Donegal Fianna Fáil members appeal for Niall Blaney to be added to European election ticket

Despite losing out in a vote on Monday evening, there are calls from within the Fianna Fáil party to add Senator Niall Blaney to the ticket for the European elections in June.

Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen was chosen as the candidate for the Midlands North West constituency.

Laois-Offaly TD Cowen came out on top at a selection convention, held in the Mullingar Hotel, at the expense of Senator Blaney and Senator Lisa Chambers.

Senior party sources suggest that a second candidate will be added and it will be that of Mayo woman Ms Chambers.

However, the Donegal Comhairle Dáil Ceantair has written to Fianna Fáil headquarters asking that Senator Blaney be added to the ticket.

When the votes were tallied in Mullingar on Monday, Blaney received 1,071 votes, following the distribution of Chambers’ votes after her elimination. Cohen received 1,142 with Chambers having received 570 on the first count.

Ina  letter, the Donegal Comhairle Dáil Ceantair said: “It is the view of the party in Donegal that the addition of Senator Blaney will ensure a strong performance in the European Elections and afford Fianna Fáil the opportunity to win two seats.”

The Donegal executive believe that the vote showed that Blaney “received huge support from across the entire Midlands North West membership”.

Ireland will have an extra MEP after this summer’s elections with a constituency review recommending that it be allocated to the Midlands North West.

Fianna Fáil currently has no MEP in the constituency.

The Sligo Comhairle Dáil Ceantair has also written to Fianna Fáil Headquarters stating that they are backing Senator Blaney.