Nobody talks Civil War politics in Kerry any more, but old rivalries remain strong
QUESTIONS ABOUND in the new five-seat Kerry constituency.
Can Fianna Fáil retrieve a seat from its political wasteland in the sprawling constituency? Can Fine Gael retain its two seats, held by a Government Minister and a young TD who spent years carefully nurturing his Dáil base? What of Labour, Sinn Féin and the two Independents?
Kerry, at various times, has been a stronghold of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in intense rivalries spawned initially by a vicious Civil War in the county.
Nobody talks Civil War politics in Kerry any more, but the rivalry remains very strong.
In the rout of the last election, Fianna Fáil’s strength ebbed away as former minister and ceann comhairle John O’Donoghue lost out in Kerry South and Tom McEllistrim was defeated in Kerry North.
O’Donoghue and McEllistrim hope to be candidates in the new constituency. Cahirciveen-based O’Donoghue resigned as ceann comhairle in a controversy over expenses and contested Kerry South as the sole FF candidate.
He secured close on 6,000 first preferences, 13.33 per cent of the vote, a fall of 27.32 per cent.
The manner of his exit caused annoyance, as he reminded those present that as a minister he had secured funding for the building in which the votes were counted.
O’Donoghue will have to swallow dollops of humility and, perhaps, run in the local elections, if he is to make a comeback. But will party leader Micheál Martin, anxious to bury unhappy memories of the party in the old days, be happy to see an admittedly one-time supporter within the parliamentary party back on the ticket? Nobody is underestimating O’Donoghue’s determination and ability to make a comeback.
Thirty years ago, he refused to stand aside to make way for the legendary trainer of the Kerry team Mick O’Dwyer, in advance of a selection convention. The promise to the then young solicitor, from Charlie Haughey, was that he would in time be made a district judge if he walked off the pitch.
O’Donoghue declined the prospect of life on the bench, won the nomination and a Dáil seat and the rest is history.
Kenmare-based Senator Mark Daly is keeping his cards close to his chest, but it is expected that he will be keen on a Fianna Fáil nomination. However, he has Kilgarvan-based Independent Michael Healy-Rae on his doorstep.
Ballymacelligott-based McEllistrim, whose father and grandfather represented Fianna Fáil in the Dáil, secured 5,230 first preferences the last time in the Kerry North-West Limerick constituency, which was a creditable performance at a bad time for the party.
He intends contesting the county council seat, currently held by his sister Anne, in the Tralee electoral area, and use his local authority base as the first step on his way back to the Dáil.
A doughty grassroots campaigner, he has surprised party headquarters in the past with his election performances.
Other councillors in the running could be Ballyheigue- based John Brassil and Tralee- based Norma Foley.
As of now, Fine Gael will make a strong bid for two seats, but much will depend on the party’s popularity at the next election.
Finuge-based Jimmy Deenihan, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, topped the poll in Kerry North-West Limerick the last time with more than 12,000 votes. First elected to the Dáil in 1987, following a term in the Seanad, Deenihan has worked hard to cultivate his strong local and national base.
He will be joined on the ticket by Kerry South’s Brendan Griffin, from Keel, Castlemaine, who took the party seat from Tom Sheahan, now in the Seanad.
Griffin, who topped the poll with 8,808 votes, has kept his election promise to draw just half his salary and has a strong base in the Dingle peninsula, which felt neglected in Kerry South.
Sheahan is planning to return to the Dáil though and will challenge for a nomination.
Labour’s Arthur Spring, from Tralee, is likely to have Senator Marie Moloney, from Kilcummin, Killarney, on the ticket.
She polled 4,926 first preferences in Kerry South the last time in pursuit of a seat held in the past by Michael Moynihan and his daughter, Breeda Moynihan-Cronin.
Spring is nephew of former tánaiste and Labour leader Dick Spring, and grandson of Dan Spring, who launched the dynasty with his election to the Dáil in 1943.
Sinn Féin’s Martin Ferris, who ousted Dick Spring in Kerry North in 2002, is looking to build up the party in south Kerry to secure his base. The party will focus on running local election candidates there in 2014.
The Healy-Raes can never be underestimated as a force in Kerry politics and rumours of their political demise have been greatly exaggerated in the past.
Michael, son of former TD Jackie Healy-Rae and brother of county councillor Danny, has been very visible in north Kerry in recent times.
His national profile will be a help in retaining his seat. He polled 6,670 first preferences in Kerry South, ahead of fellow Independent Tom Fleming who had 6,416.
On paper, Healy-Rae would appear to be a stronger bet over Fleming, from Scartaglin, to take a seat, but should Fleming return to the bosom of Fianna Fáil, matters could change.
Fleming came close to winning a seat with Fianna Fáil in the past, before jumping ship, and he may feel that he would have a better chance in the five-seater with a regrouped Fianna Fáil purged of its past. However, he will be conscious, too, that he was elected by Kerry South voters as an Independent.
Sitting TDs: Kerry North-West Limerick: Jimmy Deenihan (FG), Arthur Spring (Lab), Martin Ferris (SF).
Kerry South:Brendan Griffin (FG), Tom Fleming (Ind), Michael Healy-Rae (Ind).
