DONAGHY WON’T LINE OUT WITH FINE GAEL
FINE Gael’s attempts to find a GAA superstar running mate for Minister Brendan Griffin have suffered another setback with the news that Kieran Donaghy has rebuffed the party’s advances.
Though the competition is expected to be fierce in five-seat Kerry, Fine Gael remains confident that Griffin’s role as Sports and Tourism Minister will help him bring home a second seat for the party.
Key to the plan – which may already have been scuppered by the recent tourism sector VAT increase – is the recruitment of a big-name candidate to join Deputy Griffin on the ticket.
As was the case with Jimmy Deenihan, Fine Gael believe a major GAA name would be the ideal candidate to put before the electorate.
Having unsuccessfully tried to recruit Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper – whose late father Mike was the party chairman in Killarney– for a tilt at the Dáil, the party turned its attention to another Kerry legend.
Minister Griffin is understood to have personally approached recently retired Tralee GAA icon Kieran Donaghy to sound the Austin Stack’s man out about joining him as a running mate when the next General Election takes place.
Mr Donaghy – who previously worked with Ulster Bank and who is now Business Development Manager with leading artificial pitch company PST Sport – declined the offer in order to focus on his business interests.
The three-time ‘All Star’ and four-time All-Ireland winner is understood to have given the offer serious consideration but ultimately decided against a move into politics.
His decision not to run has left Fine Gael with something of a selection headache with a General Election looming on the horizon.
Kerry Fine Gael Councillors Bobby O’Connell, Mike Kennelly and Jim Finucane would now appear to be the most likely contenders to be added to the ticket by party headquarters. However – given their interest in celebrity candidates – the party may still seek out another well-known name to join the Minister on the hustings.