Jennings setting early pace in Mayo political popularity contest

The hotbed that's the south of Mayo's constituency is simmering

by Caoimhín Rowland

MEP Maria Walsh has set the benchmark for Fine Gael in County Mayo.

Speaking from the Castlemagarrett Suite at the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, she said winning two seats in this enlarged constituency in the forthcoming general election would be a good day, three seats a great one and four seats a fantastic outcome.

I was the only scribe present and was met with a warning to ignore that detail - a detail that leads the opening of this column.

Based in Brussels, Maria Walsh has thrown her weight behind Team Jennings, as well as Team Keogh, Team Duffy and Team Dillon.

Fine Gael is an egalitarian party, she says, there's room at the table for all, with sports metaphors close to the fore.

Martina Jennings, in launching her election campaign, left nobody in any doubt that the political hotbed of south Mayo is simmering.

As MC Mike Finnerty spoke to Alan Dillon about being the captain of the Fine Gael team going forward, I closed my eyes, imagining it was week four of a Sam Maguire homecoming.

But it wasn't - this was a sober, well-dressed crowd.

Party chair Jim Higgins took to the podium with triumph, evidently enthused by the ticket Fine Gael is presenting to Mayo.

“Alan is our captain going into this,” he declared, while Maria Walsh described it as “a general election for the soul of Ireland.”

There's confidence and swagger here. I wouldn't be surprised if homecoming celebrations were already pencilled into the McWilliam Park for month’s end.

Arriving early to catch a word with Jennings - the former CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice - I was stunned by the size of the room.

At 6 p.m., I thought, no way will this place fill up.

But by 8 p.m., it was packed and buzzing as Jennings took to the podium.

On this evidence, she’ll top the poll.

The most visible threat comes from independent candidate Patsy O’Brien, though his confidence may dwindle when he learns how many of his neighbours, friends and former colleagues were present.

The GAA community of south Mayo - a well-heeled, newly enlarged part of this constituency - stands solidly behind Jennings.

Her endorsements echoed through the suite’s vaulted ceiling and beyond the leisure centre: “Martina built two hospices, under budget and on time.”

It was a jab at the OPW and a nod to Sinn Féin’s critiques of the current government.

Jennings has experience collaborating with government ministers, charities and NGOs to secure, as her supporters put it, “the best deal for her community.”

Any local Fine Gael tensions around Jennings’ selection - post-convention rather than through traditional channels - seemed dispelled at her launch.

She not only has the backing of the local branch but has galvanised further support as she aims to fill Michael Ring’s shoes.

Jennings read Ring’s apologies - a family matter kept him away - and spoke keenly about honouring his legacy and “pounding on the table” for Mayo.

Her hospice work, many may argue, should not rely on charity.

A state with millions of taxpayers and billions in reserves should provide respite and palliative care for its citizens. But the reality is different.

Fine Gael has been in power since 2011 and likely will remain so for another five.

For many voters this month, Fine Gael is all they've ever known in government, from austerity to surplus, yet little has changed materially for people locally.

Jennings insists she’s not a politician, though she’s keenly interested in current affairs and feels ready for a new challenge.

A stint serving the people of Mayo is what she wants.

Her constituency is vast, with many doors to knock on.

As party chair Jim Higgins stressed: “It doesn’t matter what party they support behind that door - knock on it.”

This is the new Fine Gael, a monopolistic force, hungry for votes and prepared to cannibalise Fianna Fáil.

Their quadruple candidacy here contrasts with Fianna Fáil's double selection, a bold strategy aimed at dominance in Leinster House.

Mayo may yet prove to be a bell-weather, if the four candidates poll strongly, and if it is indeed a great day, as Maria Walsh said, winning three seats, then Fine Gael could lead the government into the next decade.

Rotating Taoisigh be damned - this is the approach championed by Fine Gael’s Greystones leader, Simon Harris.

Indeed, there’s a fear too that Fine Gael are too confident. It’s still too early, a week before a general election has even been called.

Could this quadruple Dream Team backfire on them?

Two look almost certain but questions are beginning to circle around the captain that he may now be likeliest to miss the boat.

Not too many around Castlebar would subscribe to that, however.