Battle lines drawn for Fianna Fáil’s faithful

The Soldiers of Destiny have gone to war – with each other – as the two general election candidates in Galway East vie for the hearts and minds of the Fianna Fáil faithful.

Both Fianna Fáil candidates in the newly redrawn constituency have been emphasising the ‘celebrity’ endorsements they’ve been receiving from heavy hitters within in the party locally.

Portumna-based Galway County Councillor, Anne Rabbitte, gave the impression this week she has the backing of two former TDs.

Meanwhile, Tuam-based sitting TD, Colm Keaveney, the party’s frontbench spokesperson on mental health, was emphasising how he has the support of two influential County Councillors.

Cllr Rabbitte, a first-time general election candidate, was joined on the canvass in Loughrea by Leas Ceann Comhairle Micheál Kitt, who is retiring having been first elected in the constituency in 1975. She was also joined by former TD Joe Callanan who lost his seat in 2007.

The campaign of Deputy Keaveney, meanwhile, was buoyed by the endorsement of County Councillor Gerry Finnerty in Gort and County Councillor Shane Donnellan in Loughrea.

Cllrs Finnerty and Donnellan both sponsored newspaper advertisements, which called for a number one vote for Keaveney, “your national politician, your strongest local voice”.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.