Mayo election quandary for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael

Neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael is likely to field resident candidates in the east and south Mayo district in the next general election, The Connaught Telegraph has learned.

That’s despite the constituency being handed an additional fifth seat by the Independent Electoral Commission as a result of 5,600 members of the electorate in south Mayo being transferred back into the county from Galway West.

Fine Gael is certain to refocus its attention on ensuring it has a high-profile candidate to run in Ballina while Fianna Fáil has similar concerns in respect of Castlebar.

Sinn Féin intend having Charlestown-based Councillor Gerry Murray in the field and may add a third in Balla-based Donna Hyland, one of the party’s election candidates in the Castlebar electoral area for next year’s local elections.

However, speculation that Shrule-native, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh, will now become a key part of her party’s general election plans in the new-look constituency are understood to be wide of the mark.

Instead, party insiders are suggesting that Ballina will become the focal point in devising a three-candidate strategy, extending a political lifeline to former TD and senator Michelle Mulherin, if she is interested.

Fianna Fáil will have major problems in Castlebar in the event of local Senator Lisa Chambers securing a nomination and winning a seat for the party in next year’s European Parliament elections.

The party’s senior strategists will be seeking to bring clarity to the situation in the short term in order to avoid difficulties ahead of the general election campaign.

Fianna Fáil may have to be content with a two-candidate approach, but that could fall short of winning a second seat for the second consecutive general election.