Whatever about FG woes, Mayo FF candidates should brace for impact

by Caoimhín Rowland

Sitting Mayo Fianna Fáil councillors should brace for impact.

If I’ve been a prophet of doom in past columns about the fate of the ‘Republican Party’, after the recent referendums I fear further betrayal by their voters and predict a potential annihilation at the ballot box in June.

Willie O’Dea is the latest to come out vehemently against government partners, the Greens.

James O’Connor from Cork added his voice to a shots fired social media post that said: “Fianna Fáil needs to get back to basics & abandon the Hate Speech Bill etc.Focus on Housing, Health and Law & Order and stop playing to the woke gallery.

"Start listening to the people, stop talking down to them and stop listening to the out of touch Greens & NGOs #Referendum2024”

A statement that adds muster to Billy Kelleher and Barry Cowen’s recent attacks on the Greens.

Indeed, even Lisa Chambers has had a potshot at her coalition partners and admitted she voted No in the care referendum.

She told Newstalk it was ‘condescending’ especially on International Women’s Day to hold the vote and echoed the sentiment of Willie O’Dea who feels those in positions of power are out of step with the common folk.

This reactionary Fianna Fáilers, who have ironically now started playing to the gallery by repeating many of the far-right extremists talking points, is the last whimper of a dying breed.

It’s one final lash-out as they witness decades of support whittle away.

Fewer and fewer party activists are willing to lend their support and canvass for the party. Seemingly Bertie’s scandals didn’t quash the party, but an allegiance with Fine Gael and the Greens will result in destruction at the ballot box.

Peadar Toibín will clean up in European Parliamentary elections, and Fianna Fáil may struggle to even get one of their ‘stale, pale and only 33% less male’ trio over the line in the Midlands North West constituency.

On the local front, it could be a washout, and stalwarts such as Al McDonnell and Blackie Gavin may well be vulnerable for the first time in a long time.

Martin McLoughlin also faces an unenviable uphill task as many Fianna Fáil councillors across the country are entering their final months in the role.

Sean Carey in Belmullet looks weak too and it could be nervy for Annie May Reape, who could be saying goodbye to a long-held Ballina seat.

Sinn Féin, Independents and Aontú will sweep up their seats on June 7. Toibín is sure to get Paul Lawless over the line in Claremorris and Tommy Horan will come close in Swinford.

Brendan Mulroy looks poachable in Westport, and so too do the two sitting Fianna Fáilers in east Mayo.

Remarkably, Fianna Fáil picked up a seat in 2019 and currently has 11 sitting councillors, a number which could be more than halved in a few weeks.

Fianna Fáil, for all their faults, are much closer to the people on the ground, and that’s why we’re seeing and hearing such open revolts from many of their party figures.

Party leader Micheál Martin prefers to lead like an ostrich and ignore the fundamental flaws within his party.

Fine Gael remains intact with an identifiable brand, one that will see them even pick up seats in the county.

Keogh in Westport, Peyton in Swinford, Rouse in Ballina and Gallagher in Claremorris come to mind.

The fact blueshirts even have fresh blood is striking. In comparison, Fianna Fáil is a coagulated, scabby mess.

When people rip off the plaster in June the scars will be laid bare for all to see.