Dermot Flanagan seeks Mayo FF Nomination for General Election

finisklin

Hot off the MWR Press.......

Former Mayo footballer to seek nomination to run for Fianna Fail in General Election

Friday, 14 January 2011 17:17

FORMER MAYO FOOTBALLER DERMOT FLANAGAN HAS ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO SEEK A FIANNA FAIL NOMINATION AT THE FORTHCOMING CONVENTION AS A CANDIDATE FOR MAYO IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THE FORMER ALL-STAR HAS CONSULTED WITH ALL ELECTED PARTY MEMBERS IN THE COUNTY OVER THE PAST WEEK AND SAID HE WAS DELIGHTED WITH THE PLEDGES OF SUPPORT GIVEN TO HIM.

IF SELECTED MR. FLANAGAN HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL SET UP PERMANENT HOME WITH HIS FAMILY IN CASTLEBAR.

DERMOT’S FATHER SEAN SERVED AS A TD FROM 1951 TO 1977 AND AN MEP FROM 1979 TO 1989 AND SERVED AS MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND MINSTER FOR LANDS

NO DATE HAS YET BEEN SET BY THE FIANNA FAIL PARTY FOR THE MAYO CONVENTION

This certainly puts Calleary under pressure.......possibly O'Mahony too as Flanagan has a cleaner Mayo GAA record (bar him playing in the All Ireland final in 1997 when he was injured).

Though from an election strategy not sure how wise it is to run two FF candidates......I'm sure HSI & Avns will give their tuppence worth on it.

PogMoThoin

Does it really matter who FF put forward?
Doubt John O' will get back in again though. All He's done is object to the late licence in Lír

finisklin

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Does it really matter who FF put forward?
Doubt John O' will get back in again though. All He's done is object to the late licence in Lír

He may split the Mayo GAA vote, plus he's new/fresh and not tainted with the sins of his immediate FF predecessors. His spin will be change, new face, look forward and learn from our mistakes etc. I think he will warm the cockles of the old reliable set of FF and O'Mahony will not be happy with his entry.

Interesting times......let the spectator blood sport of election 2011 begin.:p There is gonna be some blood letting by the electorate......:D

spider guardian

He won't get in. FF's only hope of getting a seat in Mayo is to not split the FF vote. Calleary is the man to put forward. Flanagan couldn't have picked a worse election to run for FF. Smacks of ol style parochial politics to me.

finisklin

Maybe the recession has affected the Four Courts and the Law Library, hence his foray into politics. I reckon a lot of high end legal work has dried up. Anyone know Dermot's speciality as a barrister?

Seems to be better qualified than your average TD.....maybe I should reframe that....he's overqualified for the job in comparision with some TDs and even cabinet members etc!

finisklin

More here on Flano in Mayotoday.ie

http://www.mayotoday.ie/index.php/browse-mayo-news-by-category/life-a-style/item/2159-dermot-flanagan-seeks-fianna-f%C3%A1il-nomination-to-contest-general-election-in-mayo.html

Practising Barrister A practising Barrister by profession, he was a Junior Counsel from 1987 until 2000 when he was appointed a Senior Counsel. He specialises in Local Government, Planning, Environmental and Public Infrastructure Law.

He has been retained over the years by many local authorities as Counsel for public infrastructure projects such as inter-urban motorway, waste management and waste water infrastructure schemes. He has presented over 150 Public Projects at oral hearings before An Bord Pleanála. He is presently preparing to publish a textbook on the Law of Compulsory Acquisition.

He is married to Ros Willoughby, daughter of the late Noel Willoughby, former Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel & Ossory.

Noel Willoughby is remembered as one of the leading ecumenical figures in the Church of Ireland, having come from a farming background in Tinahely, Co. Wicklow.

Dermot and Ros have two children, Jack and Amelia who are five years old. He has one brother and five sisters.

Dermot Flanagan said that in putting his name forward, he was influenced by the desire within the Fianna Fáil organisation and the wider community for strong representation at a time of challenge for the county and country.

He said he recognises a desire on the part of the electorate that future TD's show a high level of capacity and ability to confront the challenges ahead for Mayo.

