Duffy eyes keys to Michael Ring’s former Mayo kingdom
by Caoimhin Rowland
It’s a brave, bold move, and, judging by his strategy, perhaps even a jolt for some who voted for him back in June as an independent.
But it’s clear that new Fine Gael general election candidate Councillor Mark Duffy is determined to deliver for Ballina in a similar fashion that Michael Ring successfully achieved for Westport.
Like Ring, Duffy shares a townie background, deeply invested in improving his local area.
But the audacity to pull a reverse Seamus Weir, shifting from Independent Ballina councillor to the newest face of the long-ruling Fine Gael, smacks of predictability.
It’s like an ambitious football manager choosing the bright lights of Stamford Bridge over a challenging small-scale project - lured more by prestige than potential.
Ballina isn’t impressed by minor flowerbed improvements anymore. The town boasts fantastic events spurred by its birthday celebrations only a year ago.
A once welcomed Joe Biden visit and the Mary Robinson Centre has helped enhance its international presence.
But the town suffers from crippling road traffic issues, one of the highest rates of dereliction in the country, and economically is home to one of the most disadvantaged areas in the county.
Yet, a Fleadh has been dangled like a carrot, as has the European volunteer capital hosting, hinting at a further brighter future for the ‘Salmon Capital’, aiming to establish itself as a premier tourism destination.
When opening his hostel, Duffy told this newspaper he wanted to see Ballina become the ‘Killarney of the North West’.
Many laughed at Michael Ring for uttering something similar during his early council days, but no one is laughing now as Westport thrives, its tourism numbers soaring thanks to a former minister who ensured key infrastructure projects like the N5 dual carriageway and the greenway.
Speculation abounds about the promises Duffy has secured.
Fine Gael, having haemorrhaged experience ahead of the upcoming general election, is still tipped to emerge as the largest party post-voting.
Duffy clearly has his eye on a senior brief in a ‘fresh’, ‘new-energy’ Fine Gael and it seems like the safest bet - at least according to the opinion polls.
Alan Dillon, like his predecessor Enda Kenny, doesn’t have the same commanding presence as Ring. I doubt he seeks it.
Still, he must be uneasy as strong candidates join his party’s ticket.
Martina Jennings will eat up votes in the south, and Duffy will dominate the north.
The party’s recent post-convention manoeuvring shows unease about Dillon's ability to lead the Blueshirts into his first general election as an incumbent.
It’s a geographically well-balanced ticket for Fine Gael - credit to their strategists.
Just a few weeks ago, a lacklustre convention seemed to guarantee only one candidate would make the cut, but now it would be a surprise if they don’t secure at least three seats.
This development forces Fianna Fáil back to the drawing board.
Sean Carey is rumoured to be their choice to challenge Rose Conway-Walsh in Belmullet, a move that might boost the increasingly vulnerable Minister Dara Calleary.
Yet, a clean 3 FG and 2 FF outcome seems unlikely, suggesting that Mayo voters are more than satisfied with the current state of play.
It would certainly point toward a Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil duopoly in Leinster House, a natural progression considering the previous two general election outcomes.
But political science tells us that larger constituencies rarely lead to such neat outcomes. It would be stunning to see the government sweep the board in Mayo, but stranger things have happened.
In north Mayo, Duffy’s candidacy and Carey’s potential inclusion could result in only one TD being elected north of Pontoon.
Rose Conway-Walsh is under mounting pressure, and while Sinn Féin has yet to finalise a two-candidate strategy, it would be astonishing to see her lose - but whispers on the ground suggest it’s not impossible.
Meanwhile, Martina Jennings and Patsy O’Brien are set for a fierce battle in the south, with Paul Lawless of Aontú standing as the strongest non-establishment contender. His chances will be bolstered by transfers in the five-seater, as expected.
The biggest question for Mark Duffy now is whether he can convince Ballina’s voters that he’s the right man for the job.
Joining Fine Gael, the party behind the failed pyrite redress scheme that caused so much suffering in his locale, signals his belief that he can achieve more from within than outside.
Many have already said they won’t vote for him again, but with the party machine in tow, Duffy can elevate his profile across the county.
Elections are costly, and aligning with a well-oiled political brand offers protection from online attacks and personal encroachments.
But the key real world factor in his decision to hop on the Harris bandwagon is surely his attempt to become the Ring of the north.