FIANNA FAIL TO SEARCH FOR REPLACEMENT EURO CANDIDATE IN GALWAY

Date Published: 21-Apr-2009

Minister Eamon O’Cuiv has confirmed that Fianna Fáil will have to look for a candidate in the general Galway area to replace Sean O’Neachtain on the Euro elections ballot paper

Just two weeks ago sitting MEP Sean O’Neachtain from Spiddal was selected as one of four Fianna Fail candidates for the North and West constituency in the June elections

However, last evening, there was shock across Fianna Fail circles and all political circles that Sean O’Neachtain has withdrawn from the race due to medical advice

The news has left the Fianna Fail party reeling as Sean O’Neachtain was the most high profile of the four candidates who also include Paschal Mooney, Pat O’Rourke and Gerard O’Connor

In addition, mathematically Galway is the most populated area, and strategically needs its own candidate

Fianna Fail sources feel if there’s no Galway candidate, Libertas Galway based candidate Declan Ganley will be the main beneficiary

The solution usually would be to run a TD, who would have profile at least, but in the current political climate Fianna Fail would be fearful of losing the resultant by-election