CLARE TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) has nailed his colours to the mast backing Jim Gavin to get the Fianna Fáil nomination for the Irish presidency.
Fianna Fáil looks set to have an internal contest to determine who will be the party’s nominee for the Presidential election. The Clare Echo has been in contact with the party’s two TDs in Clare to see who they will be backing in the contest.
Ireland South MEP, Billy Kelleher (FF) has contacted members of the parliamentary party seeking their support as he prepares to launch a run for the Arás.
Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers (FF) has confirmed six-time All-Ireland winning manager of the Dublin footballers, Jim Gavin whose parents both hail from Co Clare is seeking the party’s nomination.
Former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern (FF) has not ruled out a Presidential bid and has expressed disappointment with the party leadership for not answering his questions over the past six months on whether they would support his candidacy.
During Gavin’s term as Dublin manager they won a historic five in a row in 2019, seven Leinster SFC titles, five National Football Leagues while prior to this as U21 boss the Dubs won three All-Ireland and Leinster championships under his tenure As a player, he was wing-forward on the team that won the 1995 All-Ireland title while he also won three Leinster championships and one National League. In 2019, he was nominated for the Freedom of Dublin City by Dublin City Council. He chaired the FRC which have been praised with revolutionising the game of gaelic football with the introduction of new rules this season.
Jim’s late father Jimmy hailed from Cree and his mother Ann (neé Vaughan) was born in Moy. They moved to the capital not long after getting married when Ann was offered a teaching post there. Jimmy won a county championship with Cooraclare in 1964. The Gavin’s have strong family connections to Ballynacally also. His cousin is Sixmilebridge haulier, Eoin Gavin. The ex-Air Corp Commandant is current operations director for the Irish Aviation Authority.
An MEP since 2019, Kelleher has twice been elected to the European Union in Ireland South. A proven vote-getter, he was a TD from the Cork North-Central constituency from 1997 to 2019, during which time he was spokesperson on health and as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 2007 to 2011. He was a Senator from 1993 to 1997 as the Taoiseach’s nominee.
Ahern who was Taoiseach from 1997 to 2008 led three coalition governments and is the second-longest Taoiseach in the history of the State, after Eamon de Valera. He was Fianna Fáil leader from 1994 to 2008 and a TD from 1977 to 2011. He was also Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1986 to 1987, Tánaiste from November to December 1994, and Minister for Finance from 1991 to 1994. Bertie resigned as Taoiseach on 6 May 2008, in the wake of revelations made by the Mahon Tribunal over payments received from developers.
In a statement, Deputy Crowe confirmed he was backing Jim Gavin as the party’s nominee. “Jim Gavin has over many years and in many varied roles (military, GAA, community activism, aviation, government taskforces and chairman of the Citizens’ Assembly) shown great leadership skills. If he opts to seek a Fianna Fáil nomination to contest this autumn’s presidential election he’ll have my full and unequivocal backing”.
Crowe referenced Jim’s strong links to the county, “Although synonymous with Dublin, Jim very much has Banner blood flowing through his veins”. He added, “I have let Jim know that I am in his corner and sincerely hope that he will seek to be on the ballot paper for the Áras in a few months time. Jim would make an outstanding president”.
Junior Minister, Timmy Dooley (FF) told The Clare Echo, “I’ll await the process” to determine who he will support. The Mountshannon native is a close political ally of Kelleher.
Minister Chambers and Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless (FF) have publicly given their backing to Gavin.
