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Open seat in Donegal NE
Read more about: Connaught-Ulster, Donegal North East 
Jim McDaid has confirmed the not entirely surprising news that he will not seek the nomination to retain his Donegal North East seat at the selection convention next month. RTE story here and Ireland.com (subs. req’d) here. While he’s hardly the first TD who would have been on the ballot with legal problems in his past, the conjunction of a drunk-driving conviction with Donegal’s appalling record on road accidents would have been difficult. McDaid has the advantage of an alternative career that he can drop back into, as a doctor. One odd sentence in his statement:
Today, I especially want to thank and pay tribute to the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern. It was he who gave me the opportunity to serve in Government, an opportunity, given to very few.
If by “few” you mean around 40 percent of the parliamentary party, then maybe he’s right. Finally, as you’ll see from our Election Results link in the sidebar, it’s not clear that McDaid’s departure hurts FF. The 2002 result is a fairly comfortable 2 FF 1 IND; not clear that either FG or SF can jointly or severally mobilise a quota.
I was just about to post about it. Padraig McLochlann might take the seat for Sinn Fein. Damian Blake had a nice run down of it in the comments here. http://www.irishelection.com/wordpress/?p=149
I’ve also been writing about it today on my own website (please forgive this- but I think it’s relevant).
What this really means for Donegal NE is that the next election is going to be VERY wide open. It is a very “local” constituency. McDaid polls very strong in Letterkenny, but also in the Milford area. FG’s candidate, Sen Joe McHugh, is from the Milford area and would be expected to poll well there, but not as well in the main base of Letterkenny. The Milford area is also home to Niall Blaney, the “Independent” TD.
In Donegal, location is vital. McHugh has opened an office in Letterkenny, and is around the town very often, but he remains “an outsider” to most people.
FF will have to look for a candidate in Letterkenny – the main population centre and so far without any candidates. This is most likely to be Cllr Ciaran Brogan, our strongest performer in the town.
McHugh will poll well for FG, and will get close, will Padraig McLoughlin in Buncrana (the SF machine will pick up votes in all areas). At this stage, it’s a five-horse race for three seats, and while I wouldn’t like to call it I do believe that FF have the strength on the ground to keep our two seats.
My post on Dr McDaid is at: http://www.damienblake.com/2006/04/dr-james-mc-daid-announces-retirement/
FF will have to look for a candidate in Letterkenny – the main population centre and so far without any candidates.
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Is the mayor of Letterkenny not interested.?
I just said that then read your post and saw you are not going for the nomination. Ah well. We have to wait for the live blogging of the Dail for another few years.
I say it does throw the whole place over. Considering Sinn Fein are eyeing up Donegal they musst be happy.
Interesting to listen to McDaid on newstalk today, though i dont believe it for a minute he asserted “just because Donegal is a border county does not mean Sinn Fein will now do well” or something very similar.
2 seats from 3 would be a great return for the government considering the popularity of McDaid locally, replacing him and keeping momentum high enough is a tough task especially with the SF foot soldiers doing the business for votes. Is being local enough next year Damien?
Being local won’t swing it for someone, but being from the wrong part of the constituency would swing it away from someone.
Best example of this is Cllr Francis Conaghan. Vey able politician with a great pedigree and excellent work rate, but he lives in Newtowncunningham which is about halfway between Letterkenny and Buncrana, the two fiercely-independent and well represented population centres.
SF will definitely be in with a shout in both Donegal constituencies this year, but (as I have said before) I don’t beleve the county is quite ready for them yet. That said, if they are to get one gain in Donegal it will be in the NE.
Really fascinating contest opening up then. Its constituencies like these that FF need to hold to have a hope of keeping office. Similar in Wexford now whoever loses their second seat (if O Gorman is succesful) could well be out of power.