A son of the late Hugh Coveney has indicated he may stand for Fine Gael in the Cork South Central by-election caused by his father's death in March. Mr Simon Coveney (26) said he would make a decision by the end of this month. In an interview with The Irish Times shortly after Mr Coveney's death, his eldest son, Mr Patrick Coveney (28), said his father had advised family members not to enter public life until they had first achieved something in their private life. He suggested that within the next decade a Coveney might seek election to the Dail.
His mother, Mrs Pauline Coveney, has joined her sons Rory (24), twins Andrew and Tony (21), and her daughter Rebecca (19), on board the family yacht, Golden Apple, which is on a round-the-world trip to raise funds for the Chernobyl Children's Project in Cork. The £150,000 cost of the trip was funded by Hugh Coveney. The seventh and youngest member of the Coveney family is David (14).
Mr Simon Coveney, who is overseeing the 250-acre family farm at Minane Bridge, Co Cork, has a degree in agriculture but has had a long interest in politics. He has told The Irish Times that when his mother returns to Cork at the end of this month, he will discuss the matter further with her.
Asked if Fine Gael had applied pressure on him to run, he replied that if there was pressure he was ignoring it. "I must decide privately first."
He said the family assumption had been that either Patrick or him would enter politics. However, Patrick, who is working in a finance institution in London, wished to concentrate on his career. He saw politics "as a fantastic opportunity but one that had come much earlier than expected".
Mr Simon Coveney was the skipper of the Golden Apple when it began its charity voyage some months ago before it was interrupted by his father's death.
Hugh Coveney, a former Fine Gael minister, died on March 14th. He was walking his dogs on the cliffs at Robert's Cove, in Cork Harbour, when he went to help one of the dogs which had become trapped at the bottom of a steep pathway. An inquest found he had slipped and that a head injury knocked him unconscious. His death was due to drowning.
The Labour Party last night selected Mr Toddy O'Sullivan to contest the by-election. Mr O'Sullivan (64) lost his seat in the last election.