Seán Óg Ó hAilpín 'sounded out' by Fine Gael for European election bid

Party is set to announce a Cork-based candidate for the Ireland South European constituency in the coming days

Former Cork hurler and footballer Seán Óg Ó hAilpín is said to be not yet convinced. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Fine Gael is set to announce a Cork-based candidate for the Ireland South European constituency in the coming days, Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney has said.

The assurance from Mr Coveney, the party’s director of elections for the European election, comes amid internal speculation that Fine Gael had been “struggling” to fill the place on the ticket left by the retirement of Deirdre Clune.

Given the vast size and scale of Ireland South and the size of Cork, it is felt that the county could elect at least two of the five TDs who will win seats.

Two seats — Ms Clune’s and Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher’s — are occupied by Cork-based MEPs, and some in the party believe it would be a “serious mistake” not to have a Cork person on the ticket after the selection convention on March 10.

One Fine Gael politician said Mr Coveney is on the hunt for a “superstar” from Cork in a bid to almost guarantee the party can retain Ms Clune’s seat.

It is understood former Cork hurler Seán Óg Ó hAilpín has been “sounded out” to see if he would be interested in running, but sources said the three times All Star winner and All Ireland-winning captain is not yet convinced.

Another party source said Mr Coveney is under pressure to deliver as director of European elections and particularly to be successful in securing a Cork candidate.

“His background team is under pressure and is conscious given the Cork connection, Coveney can’t come up short with a decent contender. 

His team can’t seem to find anyone stellar that is remotely interested.

“Coveney is searching for every possible sports star and business leader possible,” they added.

Speaking at the party’s Dublin selection convention on Sunday, Mr Coveney said that a name, described by a source as “Cork through and through”, would be announced this week.

“I suspect you won’t have to wait too long to hear the name that’s likely to contest the convention from Cork. We’re in good shape there.

Simon Coveney said that a name, described by a source as 'Cork through and through', would be announced this week.

“I don’t want to speculate on [whether the name will come from the parliamentary party] but we’ll be in a position, I think, to name someone hopefully within the next few days.”

Of the party’s sitting four TDs in Cork, two — David Stanton and Michael Creed — have signalled their intention to retire, and one — Mr Coveney — is a senior member of Cabinet.

The remaining TD, Colm Burke, served two years in the European Parliament after Mr Coveney opted to remain in domestic politics following the abolition of the dual mandate. 

Sources said that they believed Mr Burke “would be open” to being added to the ticket.

Other potential names that have been touted are the party’s Cork-based senators Jerry Buttimer, who is the cathaoirleach of the upper house, and Tim Lombard.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has selected Niamh Hourigan, the Limerick-based sociologist and sister of independent TD Neasa Hourigan, to be its candidate in Ireland south. 

Ms Hourigan is the vice-president of academic affairs at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and has previously worked as a sociologist at University College Cork and the University of Limerick.