1997: FF 41.81%; FG 18.87%; Lab 5.48%; SF 8.11%; Others 25.73%. Outgoing TDs: Jim McDaid and Cecilia Keaveney(FF); Harry Blaney (Ind)
Can Niall Blaney, son of outgoing Independent TD Harry Blaney, fend off the Fine Gael challenge for the family seat? To do so, he will need to repeat his father's 7,500 first preference total last time. The bad feeling left by internal FG divisions following the shock defeat in 1997 of long-serving FG TD Paddy Harte, could still impact on the first-preference vote of candidates Sean Maloney and the Inishowen-based Bernard McGuinness. Expected to be the lead FG challenger, Maloney, a former Labour senator, must poll over 6,000 first preferences to have any serious hope. FF Minister of Sport Jim McDaid, and another Inishowen-based candidate, outgoing TD Cecilia Keaveney, should be safe - particularly given the Lottery largesse spread around the county recently by McDaid.