"While it might not be considered a good time to face the electorate as a Fianna Fail candidate, I am confident that I can address the real concerns of people and demonstrate the capability and leadership necessary to serve the people of Mayo in the challenges ahead," he said.

HarryPotter41

I think hes an interesting entrant into the fray, agree that he can claim to be untainted by a lot of what has gone on and his connection with Fianna Fail through family goes back before the rot set in. Can't agree with the fact that people think Fianna Fail should only run one candidate, should be a minimum of 3 candidates, possibly 4. To do otherwise would be stupid, shortsighted and might as well fold up the tent and go home. Local candidates will pull in extra votes regardless of party, and those votes most likely would stay in house and make sure at least one FF candidate be elected, if not two. What incentive could there possibly be for someone in Ballinrobe or Charlestown to vote for Dara Calleary in Ballina??

spider guardian

HarryPotter41 wrote: »

I think hes an interesting entrant into the fray, agree that he can claim to be untainted by a lot of what has gone on and his connection with Fianna Fail through family goes back before the rot set in. Can't agree with the fact that people think Fianna Fail should only run one candidate, should be a minimum of 3 candidates, possibly 4. To do otherwise would be stupid, shortsighted and might as well fold up the tent and go home. Local candidates will pull in extra votes regardless of party, and those votes most likely would stay in house and make sure at least one FF candidate be elected, if not two. What incentive could there possibly be for someone in Ballinrobe or Charlestown to vote for Dara Calleary in Ballina??

If Gerry Murray decides to run again then he will pick up the most votes in Charlestown and will draw in votes from across East Mayo like he did the last time.

I think Flanagan is definitely an interesting candidate and would make a very able representative but I just do not see there being enough FF support this time around. The almost certainty of a Mayo taoiseach will see 3 or 4 FG candidates elected with FF doing very well to retain even one seat.

I think people will be more inclined to vote for Calleary over Flanagan given that he has a national profile holding the minister of state for labour affairs and he will of course pick up votes in North Mayo. His FF pedigree is just as strong or even stronger than Flanagan's. The fact that he has been touted as a future leader will stick in people's minds as well.

Regardless, Calleary will need all the votes he can get and even a small split in FF's vote could be detrimental to him.

HarryPotter41

spider guardian wrote: »

If Gerry Murray decides to run again then he will pick up the most votes in Charlestown and will draw in votes from across East Mayo like he did the last time.

I think Flanagan is definitely an interesting candidate and would make a very able representative but I just do not see there being enough FF support this time around. The almost certainty of a Mayo taoiseach will see 3 or 4 FG candidates elected with FF doing very well to retain even one seat.

I think people will be more inclined to vote for Calleary over Flanagan given that he has a national profile holding the minister of state for labour affairs and he will of course pick up votes in North Mayo. His FF pedigree is just as strong or even stronger than Flanagan's. The fact that he has been touted as a future leader will stick in people's minds as well.

Regardless, Calleary will need all the votes he can get and even a small split in FF's vote could be detrimental to him.

For a party of FF's size to run one candidate in a 5 seat consituency is suicidal in the extreme. Any "natural" Fianna Fail vote will transfer within the party. Calleary would lose some of the softer Fianna fail vote to local candidates, whatever party they were from because nobody wants to travel 50 or 60 miles to deal with a TD.

nuac

Seán Flanagan was an able and outspoken TD, Minister and MEP. He did not bother over much with party organisational or constituency representations - he spoke his own mind on issues viz his recommendation that the Department of Lands be abolished soon after he was appointed Minister for Lands. He was correct in that as the Land Commission had finished it's work. The Land Commission was actually wound up some years later.

Seán got 1000's of votes each election, many from non-FF voters because he had been captain of an All Ireland winning team. Dermot gave loyal service also to Mayo GAA. If he had been on an All Ireland winning team he would be a shoo-in in Mayo in any election.

As it is he will attract a large GAA vote. Many other voters may figure that a successful barrister would be an addition to the Mayo Dáil team.

Certainly as they head into opposition FF will need much intellectual ballast to keep the ship sailing.

