Galway Advertiser 2001/2001_09_20/GA_20092001_E1_014.pdf 

Extracted text

T n 6 w 'g wi o o0 o t 0 n t Ff af s i ii n g h Li Sa n Fl m m pi n it e d eO a d ci e l a ' r oG H O fr A W o N L A m Y Y e L s
BY KERNAN ANDREWS in Loughrea FIANNA FAIL will run three candidates in the next general election, but the right to select them had to fought for with delegates angry at what they felt was party HQ interference. On Saturday, deputies Noel Treacy, Michael Kitt, and Cllr Joe Callanan were chosen to run for FF in Galway East. The selection convention, held in the Temperance Hall, Loughrea, began at 8.30pm but went on until the small hours of the morning. This was Smith's first Galway East convention and proved a baptism of fire for the Tipperary man. There were rumours of possible walkouts and rows if the national executive interfered too much in the proceedings. Sensing the high emotions, Smith joked: "Is there anybody from Munster here? Would those from Munster put up there hands so I know where my defence is" which drew laughs from the crowd. Seven candidates went forward for election; Treacy, Kitt, Callanan, and Cllrs Paddy McHugh, Matt Loughnane, Michael Fahy, and Michael Regan. In the 1997 General Election, FF got 48 per cent of the vote and Fine Gael 31 per cent in Galway East. Both parties hold two seats, but FF feel their larger vote could win them a third seat. Smith commented on this saying: "We are looking to East Galway this time as never before." Before the voting. Smith informed the meeting that the National Executive wanted delegates to select two candidates and a third would be added later. This led to uproar. Delegates called it 'an insult to democracy', 'appalling', and 'an insult'. FF members wanted three or four candidates, with no dictating from HQ. There was thunderous applause from the floor as speaker after speaker denounced the move. John Kelly from Gort said: "We had been led to believe our purpose was to select three. Two is not acceptable." Noel Smith said: "We might as well have stayed at home." One man said it insulted those who walked the length and

Protect your home, yourself and your family with a Wirefree Monitored Alarm System from eircom PhoneWatch. Call 1850 500 900 for more information. Tune into Donal M a h o n s Lunchtime S h o w on G a l w a y
B a y F M , from the 17th September and y o u could be in w i t h a chance to w i n a 24 hour m o n i t o r e d alarm system for y o u r h o m e in G a l w a y

Special offer for Galway homes for a limited period only. Offer subject to terms & conditions. Only one offer applies.

J PW L h c o h n a e t

breadth of the constituency canvassing for FF over the years. He even did it himself when he "hadn't the price of petrol and a bad bike." Despite threats of walk-outs and suspension, candidates stood their ground, until the top table agreed a five minute break to decide what to do. Eventually delegates were allowed select three candidates. It also neutered calls from those who wanted to run four. There were 535 valid votes cast with a quota of 134. No candidate was elected on the first count, but Treacy on 129 and McHugh at 117 took the lead. Following Loughnane's elimination, Callanan's votes increased from 77 to 85. Regan was the next to go. Most of his transfers went to Treacy who was elected on the third count with 153 votes. Callanan went up to 99. Fahy's transfers mostly went to Kitt, elected on the fourth count with 134, and Callanan who rose to 120, closing the gap with McHugh at 128. Finally, Treacy's transfers came into play. Sixteen of those saw Callanan elected on 136 votes to 131 for McHugh. McHugh was very disappointed having come so close, but thanked those "who placed there trust in me" and remembered late friends. Kitt said he would "represent the people as honourably and as honestly as I can". Treacy said: "It was a hot May 19 years ago when you selected me and you have done it again." "I have to admit, luck is on me side," said Callanan. He added: "We're not working against each other, we're working for each other." This, as well as the importance of the third seat, was a theme of the night. In a rousing and dramatic speech, Fahy said he would help the candidates and do "all in my power to see Bertie Ahern back as Taoiseach" as did Regan, who vowed to "give sitting FG TD Ulick Burke a shake-up".

GY A W L A PIE F G E RO O N O S N R TG S V A H M O E W
so*

.15.000

More Prizes-Bigger