First-time FF candidates look to the future

First time FF candidates look to the future


Edwin McGreal

SWINFORD’S Michael Smyth and Castlebar’s Mickey Feeney probably couldn’t have picked a worse time to run as Fianna Fáil candidates for the first time.
The party was facing a potential backlash and received it. Neither man was elected to Mayo County Council but their experiences haven’t turned them away from politics.
On the contrary both men are looking forward to five years time and the next elections where they both hope to return to the fray.
“The timing was wrong,” Michael Smyth admitted to The Mayo News last night (Monday). “I went into business last year at a bad time. I went into politics this year, as a Fianna Fáil candidate, at an even worse time! But we put in a serious campaign, I had a great team and support and we used every asset we could.
“It is difficult when you put yourself out there but (the people of) Swinford could not do any more for me and I enjoyed it immensely. I would certainly consider going again if I was given the opportunity.”
For Mickey Feeney too it was the first experience of life as a political candidate. He doesn’t want it to be his last.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I will stay active in the party and organisation,” he admitted last night. “I’m actively involved and I intend to stay actively involved. There will certainly be a change in the economic situation by the time five years comes around and it will be a better time to be going forward as a candidate. I’d like to think I would be acceptable to the party.”
Smyth came extremely close to making a rare gain for FF in Swinford. From once the first tally figures were released for the area it was clear that there would be a fierce battle between Smyth and sitting Swinford Fine Gael Councillor Joe Mellett.
Mellett was resigned to defeat at one point but the inability of FF third place candidate John Caulfield to transfer significantly enough to Smyth saw him edged out by the current Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council by 50 votes.
“I got a great first preference and I won every box in Swinford but it was people cross voting which killed me. Gerry Murray’s second preferences were going everywhere. Its a sign of the times. While people were giving a personal vote to John Caulfield, the transfers didn’t stay in Fianna Fáil. There was a big protest vote out there too, there’s no denying that.
”I fought my corner though. It was difficult coming up against the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council in Swinford in Joe Mellett and coming in on a Fianna Fáil ticket and I am naturally disappointed I didn’t get in but I am delighted that the people of Swinford endorsed and the best of luck to Joe Mellett.
“As a party we got 3,500 first preference votes but we couldn’t bring home two councillors. The cross voting did us. The younger voters will not vote along party lines like the way of old.”
In Castlebar it was somewhat different. Mickey Feeney was eliminated after the ninth count but he managed to buck the trend and send a healthy portion of his votes the way of FF running mate Blackie Gavin, enough to get Gavin elected.
While disappointed he didn’t get elected himself, Feeney is pragmatic about the situation.
“We were all aware of the fact that it wasn’t a great time to go forward as a Fianna Fáil candidate before we went forward so we can have few complaints in that regard.
“I made the decision and I’m around long enough to be able to deal with that. I haven’t been very active though and that came against me. I’m known in certain circles, football mainly, but I wouldn’t be known terribly well in political circles and that worked against me.
“I knew it wouldn’t be easy. When you put your name forward you have to be willing to take the good with the bad.”
Like Smyth, Feeney says he encountered plenty of firm debate on the canvass but little more than that.
“I must say I was exceptionally well received on the doors. I wouldn’t be naïve enough to believe what was said on the doors but I only had one bollocking. Plenty of people said they wouldn’t vote for Fianna Fáil and that was fair enough while plenty of people said ‘fair play to ya, you’re great to put your name forward’.
“The vote didn’t come through though, that’s the bottom line.”