Deadlock in Connacht IFA election

The Connacht regional chair position is little closer to resolution, with no candidate in the field.

This follows John O’Beirne’s exclusion last week on the grounds that his part-time farmer status was in breach of the IFA’s constitution.

O’Beirne was the only valid candidate with the necessary two nominations by last Wednesday’s deadline.

His exclusion came later that evening, following an emergency meeting of the rules and privileges committee. It was decided to re-open nominations, with a new closing date of this Friday, 12 February, at 5.30pm.

O’Beirne had arranged to take a leave of absence from his job as a postman, but it had not commenced as of last Wednesday.

It will have begun by the time the Roscommon executive meet this Wednesday evening (10 February), so he is eligible now if re-nominated. It is expected that he will be supported by his executive, with anger in many quarters that he was denied by the arcane rule 75(b), which states that “a candidate for the office of president, deputy president or regional chairman shall be a full-time farmer by occupation”.

Fresh challenge

Meanwhile, in Galway, Tom Turley faces a fresh challenge for the nomination, with Pat Hardiman from Killimer expected to stand when the Galway executive meets, also on Wednesday evening.

The other three counties meet on Thursday. Padraic Joyce seems certain to again be nominated by Mayo.

Eddie Davitt is once again in the frame in Sligo. That leaves Leitrim, where Des McHugh, the vice chair, is likely to seek the nomination.

He was proposed at the last executive, but chair James Gallagher had already supported John O’Beirne’s candidacy.

If all this comes to pass, the province will have five nominated candidates, but none with the required second nomination. It’s understood the five chair met last Thursday, and again on Sunday at the Slaney protest, to discuss options, should this deadlock occur.

One possibility is that two candidates would be selected from the five by drawing lots.