By PATSY McARDLE
On the eve of polling tomorrow (Friday) in Cavan/Monaghan Constituency the demographics of the candidates taking the field in this week’s General Election have created an unusual anomaly for some pundits regarding future political representation across Co. Monaghan.
This emerges from the general acceptance by many observers that of the fifteen candidates registered, there are only seven or eight real contenders for the four seats in the 32nd Dail.
These are Sinn Fein’s Caoimhghin O Caolain, who is expected to head the poll, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, whose outgoing Ministerial status, along with her being the only Fine Gael candidate in the county gives her an advantage, with Brendan Smith likely to claim the highest first preferences for Fianna Fail, over the two other popular candidates, Mike Durkan or Niamh Smyth.
It is expected the fourth seat will be hotly contested by Independent Sean Conlan, Sinn Fein’s Kathryn Reilly, and Fine Gael’s Joe O’ Reilly, with all the remaining candidates also battling to reach the final shake up!.It has been suggested that as Fianna Fail’s Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth, and the second Sinn Fein candidate Kathryn Reilly, along with Fine Gael’s Joe O’Reilly, are all from the Cavan end of the constituency, and the two Co. Monaghan-based ‘certainties,’ Sinn Fein’s Caoimhghin O’Caolain and Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys reside to the north of the county, and they are likely, as was the position for the past five years, to have their working offices located in Monaghan town, it presents the situation where Mid-Monaghan-based Independent candidate Sean Conlan—who it has been suggested is in real danger of losing his seat—is the only representative running in the election south of Monaghan town!. Should it occur, as some national media pundits have suggested, that Conlan may fail to secure re-election, there will be no TD from Monaghan town to the Louth/ Meath border—providing a geographical distance of almost 30 miles devoid of residential TD representation over Mid and South Monaghan!.
Perhaps this is something that the main parties could consider in selection processes for future …