Ilovelucy

Looks like Dermot has had second thoughts \ cold feet!

Bob the Builder

Wont be getting my vote anyway.

If Dara Calleary was any party other than FF, PD or Greens I'd vote for him. But if anyone goes into an election wearing the FF nametag, they're not getting my vote.

And John O'Mahony only got in because the election was a few days before/after some football match at the time. No more than the rest, he shouldn't have seen office.

yop

If God himself rang for FF I still wouldn't vote for them. They are rotten to the core, and just because Daddy did it now Dermot is doing it. This is just a continuation not a change.

finisklin

Flano has got cold feet.......methinks Calleary has out muscled him and pulled the political rug from underneath him. Then again I am a cynic......:cool:

Here's piece from MWR.....

MEANWHILE, FORMER MAYO FOOTBALLER DERMOT FLANAGAN IS DUE TO TRAVEL TO CASTLEBAR ON THURSDAY TO ATTEND THE FIANNA FAIL DAIL CEANNTAIR MEETING, AND EXPLAIN HIS DECISION NOT TO SEEK A NOMINATION FOR THE FORTHCOMING GENERAL ELECTION.


LAST FRIDAY, MR FLANAGAN - A DUBLIN-BASED BARRISTER - ANNOUNCED THAT HE INTENDED TO SEEK A NOMINATION, BUT YESTERDAY DECLARED HE’D HAD A CHANGE OF HEART OVER THE WEEKEND, CITING PROFESSIONAL COMMITMENTS AS HIS REASON FOR OPTING OUT OF THE RACE.


Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 January 2011 11:10

Cosmo Kramer

There's definitely more to that than we're hearing about. Surely FF aren't going to run just one candidate, that would be lunacy.

Bob the Builder wrote: »

And John O'Mahony only got in because the election was a few days before/after some football match at the time. No more than the rest, he shouldn't have seen office.

I'm not sure about that, Mayo got a good tanking off Galway in the football match in question, it can't have done much for his election prospects!

yop

His brain obvioulsy engaged and he realised that joining them crooks was against the rules of profession

finisklin

I have to laff at this from the Mayo Advertsier quoting Gerry Ginty and the reason he's not running in the General Election.

Elsewhere Ballina Independent town and county councillor Gerry Ginty has admitted he was seriously considering running, but his departure from the town and county council would give way to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael respectively picking up an extra seat should he be elected. For this reason he has ruled himself out.

Fair play to him......definitely not with the program!:eek:

Coillte_Bhoy

Bob the Builder wrote: »

And John O'Mahony only got in because the election was a few days before/after some football match at the time. No more than the rest, he shouldn't have seen office.

The election was a few days after and Mayo lost that match against Galway so what was your point again caller???

HarryPotter41

finisklin wrote: »

I have to laff at this from the Mayo Advertsier quoting Gerry Ginty and the reason he's not running in the General Election.

Elsewhere Ballina Independent town and county councillor Gerry Ginty has admitted he was seriously considering running, but his departure from the town and county council would give way to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael respectively picking up an extra seat should he be elected. For this reason he has ruled himself out.

Fair play to him......definitely not with the program!:eek:

Gerry Ginty was never with the program!!!

finisklin

What's the postscript on this?

FF Head Office in Dublin parachuting in a celebrity candidate without consultation with the local party members/cumainn?

For all the blaze of his announcement he went out with a whimper!

HarryPotter41

finisklin wrote: »

What's the postscript on this?

FF Head Office in Dublin parachuting in a celebrity candidate without consultation with the local party members/cumainn?

For all the blaze of his announcement he went out with a whimper!

In fairness, Flanagan was consulting with the local party himself when the rumours got out that he was doing so. He then felt he had better make a statement which in hindsight he would have been better not doing and let the rumours rumble on.

jennnn

I know I'm way off topic, but why do MWR use capitals on their website (as quoted in the first post)? It drives me nuts!

finisklin

jennnn wrote: »

I know I'm way off topic, but why do MWR use capitals on their website (as quoted in the first post)? It drives me nuts!

Probably because Liammy, Teresa or Gerry/Paul cannot type properly and if they were to do it without there would be too many typos......;)