McEllistrim, a backbencher first voted into the Dáil in 2002. His father and his grandfather, both also called Tom McEllistrim, had previously held the same seat.

Some legacies continue, however, including in the same constituency the return of a Spring to Leinster House for the first time since 2002, with Dick Spring’s nephew, Arthur, being returned. Dick Spring lost his seat in 2002 to Mr McEllistrim.