She's Back!

[Inishowen]

Front page headline on todays Inishowen Independent:

She's Back!

Inishowen has regained representation in the Oireachtas all be it through the back door - but Cecilias comments about her own electorate are a bit barbed:

'I know somthing of the unfairness of life in politics.The people of Donegal North East didn't return me to the Dáil, but I feel vindicated that my party colleagues - TDs, senators and councillors - have stood by me and returned me to the Seanad'

Later she adds:
'I would certainly have been appointed as a Minister of State had I been returned to the Dail'

Perhaps this attitude is one of the reasons why she lost so many votes in Inishowen at the last election? A bit of humble pie wouldn't go amiss.

[kerrynorth]

'the people have spoken - the bastards' (quote from a failed republican govenorship candidate, the words Celia was searching for I think).

[padraig]

Who ?

[nawbut]

Though not a Fianna Fail supporter I feel you are being unfair to Keavney here. When she lost her seat - amid the vanity-driven turmoil excited by McDaid, and in which she had no part - it was as if it almost happened by accident. Donegal North East lost its most able representative while two Fianna Fail lightweights were returned with an unknown quantity in FG's McHugh.

She could be a touch more graceful in her victory, I'll grant you (but she is FF, after all ).

[caminoed]

i think you are being unfair. she is definitely one of the more articulate and fair minded and able of the ff party.

[qtman]

Though not a Fianna Fail supporter I feel you are being unfair to Keavney here. When she lost her seat - amid the vanity-driven turmoil excited by McDaid, and in which she had no part - it was as if it almost happened by accident. Donegal North East lost its most able representative while two Fianna Fail lightweights were returned with an unknown quantity in FG's McHugh.

She could be a touch more graceful in her victory, I'll grant you (but she is FF, after all ).

In fairness, her election in 1997 and 2002 was due to the fact that FF in the southern part of the constituency agreed to a vote management strategy that allowed her take No. 1s that she wouldn't normally have got.

That wasn't possible this time (because of Blaney) so she had to fight her own corner, and lost.

[Inishowen]

Though not a Fianna Fail supporter I feel you are being unfair to Keavney here. When she lost her seat - amid the vanity-driven turmoil excited by McDaid, and in which she had no part - it was as if it almost happened by accident. Donegal North East lost its most able representative while two Fianna Fail lightweights were returned with an unknown quantity in FG's McHugh.

She could be a touch more graceful in her victory, I'll grant you (but she is FF, after all ).

In fairness it wasn't all down to herself. The FF organisation in Inishowen are also hugely to blame. THey thought they had the 'safest seat in the country' and so they didn't come out for her whereas Blaneys people came out and worked like Mary O'Rourkes friends. However, as a sitting TD she must bear a lot of the blame for letting her organisation get into such a poor state.

And I agree with Caminoed that she is articulate, fair minded and able, but a dose of humility is definitely needed. Perhaps it will be the making of her as a politician and she will use her years in the seanad to get herself into a good position for the next election.