Bev misses the election buzz

AGAINST THE ODDS Beverley Flynn and her supporters in jubilant mood following her re-election to DΡíl Éireann as an Independent in 2007. Pic: Michael McLaughlin

Former Fianna FΡil TD Beverley Flynn followed her colourful father into politics and was once considered as a future leader. Embroiled in controversy after an RTÉ exposé on her role, when a banker, in encouraging customers to invest monies overseas, she successfully ran as an Independent in 2007. However, like some of her former Fianna FΡil colleagues, retired before the 2011 General Election. Here she chats to Áine Ryan about her time as a politician.

AR What were your best and worst elections?
BF My worst election was the bye-election of 1994 as I narrowly missed out on taking the seat. The lead into the campaign was very long as I was canvassing day and night for about four months. The best election was 2007 when I ran as an Independent as I received very warm support on the doorsteps all over the county and received transfers from every party. Although I was under a lot of pressure without the backing of a political party, a great team of people came to my assistance and we won the seat against the odds.

AR What was the most difficult question you have been asked on the doorstep when canvassing?
BF The most difficult questions at election time are always about health. The rollout of breast check, the reduction in home help hours featured in the 2007 campaign as did the underspend of capital in the BMW region. However, this is something that I had continuously highlighted in the previous five years at national and local level.

AR Had you a favourite place over the years to canvass?
BF My favourite place to canvass was always Castlebar as it is my hometown. If you can’t get the votes where people know you best, you have no business going anywhere else.

AR Had you a routine on polling day?
BF On polling day the routine was always the same. A friend would pick me up at 9am and we would travel the county from Blacksod to Shrule calling in on polling booths to see how things were going. In reality it was just something to keep you busy and relaxed as the canvassing was all over at that stage! On the day of the count I’d try and stay in bed till 10am – it never succeeded –  and I’d wait till about 11am when two of my supporters would call to my house with the first tally. I could always determine the outcome from those first figures even when it was close, as the trend never changes throughout the day.

AR Do you remember your first day in the DΡil as a TD?
BF Yes my first day in the DΡil was very exciting because a busload of my friends and supporters travelled up with me. My father was EU Commissioner at the time so he and my mother got to sit in the distinguished guests section of the DΡil, which was just behind me, and the rest of my family were in the public gallery above me.

AR Name a politician from another party who you admired?
BF I always admired the late Hugh Coveney (Fine Gael and the present Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney’s father) from Cork. He was always the perfect gentleman in the DΡil chamber, tall and distinguished and never had to raise his voice to be heard.

AR How was it having a father who was such a senior politician?
BF My father was such a strong personality and had such a successful career that in the early days people saw me as a chip off the old block and that did benefit me politically. But in politics time moves on very quickly and you have to make your own mark or you’ll be left behind. It was certainly nice to have someone to bounce ideas off from time to time even if we didn’t always agree.

AR If you were Taoiseach in the morning, what would be your priorities for your home town of Castlebar?
BF If I were Taoiseach in the morning my priority for Castlebar would be Jobs, Jobs and more Jobs.
The town is crying out for them and they are badly needed to lift the local economy. I would also unite the “county politically” and bring Ballinrobe back inside the constituency where it belongs.
I think its outrageous that this was allowed to happen.

AR Do you miss the political buzz or are you happy to be retired?
BF Yes I miss the buzz, particularly at election time. It’s hard to sit in a room and not be the one making the speech but its reassuring to know that Fianna FΡil have two excellent candidates in Lisa Chambers and Dara Calleary who I think are doing a great job.