Gallagher’s FF ties strong in Mayo

Gallagher’s Fianna FΡil ties still strong in Mayo


FF councillors favour SeΡn Gallagher for president

Anton McNulty and Deirdre Gavin

Presidential-race frontrunner SeΡn Gallagher looks set to receive the support of the majority of Fianna FΡil councillors in Mayo.
Four out of the ten Fianna FΡil councillors contacted by The Mayo News yesterday stated they were voting for the independent candidate in Thursday’s election, while another four revealed they were torn between Gallagher and Mayo woman Mary Davis. Two Fianna FΡil councillors said they would be voting for Davis.
Gallagher was a one-time member of Fianna FΡil, which did not put forward a candidate. However, The Mayo News findings reveal that Gallagher will still capitalise on the Fianna FΡil vote in the county.
“SeΡn Gallagher is the most capable candidate in the race for President and the polls represent that,” Ballinrobe-based Cllr Damien Ryan told The Mayo News last night. “He is different to past presidents and he is what is needed in this country at present. I will be voting for him, I make no secret about that, and there was never anybody else in the field for me.”
Cllr Al McDonnell stated that for ‘parochial’ reasons he might vote for Davis, but says that Gallagher has struck him as an ‘inspirational and outstanding young man’.
“I find SeΡn Gallagher to be a goer and I like his attitude. I think he can maybe best represent us abroad on trade missions and so on, and we must realise that the status and regard overseas for the office of President of Ireland is  much higher  than what it is at home,” he said.

Ties that bind
Gallagher’s Fianna FΡil background and the role he has played in the party as a member of the National Executive has been heavily scrutinised in the media ever since polls showed him to be one of the main candidates.
Despite articles linking him to fundraising dinners for Fianna FΡil, where diners were given access to former taoiseach Brian Cowen and asked to donate up to €5,000  – and despite the party’s unpopularity in the country – the latest opinion polls show Gallagher is on course to become the ninth Irish president.
The former Dragon’s Den television star is no stranger to the Fianna FΡil party in Mayo, having officially launched Dara Calleary’s General Election campaign.
Deputy Calleary refused to reveal who he will backing on Thursday, but stated that he has known Gallagher for the past decade and knows he gives 100 per cent to everything he does.
“I have been a friend of SeΡn’s for the last ten years when I worked for the Chambers and he was with the enterprise board in Louth. That was long before we were involved in active politics and our friendship goes back that far.”

One of their own
Deputy Calleary explained that the Fianna FΡil party in the county was split in their support for Gallagher and Davis. County Councillors Blackie Gavin and Jimmy Maloney were among those split between Gallagher and Davis, but both believe many Fianna FΡilers see Gallagher as one of their own.
“It [Gallagher victory] will be a great boost for Fianna FΡil because he was a former Fianna FΡil member. He will get a big vote from the Fianna FΡil party and I have to say a lot of Fianna FΡil people see him as their man,” said Cllr Maloney.
While Deputy Calleary downplayed how a victory for Gallagher would be a major boost to Fianna FΡil’s rebuilding process, it would prove that the Fianna FΡil is not a toxic brand.
“It does show that it is not a sin to be in Fianna FΡil because you would swear it was a mortal sin to be in the party. The party has done a hell of a lot for the country over the past 80 years but we know there is still a lot of work to do to rebuild the party,” he said.
While Cllr Johnnie O’Malley downplayed the boost a Gallagher win would have for Fianna FΡil,  Westport councillor Margaret Adams said a Gallagher victory would be ‘psychologically’ a ‘bit of a comeback’.

Additional reporting by Neill O’Neill and Edwin McGreal