We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Updated 6.05pm
FIANNA FÁIL COUNCILLOR Kate Feeney has declared her intention to seek the party’s nomination to run for the Dáil in Dún Laoghaire, resuming her rivalry with former minister Mary Hanafin.
In a resumption of what has become known as the ‘Battle of Blackrock’, the first-time councillor said today that she would be contesting the Fianna Fáil selection convention which is due to take place before the end of next month.
Feeney and Hanafin fought a high-profile battle for council seats in last year’s local elections. After Fianna Fáil botched the nominating process, Hanafin ended up running as an ‘unofficial’ party candidate alongside Feeney.
Both were elected to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for the Blackrock ward and will now both be seeking the Fianna Fáil nomination to run in the general election in the south Dublin constituency.
Dún Laoghaire-based councillor Cormac Devlin, who has the backing of party grandee Mary O’Rourke, is also set to contest.
TheJournal Politics / TwitterCouncillor Kate Feeney will seek Fianna Fáil GE nomination in Dún Laoghaire, setting up battle with Mary Hanafin pic.twitter.com/7UhkGbrMig
— TheJournal Politics (@TJ_Politics) April 9, 2015
In a statement today, Feeney said she had made her decision after encouragement from party members.
“The General Election in 2016 will not be an easy one for Fianna Fáil, but with the right candidate I believe Fianna Fáil can regain a seat in Dún Laoghaire. I feel I have the capability to be that candidate because of the energy and vibrancy I will bring to the campaign.”
She later told TheJournal.ie that she believes it’s time for Fianna Fáil to give young candidates a chance.
“A lot of people are saying there hasn’t really been any change. There has been change in the party and we need to start showing that. We have a strong base of young candidates coming forward. I think it’s time they are given a chance.”
Earlier this week, Hanafin announced that she would not be contesting for the vice presidency of Fianna Fáil at the party’s Ard Fheis later this month. The former education minister said she wants to concentrate on winning the nomination in Dún Laoghaire.
Both the Hanafin and Feeney camps believe that a one candidate strategy represents the best chance for Fianna Fáil to win back a Dáil seat in the constituency.
Dún Laoghaire is currently set to be a three-seater at the next election on the assumption that current Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett is automatically re-elected if he does not decide to retire or step down and run for re-election, as has been mooted.
Barrett’s fellow Fine Gael TD Mary Mitchell-O’Connor is considered a certainty to be re-elected. The eventual Fianna Fáil candidate is set to battle it out with ex-Labour leader Eamon Gilmore and People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd-Barrett for the other two seats.
Feeney said that while there has been “a lot of talk about what Fianna Fáil headquarters will do” the choice of candidate in Dún Laoghaire will be up to party members in the constituency.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil’s leader on Dublin City Council, Paul McAuliffe, has called on potential party candidates to “end the blood sport and get on with winning seats”.
“Members of the party in Dublin are sick of seeing potential candidates slogging it out in national newspapers. Leaks and counter leaks are feeding a narrative that personalities are more important than policy,” he told this website.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Hanifin was party to wrecking this country. . And she is also a very arrogant woman..get lost Mary
Mary Hanafin should just go away.
She hasn’t got enough pensions yet.
Mary looking for a tenth pension
No, she misses the nightly entertainment, dressing up for RTE- to lie, ad lib, on camera, and to defend the indefensible.
Mary Hannifan or as auto correct suggests Mary Hannibal
Let’s hope for neither
2 Kevin, we really need another few years of Mary Han a fan like a hole in the head (another teacher)
Ex politicians like Mary Hanafin must be delusional. They must be surround by friends and family in a bubble telling her she is “great” and would be great for the country again!! You can just picture it. She should just retire from ruining this country……
Bring on the next generation….
Fianna Fail sent then away
Ms Feeney should give me a call, I have numerous tips on how to get elected and commit massive fraud whilst an elected representative. All the while people will still like you because you’re a loveable rogue
Too late for the out with the old and in with the new. Defunct either way.
I’d like to put feeneys manifesto to the testo
Is there mud involved? .
In Michael Martins eye.
I think we’ll all remember where we were when we didn’t give a shit
Crony vs Crony,in this battle,only one crony can win,let’s get ready to ruuuumble!
