Calleary strongly positioned to lead a Fianna Fáil revival across Mayo
by Caoimhín Rowland
As the New Year begins, focus will once again return to national politics with Dáil Éireann preparing to return on January 22 after an extensive Christmas break, much, much longer than ordinary workers.
A new government is unlikely to be formed on this date as Fianna Fáil require a special Ard Fheis to ratify a deal while Fine Gael will also need to corral their local members throughout the country to get any plan over the line.
It will indeed be independents who wield the balance of power.
An election ran on a platform of 'anyone but the greens' has been met by clientelism, Healy-Rae special deals and an assault on the integrity of the Ceann Comhairle, a small price, it seems, to pay to remove Eamon Ryan and his ilk!
Over the Christmas, reflecting on the election and more locally, I was left asking myself whether the people of Mayo missed a trick in not electing an Independent?
Patsy O’Brien campaigned initially with Mark Duffy who defected to party politics.
If the ball bounced in either direction, one of those men, as an independent, could well be negotiating a ‘Healy-Rae’ style deal for Mayo.
Duffy, who was grilled by Aine Lawlor on the The Week in Politics after joining Fine Gael ahead of the general election, was joined in studio by a vivacious independent councillor, Barry Heneghan.
Heneghan now sits as a regional independent brokering red lines and policy formation as a first time TD.
As this point, Mayo appears to have just one man involved at the top level of government formation talks, Dara Calleary.
Rumour has it nationally that the Ballina native is set for a spell in the Department of Housing, a suitable arena for the talented statesman who is more than deserving of a top role.
However, at a time of potential foreign direct investment flight due to a threat of corporation tax disintegrating and many US companies appearing hesitant in light of a Trump presidency, Calleary's business acumen may be sorely missed in the Department of Enterprise and Trade.
It appears Calleary will benefit from a demotion from Charlie McConalogue.
However, as Eoghan Murphy, a former Minister for Housing, alluded to in his controversially timed memoir, government can only concentrate on one issue at a time.
You would hope that one issue all state departments can gather around will finally be housing. An issue as important to attracting and retaining foreign direct investment as Brexit has been in the past or Trump will be.
It appears a promotion to the senior cabinet will be far too soon for Castlebar’s Alan Dillon. Seven or eight bigger and more experienced names will receive the nod ahead of him.
But a stint in the Department of Sport as a junior minister wouldn’t go amiss - ample opportunity for grant giveaways across the board.
Indeed clientelism can be criticised in Kerry, but no need to be so high and mighty when it’s benefiting one’s own constituency, and therein lies the problem.
Paul Lawless is set to lay down the expected dynasty in Claremorris, where the successful selection of his sister, Deirdre, brings the number of women councillors in county Mayo to four.
Alma Gallagher, Annie May Reape and Donna Sheridan will welcome co-optee Lawless who will be working for her brother in his constituency office in Claremorris in the coming months.
In terms of female representation for this county, we’re still the worst in Ireland.
In June, after the election of Alma Gallagher, Mayo grew the number of female representatives to three, but it reflected only 10% of the council along with the retention of Donna Sheridan and Annie May Reape.
At 13.3% to include Deirdre Lawless, Mayo is still ahead of Donegal (8%) nationally but catching up to Galway County Council at 15%.
While Aontú gather their ducks in a row, a spell of disarray is underway for Fianna Fáil in the county town.
The departure of Lisa Chambers from frontline politics is one which many will view as missed potential and a sad day for female representation in the county, but already names are appearing to fill the void that exists in the Castlebar MD.
Any names being put forward as LARs or Local Area Representatives will be closely followed as the party retains only Al McDonnell in the county town district for the Soldiers of Destiny.
Martin McLoughlin was not elected in June and Blackie Gavin’s defection has raised question marks about the standing of the party, who in the county periphery are stronger than ever.
Micheál Martin focused greatly on urban renewal which saw his party return from the doldrums of 2011 to the largest party in the nation once again.
Fianna Fáil in Achill, Erris, Ballina and over east to Swinford and Kiltimagh are as strong as ever, but Castlebar has been a vacuum in which their government partners, Fine Gael, have hoovered up votes, perhaps due to the diligent work of councillors and junior minister on Linenhall Street.
A name expected to wrangle back control is Daithi Gallagher, a grandson of Denis Gallagher.
The Gaeilgeoir was selected at the recent Mayo GAA County Board convention to take on the role as cultural officer. The talented musician and Fáilte Ireland worker contested a nomination in the past but lost out to Martin McLoughlin.
The adage 'With age on his side, what’s for you wont pass you' comes to mind for Gallagher, who has a growing and ready-made profile to battle for the seat in the county town.