Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD insists there’s broad acceptance of the party’s strategy for this county ahead of the next election.
Timmy Dooley will contest his Dáil seat once again, while Dr John Hillery from Spanish Point will be hoping to add a second seat for the party in Clare.
But a geographic split in the county meant that only half of the Fianna Fáil members in the county was able to have a say in who would represent them in the next election.
Fianna Fáil has now settled on its two candidates for the next General Election, against a backdrop of controversy surrounding its strategy in Clare.
Sitting TD Timmy Dooley will be joined on the ticket by John Hillery, after he defeated Rita McInerney in a vote amongst members from West and North Clare.
Dr Hillery, who’s the son of former President of Ireland Patrick Hillery, previously stood for the party in an unsuccessful Dáil bid in 2011.
Meelick Councillor Cathal Crowe withdrew his candidacy, expressing anger at that the split county strategy which would have pitted him against Deputy Dooley.
At last night’s meeting, members weren’t invited to give their views from the floor, but Councillor Crowe drew applause for some of the criticisms that he expressed in his speech.
And, at the end of the meeting a small number spoke out from the crowd, among them Ennis man Seamus O’Sullivan.
But the party’s most senior elected figure in the county insists the split is not as big as some suggest.
Deputy Timmy Dooley believes there is broad satisfaction in Clare with their approach.
