Strong grassroots support key to FF's success

Fianna Fáil analysis Fianna Fáil had many extraordinary victories in Thursday's poll, but Margaret Conlon's in Cavan- Monaghan…

Fianna Fáil analysisFianna Fáil had many extraordinary victories in Thursday's poll, but Margaret Conlon's in Cavan- Monaghan is surely one of the finest. From Castleblayney in Monaghan, Conlon was added late to the ticket, following a lack of enthusiasm from other potential runners.

Nearly everyone else in the five-seater - turned into a four because of Ceann Comhairle Rory O'Hanlon's presence - campaigned on hospitals. Conlon, on the other hand, campaigned on everything else and she reaped a harvest from those more interested in childcare, transport and other issues.

Having received 9,303 first preferences, she secured heavy transfers from running mate Brendan Smyth and more than 2,000 from Independent Paudge Connolly.

Days on, Fianna Fáil has begun to write its own history of this election, where everything was brilliantly masterminded from Treasury Buildings.

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On Saturday, former Dublin North TD Jim Glennon spoke for more than a few in Fianna Fáil when he said that it was "a travesty" to say that the campaign was well-run.

One Treasury Buildings staffer yesterday joked: "There'll be more people claiming to be in here now than there were in the GPO."

There were triumphs orchestrated from the centre, some from Treasury, some dating back to when candidates were chosen by Brian Cowen's National Constituency Committee. Unlike Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil ran tight tickets in most places, eschewing for the most part the former's habit of opting for four-strong tickets.

Where it did run four-strong tickets, in Laois-Offaly and Galway West, it helped to create internal tensions that helped the party vote. In Louth, Fianna Fáil actually lost first-preference share but still brought Séamus Kirk home, narrowly ahead of Dermot Ahern.

In Meath East, Thomas Byrne from Mornington picked up nearly 8,000 votes and accumulated steady transfers to take the third seat ahead of Labour's Dominic Hannigan. The success in Meath East was mirrored elsewhere throughout the commuter-belt constituencies - where the Opposition had believed Fianna Fáil was vulnerable.

Despite Green Party candidate Deirdre de Búrca's challenge in Wicklow, she failed to take a seat, letting Fianna Fáil home with two - Minister for the Environment Dick Roche and Joe Behan.

In Meath West, Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey romped home with 12,006 first preferences, while Johnny Brady improved on his 2002 showing, with 8,868 first preferences. Again, Fianna Fáil's situation was helped by Fine Gael's decision to run two candidates alongside outgoing TD Damien English.

The results in the five-seat Wexford constituency were equally positive, particularly since one outgoing TD, Tony Dempsey, was not running.

The New Ross-based Seán Connick produced a sterling showing with 9,826 first preferences, and pulled nearly 1,000 transfers from Sinn Féin's John Dwyer when he went out.

In Kildare North, Áine Brady, who benefited from having an unsuccessful run-out in the 2005 byelection, came home on the first count with 11,245 votes.

Her running mate, Michael Fitzpatrick, who lives in Allenwood, Naas, was elected on the fifth count. Further south in Kildare, Seán Ó Fearghail and Minister of State for Health Seán Power were elected on the first count, helped perhaps by Fine Gael's decision to run two candidates, Alan Gillis and councillor Richard Daly.

In Tipperary, old-fashioned rivalries helped to bring out the vote, with councillor Mattie McGrath and Senator Martin Mansergh elected. The victory marks the first time since the constituency became a three-seater that Fianna Fáil has taken a second seat.

Fianna Fáil grassroots in Clare last year revolted after the party's National Constituency Committee decided to take command of deciding on the final ticket. Senator Timmy Dooley, who ran a well-funded campaign, topped the poll, coming in well ahead of Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Tony Killeen.

Before the election, Fianna Fáil was scathing of Fine Gael's decision to run four candidates, but it regained its second seat, at the expense of Independent James Breen.

In Donegal North East, the selection of candidates was long and bitter, resulting in a three-strong ticket of Cecilia Keaveney, Neil Blaney and Jim McDaid.

Though the highly regarded Keaveney came home ahead on first preferences of Blaney, she was eventually eliminated.