Political turmoil brews for Mayo minister over local controversies
by Caoimhín Rowland
Mayo political stalwart, Minister of State Dara Calleary, is facing mounting pressure and local uproar in his backyard of Ballina.
The embattled minister's troubles began when the Department of Integration announced its contentious plan to house 120 international protection applicants at the Twin Trees Hotel in the town, sparking local opposition and a 24/7 blockade.
The long-serving representative, attending the protests amidst his party's Ard Fheis in Dublin, was met with a barrage of anger and discontent from demonstrators voicing their grievances.
As the sole government representative in the area, Calleary came in for the brunt of the anger.
A long-term campaigner for the people of north Mayo in their bid for government support due to pyrite and crumbling homes, Calleary once promised his constituents, many of whom are his neighbours, that he’d leave the party if the government failed to provide 100% redress.
When quizzed by an impacted homeowner during a protest meeting, he responded: “In 10 months’ time you’ll get a clearer picture [of my future], but for now I’m much better on the inside.”
Former Fine Gael Minister Joe McHugh resigned his party whip in 2022 over his disappointment at the treatment of the people of Donegal over the defective concrete block scheme, but his move failed to broker any meaningful change for homeowners.
Speculation now swirls regarding Calleary's prospects of retaining his seat in the next general election, having held it since 2007.
The absence of a viable second Fianna Fáil candidate to bolster his campaign compounds the party's concerns.
However, Lisa Chambers remains as a potential ally, but only if she should fail to secure a seat in the European Parliament on June 7.
The Ballina TD faces formidable opponents in the likes of Independent Councillor Mark Duffy, should he decide to make a run for a Dáil seat, and Sinn Féin's Rose Conway-Walsh, with her Ballina-based constituency clinic boasting a strong local following.
With government opposition sentiments on the rise, Sinn Féin and Independent traction may pose a significant threat to Calleary's electoral prospects.
The looming spectre of electoral defeat for Calleary raises broader apprehensions for Fianna Fáil in the region.
As Mayo transitions to a five-seat constituency in the next election, the party's inability to secure a foothold in the county would be a colossal blow to the party.
Once regarded as a potential future party leader, Calleary's political trajectory suffered a major setback in 2020 due to the Golfgate scandal.
In the aftermath of the event, he stated: "I made a big mistake. I shouldn't have gone to the function. I didn't want to let people down and I take responsibility for that mistake."
He stepped down as Minister for Agriculture and later as deputy leader of Fianna Fáil.
The District Court subsequently found the event had not breached public health guidelines and had been safely organised.