Fianna Fail members in Co Carlow are a somewhat disgruntled lot these days. With the double defeat of M. J. Nolan in the general and Seanad elections this summer, Carlow finds itself in the unique position of being the only county in the Republic without Fianna Fail representation in the Oireachtas.
Local party activists place much of the blame for the situation at the door of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, for not including Mr Nolan among his 11 nominees to the Seanad.
To show their displeasure, resignations have ensued. Donie Nolan resigned as chairman of the Fianna Fail Comhairle Dail Ceanntair. Bagenalstown Town Commissioner Paddy Kiely went even further and left the party. Mr Ahern's decision not to nominate M. J. Nolan as a Taoiseach's nominee to the Seanad is being viewed as a snub to the county and its Fianna Fail members. So incensed are some that "industrial action" has been suggested to highlight the depth of feelings to party headquarters.
There is talk of not canvassing in the presidential election, not registering cumainn and not sending delegates to ard fheiseanna, and although members will participate in the party's annual collection, the money may be held at home.
In the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency there are six members of the Houses of the Oireachtas - Fianna Fail's Liam Aylward and John McGuinness, both Kilkenny-based; Fine Gael's Phil Hogan and John Browne; the Ceann Comhairle, Seamus Pattison, and Mr Ahern's named Senator, Jim Gibbons Jnr of the Progressive Democrats. While Mr Gibbons lives in Carlow town, he is originally from Kilkenny and a son of former Fianna Fail Minister for Agriculture Jim Gibbons Snr.