Defeat could spell end for Libertas party
Libertas leader Declan Ganley arrives at the North West count centre in Castlebar, Co Mayo, yesterday with his wife Delia and daughter Rafaella
Monday June 08 2009
THE North West constituency is big enough to fit 800,000 people -- but it has always been about one man.
That is Libertas leader Declan Ganley, who has been telling anyone that will listen that he will cause another Lisbon Treaty referendum-style upset. He was in very confident mood early yesterday in the count centre in Castlebar, declaring that he would "definitely" win a seat.
He was accompanied at various stages by his wife, Delia, his brother, Sean, and John Brown, the brother and campaign manager of former MEP Dana Rosemary Scallon.
But by evening, Mr Ganley was questioning some of the count-centre officials about the counting of ballots. He had also modified his prediction of success to one of being "quietly confident" of winning a seat.
The stakes are incredibly high for him, given that defeat in the constituency could spell the end of his fledgling Libertas political movement. He has promised to give up the leadership of the party if he loses, and Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins has responded by saying he will hold him to that promise.
Mr Higgins himself was in ebullient form at the count centre in the TF Royal Hotel, due to tallies which showed that he was on course to hold on to the seat he won for the first time in 2004.
He sneaked up behind independent MEP Marian Harkin while she was examining the tallies on a laptop -- and planted a kiss on her cheek. "It's just because you like the look of the figures," she told him.
"You always had a good figure," he replied, prompting a few groans from supporters.
During the campaign, Mr Higgins carried out several "illegal incursions" into the territory of running mate Senator Joe O'Reilly, who failed to take a second seat. But his party believe Mr O'Reilly is a "shoo- in" for a Dail seat in Cavan-Monaghan at the next general election.
Disillusioned
But it was a terrific performance by Ms Harkin, who benefited from a strong track record and the strong rise in support nationally for independents. She may also have got votes from many Fianna Fail supporters now disillusioned with their party.
Fianna Fail's Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher spent much of yesterday in his native Donegal, consoling the local candidates who had not been elected. But he was confident of winning his own battle after being told by his party's tallymen that he will getting around 50pc of the transfers from running mate, Paschal Mooney.
The elimination of Padraig MacLochlainn will be disappointing for Sinn Fein, but he does have the consolation of holding on to his seats in Buncrana Town Council and Donegal County Council. Labour's committed candidate Susan O'Keeffe will also be among those eliminated early on.
The focus today will be on the fate of Mr Ganley. His opponents were last night beginning to write his political obituary while his campaign team was still talking up his chances. Today we'll find out who was right.
- Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
