The political dynamics in Mayo never stop turning
By Dr. Richard Martin
I know John Lohan. He was the year ahead of me in St. Gerald’s College, the class of 2004.
It was clear then as a teenager that the man had a huge interest in politics.
I remember hearing his voice coming through on the intercom. Student council announcements and what not. He looked the part too. The Crombie jacket and the paddy hat. His life was and is politics.
He joined the Kenny machine soon after leaving school and has been an integral part of the FG organisation ever since.
Jack O’Donnell became part of the Kenny inner sanctum after completing a law degree and is now a special advisor to Simon Harris.
I bumped into his cousin recently, young Joe Canning, who is a barrister. Just in the last few weeks he got a job in the Attorney General’s office. Well done young man.
It’s good to see Gerald’s alumni and lads from the town doing well, irrespective of the political hue. Who cares really.
John Lohan recently vacated his role as the west/northwest regional organiser for FG. He has moved to head office in Dublin.
I was wondering how that one would play out. Lohan was an integral cog of the FG party within this county. I’m not sure if Dillon would’ve made it over the line in 2020 without the assistance and advice of Ger Deere and Lohan.
They were indispensable at that juncture. Only a handful of votes swung it for Dillon that night. Now he’s there for life.
Given that the west/northwest regional organiser role covers nine counties across the western seaboard, it was hugely advantageous to the FG councillors, senators and TDs in this county to have a Mayo man in that position.
They inevitably got that extra bit of love and care from head office.
It’s not a coincidence that we have an MEP from Shrule either. I’ll address that later.
As a keen follower of politics I was wondering how it would play out and who would get the vacated position.
If an activist from Cavan or Donegal got it, it would be a blow to the FG party in Mayo.
Back room politics is equally as important as front line politics and Lohan is the quintessential back room operator. FF in their heyday had PJ Mara. A household name and a master of spin. A superb tactician and strategist, who masterminded the FF election triumph of ‘02.
In the end the position went to Michael D. McAndrew, the sports voice of Midwest Radio. He is a household name across the county as sports editor and GAA commentator.
Crucially, for Mayo FG, he’s not just a Mayo man, he also from Glenamoy. That might be worth a few votes for them in the Barony of Erris. I wouldn’t say Rose was overly impressed with the news. It just puts an extra squeeze on her own turf.
Talking to councillors across the county, there was a sigh of relief. It’s crucial to have a reliable, trustworthy person in that role who can be relied upon with sensitive information.
Trust in politics is a very rare commodity, but if you can’t trust the man behind you, you’re goosed. Simple as.
As it stands FG hold the whip hand in the county. They have two TDs, an MEP and a senator in the Oireachtas. FF and SF only have one.
Remember, at the time of the civil war this county was an overwhelming anti-treaty county. The majority of our forefathers were aligned with Dev and company.
In 1992, FF returned four of the six TDs in the general election. What has happened in the meantime? In one word? Complacency.
You must nurture and tend to your own patch. FF have taken their eye off the ball in that respect. FG have moved with the times and have a slick outfit.
They work together. No infighting and petty squabbling.
Aside from the Calleary operation, FF in this county are in rock bottom territory and have huge ground to make up. That’s the truth. Painful and all as it may be to some. It’s basic factual truth.
Which brings me to Maria Walsh. We have an MEP in this county. The Midlands – North West Constituency encompasses 15 counties. There are only five MEPs in the constituency.
I’m curious about the future.
What I mean is, who will she align herself with in the FG firmament going forward? She was part of the Keira Keogh team for the last general election, but Alan Dillon is the undisputed FG vote getter in the county now.
He nearly topped the poll with only a quarter of the county to work with.
If she aligns herself with Dillon, the Dillon office will reciprocate in turn when the European elections roll around.
Politics is all about timing and alignment. If you back a winner you become a winner. If you fly with the crows, you get shot.
Politics is about self-preservation, and the key to self-preservation is backing a winner.
It's no secret that Keira Keogh will have a battle on her hands next time out.
That seat was a Flynn seat (before Michael Ring) and will be again.
The MEP gig is the gig of gigs. No constituency office, no clinics, no hassle about potholes. No hassle from the press.
Ballinrobe is the capital of south Mayo and really needs a ring road and a boost. It’s a keystone town in the county. Surely there has to be some small funding stream in Brussels to give the place a lift.
Jim Higgins delivered for the county. Infrastructure was developed, and the Flynn highway was extended across the county. Knock airport was a major beneficiary. It’s not forgotten.
FF need a major overhaul and revamp within the county. People like Damian Ryan are aware of this.
It will happen, it has to happen.
Who will suffer as a consequence? SF have a TD, but where is the delivery?
In the cold light of day, will Aontú deliver?
Are we going to see a return for our investment?
Eventually, the patience of the county town is beginning to wear thin.
Thousands of votes are electing candidates in the barony of Erris and Knock.
Enough is enough, it’s time to start backing our own, and putting ourselves first for a change.