The results of the Industrial and Commercial panel election saw the end, at least for the moment, of Cork Fine Gael's Barry dynasty. Michael O'Regan reports.
Ms Deirdre Clune surprisingly failed to win a Seanad seat, following her defeat in Cork South Central in the general election. She must now decide if she remains active in the constituency and challenges Mr Dan Boyle, of the Green Party, who replaced her, at the next election.
Ms Clune is the daughter of Mr Peter Barry, a former deputy leader of the party and a senior minister, and the late Anthony Barry, who represented Cork in the Dáil in the 1950s and 60s.
Ms Clune launched a strong challenge for a seat and put the outgoing Fine Gael senator, Mr Paul Coghlan, under pressure. She had the backing of party headquarters. However, Mr Coghlan, an extremely active member of the upper House for the past five years, held on. Other outgoing senators, Mr Eddie Bohan and Ms Margaret Cox, both Fianna Fáil, retained their seats. Ms Cox, who failed to win a third seat for Fianna Fáil in Galway West in the general election, will continue to nurse the constituency with the aim of making it to the Dáil next time.
Mr Derek McDowell, who lost his Labour seat in Dublin North Central, was elected, as was Mr Marc MacSharry, son of the former Fianna Fáil minister, Mr Ray MacSharry. Fine Gael's Ms Sheila Terry won a seat. Outgoing Fine Gael senators Mr Ernie Caffrey and Ms Mary Jackman lost their seats.
Ms Mary White, from Dublin, a new Fianna Fáil candidate, polled impressively, despite not having a local authority base, and won a seat. Mr James Bannon, a Fine Gael councillor from Longford, took a seat, as did Mr Kieran Phelan, a Fianna Fáil councillor from Laois. There was no change in the division of the seats, with Fianna Fáil retaining its five, Fine Gael its three and Labour one.
