Deane denies Bryan holds big lead in IFA race
COUNTED: Carmel and Maureen Rogers (right) cast their votes in Moynalty, Co Meath.
Tuesday December 15 2009
Derek Deane has strongly challenged the view that John Bryan holds a commanding lead in the IFA presidential race.
With the election battle coming to a close this week, Mr Deane claimed he was "quietly confident" of becoming the next president of the association.
He said the assertion was based on the support he was receiving across the country.
Limerick candidate Richard Kennedy has also insisted that he was "going well" and he maintained that he was still very much in the race.
However, independent observers maintain that the bookies favourite, Mr Bryan, remains firmly on course to assume the leadership by a comfortable margin.
"Not so," said Derek Deane. He said his position had strengthened considerably over the past fortnight.
"On average, I am getting 50-50 of the branches with John Bryan, and I have been picking up support in nearly all counties. I am confident that the count will show that," Mr Deane claimed.
The award-winning Carlow beef producer, who confounded his critics in the outcome of the election for IFA deputy president four years ago, insisted that that performance can be repeated.
"Except for Kerry and Limerick, I have done well in Munster, and I am also strong in Wexford, Wicklow, Kildare, Dublin, Laois, and Offaly and will do well in Galway and Mayo," he added.
The final votes in the election will be cast tomorrow, concluding the ballot by the IFA's 947 branches. A near-record turnout is expected to be declared when the votes are counted next Monday.
Three candidates are contesting the election, John Bryan, form Inistioge in Co Kilkenny, Derek Deane, from Hacketstown, and Richard Kennedy, from Ballybrown, Co Limerick.
Mr Bryan has led a very strong campaign and is expected to deliver a weighted result of 135 votes from his own home base in Kilkenny.
This equates to the anticipated combined weighted votes from Carlow, Wicklow, Kildare and Dublin.
Although Mr Bryan believes he will be elected with a "comfortable lead", he is dismissive of suggestions that he may achieve an overall majority on the first count.
"There has been no let up in the campaign and that will continue until the final vote is cast on Wednesday night. I am taking no chances," he said.
"It has been a tough campaign that has been hard fought," Mr Bryan added.
Mr Kennedy has struggled to overcome the handicap of being a late entry into the race. The IFA national dairy committee chairman didn't launch his campaign until September, and many of the association's key players at local level had already committed to one of the other two by that stage.
However, he maintained that his campaign had gone very well over the last three months and that he had received a very positive reception on the canvas.
"If we get all the votes we are promised then it will be a good day for us," Mr Kennedy said.
"I have been overwhelmed by the support which I have received around the country, and humbled by the effort which my supporters have put in," Mr Kennedy added.
Meanwhile, the head-to-head contest for the IFA deputy presidency, between Eddie Downey and Sean O'Leary, remains too tight to call.
- Martin Ryan
Irish Independent
