Fine Gael are considering the addition of a second General Election candidate in Laois, following the upheaval in main opposition party Sinn Féin in recent days and the resignation of Brian Stanley.
Long-serving councillor Willie Aird is currently the only Fine Gael candidate in what will be the first election since 1982 that Charlie Flanagan’s name won’t be on the ballot paper.
Former Laois-Offaly TD Olwyn Enright is Fine Gael’s national Director of Elections and it’s understood she has been lobbied to add a second name.
Given Fine Gael’s relative increase in popularity since Simon Harris took over as Taoiseach, party members are clinging to the outside hope of a second seat, something that was only once achieved before by the party – in 1973 when Charlie McDonald was elected alongside Oliver J Flanagan.
That was the only time that Fine Gael returned three seats in Laois-Offaly in an election that saw Liam Cosgrave replace Jack Lynch as Taoiseach. Incidentally, the third Fine Gael TD elected on that occasion was Tom Enright, Olwyn’s father.
“They are trying to weigh it up in terms of gender quota nationally because there will be a few last-minute additions made,” said one well-placed local source.
“The issue has certainly been raised,” said another FG insider. “It wouldn’t be our decision locally, it would be party headquarters calling the shots.
“We’re working on the basis of one candidate at the moment and that is Willie Aird and we are 100% behind him. But if there is a change to that, we will be doing what headquarters tell us.”
Charlie Flanagan had no running mate in Laois in the 2020 General Election, nor did his Offaly-based colleague Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy, who ultimately lost her seat in the redrawn constituency.
When Laois was last a three-seat constituency on its own in 2016, Thomasina Connell was also on the ticket and polled over 4,200 first preferences without ever being in the running.
She was subsequently elected in Portlaoise in the 2019 Local Elections but lost her seat on the council this year. She hasn’t been active politically since and isn’t thought to be in contention now.
So if Fine Gael do add a second candidate, it is most likely to be the Borris-in-Ossory-based councillor Conor Bergin, who only withdrew at the last minute from Fine Gael’s selection convention in September in favour of Willie Aird. Stradbally-based councillor Vivienne Phelan retains an outside chance.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil are due to meet this Monday night in Portlaoise when they will select a local Director of Elections and “discuss preparations for the General Election”, according to a letter sent to members in recent days.
They are also likely to consider the addition of a second candidate to run alongside Minister Sean Fleming.
SEE ALSO – Brian Stanley accuses Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald of ‘abusing Dail privilege’
