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Fianna Fail HQ puts Galway Ollie Crowe in his place over his efforts to field Eamon O Cuiv in presidential race
Galway Bay fm newsroom – Fianna Fail Headquarters has put Galway city councillor Ollie Crowe in his place over his efforts to field Eamon O Cuiv in the presidential race.
It states in no uncertain terms that the parliamentary party has made its decision on who it is backing for the presidential race.
It comes as Councillor Ollie Crowe has sent a letter to his party colleagues in local authorities across the country seeking their support for Galway West Deputy Eamon Ó Cuív in the presidential race.
In addition it’s understood a group of Fianna Fail Galway county councillors are planning to write to the party leader to ask him to reconsider the decision not to put forward a candidate.
In a statement to FYI Galway this evening, Fianna Fail headquarters said it has been agreed unanimously that the Parliamentary Party would not nominate a candidate and would support the candidacy of President Michael D Higgins.
In a rebuke of Cllr Ollie Crowe’s actions it adds that the only body with the authority and ability to nominate a Fianna Fáil candidate for the presidential election is the Parliamentary Party, and that body has made its decision with regard to this matter.
Galway Bay fm has made several attempts to contact Deputy O Cuiv over the last two days but he has not responded to calls or messages.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley says if Galway West TD Eamon O’Cuiv decides to run for President, he’ll have to do it as an Independent candidate.
Also today, prominent Fianna Fail senator Mark Daly said he believes the party should have run a candidate for the Presidential Election.
He said he had declared an interest himself in running and would have put himself forward if his party had decided to run a candidate.
In relation to Councillor Ollie Crowe’s belief that the party should run a candidate, Mr Daly said he did not think this was a solo run on Cllr. Crowe’s part.
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
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