Fianna Fail announced its Galway candidates for the elections for the new Udaras na Gaeltachta board yesterday. An MRBI poll for Raidio na Gaeltachta shows strong support for Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats.

Speaking at the event in the Connamara village of Na Forbacha, Udaras na Gaeltachta's headquarters, Mr Eamon O Cuiv, the Minister of State for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, stressed, however, that the MRBI poll was still only a poll.

The elections as na Gaeltachta, which is in charge of economic and social development in the Gaeltacht areas, are to will be held on Saturday. The board will have 17 elected members, two appointed members and an appointed chairman. It will be in charge of spending up to £150 million over the next five years.

The MRBI poll for the Connamara Gaeltacht showed strong support for the Coalition parties, predicting that Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats would win four of the six Galway seats. Poll results for the Kerry and Donegal Gaeltachts will be published today and tomorrow.

"The most remarkable result in the poll is that there is a clear gap between the six candidates at the top and the other candidates," said Mr Sean O Cuirreain, a broadcaster with RnaG.

These six candidates are Sean O Neachtain (FF) with 23 per cent; Pol O Foighil (FG) with 17 per cent; Sean O Tuairisg (FF) with 11 per cent (all from the Cois Fharraige area); Sean Creaven, from Mionlach (PD) with 10 per cent; Seosamh O Cuaig, an independent candidate from the Iorras Aithneach area, with 10 per cent; and Connie Ni Fhatharta from Carraroe, with 8 per cent. Among the other candidates is Tomas O Curraoin, a Republican Sinn Fein member from Bearna who, according to the poll, would get 4 per cent of the votes.

The poll predicts that 46 per cent of the 29,072 electorate in the constituency will vote. In Donegal the race is between David Alcorn (FF), Padraig de Dochartaigh (FG), Padraig O Ceallaigh (Ind FF), Seamus Mac Briartaigh (FF), Seamus Mac Ruairi (Labour) and Brian O Domhnaill, the youngest candidate, whose main aim is to give young people from the Gaeltacht a voice on the board. The Donegal Gaeltacht has four seats on the board.

In Kerry three out of four candidates are called Mac Gearailt. Breandan Mac Gearailt (FF), Tommy (Jim) Mac Gearailt (FF) and Seamas Cosai Mac Gearailt (FG) compete with Diarmaid O Se (FF) to win one of the two seats. In Cork, Micheal O Scannaill (FG) and Seamus O Muimhneachain are contending for one seat.

Tadhg O Cuinn (FF), Ian Mac Aindriu (FG), Sean O Gallchobhair (FF) and Father Padraig Standun (independent) are competing for the two Mayo seats.

For the first time, the Waterford Gaeltacht of An Rinn and the Meath Gaeltacht of Rath Cairn will have a seat each.