Two selected at Fine Gael convention

Around three hundred Fine Gael party members gathered in the Hotel Kilmore last Friday evening to elect their representatives in the upcoming general election.

Chaired by Minister Helen McEntee the event was attended by Minister Heather Humphreys, MEP Nina Carberry, county councillors and Fine Gael members in the Cavan Monaghan constituency.

As the night wore on two candidates emerged triumphant- Cathaoirelach TP O’Reilly from Cavan County Council and Cllr David Maxwell from Monaghan County Council.

While Cllr Carmel Brady’s addition to the ticket later may have come as a shock to some on Sunday morning- as vote counting took place at the Kilmore, the Tullyvin woman said she was prepared to do whatever it took to help her party.

“If it was to help the party, I’m not going to say no,” she responded, when asked if she would consider putting her name forward while sitting among the audience.

“I think I’d be a fool to not, I’m almost 60, I probably will never get the opportunity again,” she added. “I mean, I’m up for it and I’m up to help whoever’s there or whatever the situation is.”

Speaking on female representation in the party, whereby a quota of 40% must now be met, she explained how “because of the situation” the party could add female candidate after convention.

“I’m playing the game and I’m here to vote and hopefully we’ll get one candidate, a good candidate from Cavan to go.

“I’d be honored if I was on the ticket but as you can see I’m not.”

Also from a female perspective, Minister Heather Humphreys assured that the party “will meet” their quota of women “right across the country.”

“That's important,” she stated.

“We have some very good councillors here, we have Niamh Brady and we have Carmel Brady. I would encourage women to go forward,” she stated.

Minister Humphreys said she was “absolutely committed” to supporting the candidates who came through convention.

“I will give them my 100% support, I’ll be out canvassing with them, I’ll be knocking doors with them and I will be doing everything in my power to get them elected.

“I’m confident that we will win two seats in Cavan Monaghan,” she predicted.

The evening also gave party members present an opportunity to thank Minister Humpreys for her own dedication on the back of her recent announcement to retire.

Each speaker who took to the podium began by first thanking Minister Humphreys for her work in the area, a service that received abundant applause from the audience.

Prior to the results and Cllr Brady’s addition to the ticket, government ministers, members, local and national media filled the room as word spread that Cllr Aiden Campbell had withdrawn his name before proceedings took place.

Speaking to The Anglo-Celt, he said the decision was “very difficult”.

“I decided that this wasn’t my time, I’m going to be 100% behind my colleague, Cllr David Maxwell,” he reasoned. “There might be another day for Aiden Campbell.”

Cllr Campbell added: “[Minister] Heather Humphreys has done remarkable work, incredible work and [there’s] big shoes to fill.”

With only one representative from each county to be selected, Cllr Maxwell and his supporters were safe in the knowledge that his place in the general election was secured. However, this left the Cavan cohort wondering where Maxwell's vote would go - to stalwart Senator Joe O'Reilly or the up-and-coming Cllr TP O'Reilly?

“Whoever comes through I will work with them and help to retain Heather’s seat and add a seat in Cavan Monaghan,” Cllr Maxwell told the Celt after declaration.

Sen O’Reilly, proposed by Leila Shaddadi and seconded by Hannah Galligan, pitched that “the blood's up” in the party, which has been in government now for the past 14 years. He added that this is often thrown as a “kind of accusation” by political opponents, but he himself saw it as “something to be immensely proud of.”

Sen O’Reilly went on to speak about Fine Gael’s handling of Brexit, Covid 19 and the cost of living crisis.

The room was told Fine Gael’s “record on the economy is outstanding” with 837,000 more people employed in the country than when they first entered office in 2011, bringing the “total at work” to over 2.75 million.

“The greatest mark of a successful economy or otherwise is the employment,” he suggested, noting that continuing this success would be a “source of satisfaction and joy” for him as TD.

Cathaoirleach TP O’Reilly, proposed by Cllr Trevor Smith and seconded by Cllr Niamh Brady, spoke of his own “ambition, drive and determination” to continue the work done since he was first elected to the council in 2019.

While he recognised the party’s achievements of “economic stability, full employment and quality of standards that we're all living in today,” Cllr O’Reilly wants to see rural development, special education needs and assessments, care of the elderly and enterprise “prioritised” going forward.

The Cathaoirleach took the opportunity to jibe at opposition party Sinn Fein, outlining how he read through one of their leaflets and saw “a good bit about housing” however “couldn’t find anything to see what their plan was”.

He described how Minster Humphreys had “set the benchmark” on ethics, work rate and delivery, which would be “expected” going forward of a candidate in the constituency.

“I’ll lead from the front, follow in behind me and I’ll unleash a tidal wave of Fine Gael support across this county for the next four weeks.”

As members filed out to vote, Senator O’Reilly said: “I feel good.”

“I’ve got a lovely reception from people, I mean I understand that a number of people are going out not to vote for me.

“If somebody wanted to approach me next week on an issue, I’ll not be thinking before I address the question, did they vote here and did they vote for me?”

The result was announced by Minister McEntee.

Cllrs David Maxwell and TP O’Reilly were nominated to run.

TP O’Reilly got 138 votes, Joe O’Reilly got 94 votes, while David Maxwell got 71 votes.

“It’s great to get the nomination,” said Cllr TP O’Reilly after the final tally.