Sinn Fein now see Mayo as a real ‘target’

Sinn Féin now see Mayo as a real ‘target’


Michael Commins

SINN Féin look set to increase the ‘target rating’ for Mayo in light of recent opinion poll findings which registered a sizeable surge for the party around the country. The poll, conducted in the wake of Pearse Doherty’s by-election win in Donegal South West and the declaration by party leader Gerry Adams that he will contest the Louth constituency in the upcoming General Election, has certainly given the party a timely boost.
There is increasing speculation that Charlestown councillor Gerry Murray is considering letting his name go forward for the Sinn Féin selection convention in January. Murray polled 3,500 votes when he stood for Sinn Féin in the last General Election.
Sources in the party in the east Mayo position believe that Fianna Fail, on current poll ratings, will be lucky to hold one seat in Mayo. If Senator John Carty or some candidate from the east of the county is not on the Fianna Fail ticket, Gerry Murray will find himself as the only candidate along with Fine Gael’s John O’Mahony in a geographical area taking in half of Mayo.
“If that scenario presents itself, Gerry Murray has to be in line to mount a major challenge. It is an entirely new ball game this time around. Anything can happen in Mayo. Some in the party favour running just one candidate. Other will opt for two,” said a party supporter.
Rose Walsh down in Erris and Therese Ruane in Castlebar are the only other possible contenders for Sinn Féin. Up to last week, it was virtually certain that Rose Walsh was the front-runner to join Gerry Murray if they decided to go for two candidates. The decision of Beverley Flynn to stand down has opened the possibility for Therese Ruane to join the fray and seek a party nomination.
Could it be possible that Sinn Féin might opt for the same strategy as the PDs in Galway West two elections ago when they fielded three candidates in what almost every political commentator thought was political naiveness gone mad. The strategy was devised by Ballyhaunis native John Higgins who was General Secretary of the party at the time. Noel Grealish polled just over 2,900 first preferences and was, remarkably, elected to the fifth seat following the transfers from his colleagues!
No doubt, they will take a hard luck at that election campaign in Galway West. And maybe we could see a historic three member ‘ticket’ for Sinn Féin in Mayo. It would certainly generate a lot of national interest. Sinn Féin may be outsiders to take a seat in Mayo at this stage but, by the time the election comes around, they could be making a serious challenge for the fifth one.