*Cllr Donna McGettigan. Photograph: John Mangan
SINN FÉIN has selected Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) as its candidate in Clare for the next General Election.
Controversy has clouded the selection convention after Ballyvaughan’s Noeleen Moran was not let forward as a candidate despite receiving the backing of the East Clare Cumann and North Clare Cumann.
Recent rule changes introduced in May meant Moran who contested the 2016 General Election polling 7.4 percent of the first preferences, required a second nomination from one of the party structures which she did not receive meaning that she could not be nominated for the convention.
Chairperson of the East Clare Cumann, Harry Duggan and Chairperson of the North Clare Cumann, Philip Fahy both contacted party leader Mary Lou McDonald (SF) appealing for an intervention to allow for a vote to be held but no response or acknowledgement has been issued by Mary Lou.
Thursday’s convention which was held in Cloughleigh heard no mention of the controversy and indeed there was no mention of Moran. Limerick TD, Maurice Quinlivan (SF) was joined at the top table by former TDs, Jonathan O’Brien and Martin Ferris with the trio issuing strong support for McGettigan.
When contacted by The Clare Echo, Cllr McGettigan said she would not comment until her selection had been formally ratified by party headquarters.
Co-opted onto Clare County Council following the death of Mike McKee, Donna took her seat in February 2020. She contested the 2019 local elections in the Ennis Municipal District where she received 277 first preference votes. She and her family moved to Shannon in the 1970s.
During her time on the local authority, Donna has become the first female Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District and has highlighted issues such as mental health, dental services, retained firefighters and issues on a local level in Shannon.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Noeleen admitted her disappointment with the process followed. “The issue is that a rule has been passed which has taken the decision making process away from the membership in the constituency which should be a cause for concern for all members”.
“This has to be played out, I’ve been a member of Sinn Féin for over twenty years so it will play out a bit longer but I’m waiting on a reply,” the Ennis based health activist said when asked if she saw a future for herself within the party. “All we can do is give them a chance to respond, it is a cause for concern, the rule was only introduced since May, I didn’t anticipate it would be used in this manner”.
This is the second time that Noeleen has been left frustrated by party headquarters in finalising their General Election ticket. She had been on the original ticket alongside the late McKee for the 2020 Election but because so long had passed from the time of her nomination, it became invalid and another selection convention was required. A twenty month wait to select a candidate was slammed at the time Moran. The party then placed Violet-Anne Wynne on the ticket instead, she was elected but has since left Sinn Féin following internal disputes.
Chair of the North Clare Cumann, Philip Fahy told The Clare Echo, “what has gone on has gone on. I haven’t much to say, the process has gone ahead and they have selected their candidate, I was hoping a convention would be contested but it wasn’t”.
Ennistymon man Philip added, “It is disappointing in that the membership nominated someone they deemed worthy of contesting the convention, the structures seem to have decided that she wasn’t I suppose so there isn’t a whole lot other than that, it is disappointing”.
With the cumann ignored by the party locally and nationally, Philip is unsure how active it will remain as a consequence of the decision not to have a contest. “We have had a good active cumann up until now. We’ve had commemorations for the War of Independence and other events, look at the support and the numbers turning up at those events to see how active we were. How active they will be now is up to each of them”.
When queried by The Clare Echo as to why a contest was not held and if Mary Lou McDonald would intervene, a spokesperson for Sinn Féin said, “All election candidates are selected in line with the agreed criteria and processes outlined in the party’s rules”.
