No Donegal female candidates seeking FF nomination to run in General election

Six candidates from the Fianna Fáil party have been nominated by various Donegal cumainn to contest the next General Election, but none of those potential candidates are female.

It is likely that two to three candidates will be selected at a special FF party selection convention, to actually contest the election itself, with a date yet to be fixed, but the surprising omission of any female candidates has been the main talking point so far.

Nominations closed at 5pm on Monday, but the names while widely speculated, were not confirmed unto this afternoon (Thursday).

They include Senator Niall Blaney, who recently ran in the European elections, former junior minister, MEP and Leas Cheann Comhairle Pat The Cope Gallagher, Ben Harkin of Ógra Fianna Fáil in Termon, Cllr Donal ‘Mandy’ Kelly, Minister Charlie McConalogue and Cllr Micheál Naughton, the current President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. 

FF HQ have also confirmed that three people have been nominated in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency, which covers parts of south Donegal. They are Keith Henry, recently elected Cllr. Edel McSharry and Cllr. Paul Taylor.

And while nominated to the selection convention, there is no guarantee that they will actually go ahead and allow their names to be placed on the party selection ballot.

Taoiseach Simon Harris says that he intends for his government to run full term into 2025, but there is huge speculation that an election will be called later this year, possibly November.

Fianna Fáil, who traditionally had a strong voice in the Dáil from Donegal, has just a single representative, Charlie McConologue, who is also the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Members of the party were told in advance of the selections:

“The National Constituencies Committee will consult with your CDC Officer Board on the candidate strategy for this constituency. 

“Shortly, a date will be set for the candidate selection convention and all voting members will again be written to and advised of the time, date and venue for the convention and the candidate strategy.  

“As a registered full voting member of Fianna Fáil in this General Election Constituency, you are entitled to nominate a candidate for convention. 

“For potential candidates to be duly nominated, they are required to receive nominations from one registered cumann, or from five full voting members. Vote-pending members may not nominate any person for the candidate selection convention.”