Isn’t it the same with all political party conventions?Feeneys mother was given a handy senator seat and kate’s only living in dublin a few years(lived in sligo and college in galway) yet FF are dying to give her a handy seat(through her FF links). Whatever you say about Hanafin she lived and represented the constituency for decades.
Why doesn’t Cllr Feeney spend some real time serving the people of Blackrock on Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council rather than running for Dail Eireann immediately after becoming a county councillor for the first time?
Cllr Feeney has no record of accomplishment on behalf of the voters of Blackrock within Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown yet, but still she wants to be handed a Dail seat almost by right (or should that be, for reasons of political-correctness)?
I would prefer Fianna Fail to select somebody for my constituency who is a proven leader and has some real intellectual umph and a true understanding of the heritage and traditions of the Fianna Fail party. On that score, Cllr Cormac Devlin and Cllr Mary Hanafin would be miles ahead of Ms Feeney.
cause she looks good on the poster
Sinn fein should run slab murphy for blackrock v blackrock he would stand a better chance than fianna fail
Haaaa I was with Kate years ago, didn’t even know she got into politics
Yawn
If FG retain the 2 seats i would be surprised in Richard and Gilmore lose seats dispite being former Labour leader
Labour’s vote held up well in the 2014 Local elections however I would agree that Gilmore is in danger. I would be surprised if he ran again. Either way I think Labour will fall short of a seat and provide enough transfers for Fine Gael to bring in a second seat. As much as we don’t like to admit it, this is prime FG territory.
Running Maria Bailey from Killiney-Shankill is an obvious choice. Balances the ticket between herself and Mary Mitchell O’Connor up in the Dun Laoghaire/Blackrock areas. This also eats into Labour’s K-S heartland and should provide enough transfers for Bailey to take a seat.
Boyd Barrett should hold his seat, unless a celebrity independent sweeps in.
Likely outcomes in a 3-seater:
2 FG, 1 PBP
1 FG, 1 Labour, 1 PBP
2 FG, 1 Independent
1 FG, 1 Labour, 1 Independent
Only chance for Fianna Fáil is if Sean Barrett retires. Then it goes to four seats and Hanafin probably wins the fourth seat. I shudder at the thought.
I think FG will do whatever to hold onto Sean Barrett at least for a year or so into the first term on the next Government. They shouldn’t take the unnecessary risk by losing a seat when it could be very important.
I’ve voted FG in the last few elections but couldn’t bring myself to vote for Bailey or her father
mad Ba$%£d James
@121 for voting FG or not voting for Bailey ?
Get lost Hanafin you are a parasite
Poor things haven’t a hope
To the death, one hopes.
Ff the destroyers of our country there delusional like fg and labour
Hanafin or Feeney makes no difference same crap Fianna Fail .
Hannifin has to be one of Ireland’s most hated and reprehensible people. Universally disliked outside her constituency. A proper c nt in my opinion.
I wouldn’t be a fan of either candidates but at least Mary H has represented her constituency locally. Same can’t be said for Feeney.
She’s neither from the locality (west of Ireland originally) nor has she represented the locality. She has used a seat on the local council, which she’s held for less than one year, as a platform to her gravy train in Leinster House.
Local council should be exclusively for local people who genuinely care about their locality. Hope neither of them get elected!
How exciting.
I’d give feeney one, but I don’t mean a vote.
Think Kate Feeney should quit the Sallyer Hansen and try out a few other brands of fake tan while she battles it out there
a turd cut in two
feeney has it on looks!
2 gimps plus they and fg will be relected in dunlaoire even if they burned their voters children they woukd still vote them in!!!westbrit infested arseholes and im from there..
Jeasus that Hanafin one has some neck!
Not one vote.
Right, so why was my comment deleted this time?
Is the mud wrestling thing on….???…beats democracy any time!!!
Her tiny little hand is freaking me out.
She just wants to have another spin on the gravy train.
Mary wants to get her snout back in the trough.This creature was in the crew that destroyed this countrys future.Keep this biddy out!
Who really cares?
Both women favor the water tax and water metering. Don’t waste your vote on them.
Fair play to the process the two battling it out … Never know both may do it again. Time we all moved on
Mary for the World Cup
have your say