Six Fianna Fáil candidates selected for Ballina

Six Fianna FΡil candidates selected in Ballina but former Mayor Nolan misses out


Edwin McGreal

Six candidates will stand for Fianna FΡil in the Ballina electoral area in the 2014 local elections.
The six candidates were picked at the Fianna FΡil North Mayo Selection Convention for the eight seat Ballina Municipal District on Saturday night in the Downhill Hotel in Ballina.
They are: Michael Smyth (Swinford), Jimmy Maloney (Foxford), Michael Loftus (Crossmolina), Eamonn Moore (Killala/Ballycastle) and Johnnie O’Malley and Annie May Reape, both selected from Ballina town.
The agreed strategy in advance was for six candidates. The Mayo News understands that SeΡn Dorgan, General Secretary of Fianna FΡil, would have preferred five but the local organisation held a majority view that it should be six.
Even still some had reservations on this, including defeated Ballina hopeful Cllr Willie Nolan, who pushed for a three candidate strategy for the town of Ballina itself.
What was agreed was there would be one candidate in the following areas: Swinford, Foxford, Bonniconlon, Killala/Ballycastle and two in Ballina.
Michael Smyth, a solicitor in Swinford, long serving Foxford-based Cllr Jimmy Maloney, Crossmolina businessman Michael Loftus, who was beaten in a recount for a seat in 2009, and first-time candidate but long-serving party member Eamonn Moore from the Killala/Ballycastle area were all selected unopposed.
It left four candidates to fill the two seats in the Ballina town area. The four who went to post were town councillors Willie Nolan and Johnnie O’Malley, outgoing county councillor Annie May Reape, a native of Bonniconlon, and Knockmore-based businessman Michael Rochford.
A vote was taken from Ballina delegates only and the result of the first count from the 174 votes cast saw Johnnie O’Malley top the poll on 58 votes, Annie May Reape second on 51 with Michael Rochford third on 41. Willie Nolan was some distance back on 24 votes and, visibly disappointed, he was eliminated.
After his votes were distributed, Johnnie O’Malley was still top with Annie May Reape comfortably holding off Michael Rochford for the second spot.
Speaking afterwards Michael Rochford pledged his support to the successful candidates.
All chosen candidates criticised what they described as ‘the neglect’ of Ballina and the North Mayo area.
The convention was opened by Mary Keane, Chairperson of the Ballina Comhairle Ceanntar who proposed a vote of sympathy to the family of former councillor, senator and TD Martin J O’Toole, President of Fianna FΡil in Mayo, who died last month.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Charlie McConalogue, Fianna FΡil’s front bench spokesperson on education and science. In the region of 300 delegates attended.
Among those in attendance were former ministers of state SeΡn Calleary and Tom Moffatt and former Mayo county councillors Padraig Gavin and Stephen Molloy.
With the Claremorris selection convention already concluded, Fianna FΡil still have to hold conventions for West Mayo and Castlebar, dates for which have yet to be announced.
SeΡn Dorgan also met with representatives of Fianna FΡil in Castlebar last week to discuss their strategy after their selection convention was adjourned when the local organisation wanted four candidates while the diktat from headquarters was for a three candidate strategy. Mr Dorgan is also due to meet with the party in West Mayo shortly to discuss strategy there.