‘Fianna Fáil are refusing to give the people of Roscommon a choice’
As political tensions in Roscommon-Galway reached new heights, it was confirmed on Wednesday evening that Senator Eugene Murphy will not be added to Fianna Fáil’s General Election ticket.
The news came after weeks of speculation following Senator Murphy’s narrow defeat to Dr Martin Daly at the party convention. Dr Daly won by eight votes, with the final tally being 106 to 98.
In a brief interview with the Roscommon People before we went to press on Wednesday night, Senator Murphy said that Seán Dorgan, the General Secretary of Fianna Fáil, had confirmed the party’s decision to adopt a one-candidate strategy for the constituency. Murphy, clearly disappointed, remarked: “They cannot change the goalposts on this one. It’s a one-candidate strategy that they’ve confirmed to me”.
Murphy, who says he has been a loyal member of Fianna Fáil since the age of 15, expressed his dismay at the party’s decision, noting his long-standing service: “I supported Fianna Fáil since I was 15. I became a councillor at 24 and never lost my seat throughout the years”.
Murphy added that in 2016, during a difficult period for Fianna Fáil, he secured a Dáil seat when others were reluctant to even run for the party, before losing that seat in a shock defeat to Sinn Féin in 2020.
Clearly emotional during the interview, Murphy refused to comment on his future political plans, including the possibility of an independent run. He noted, however, that he is “bitterly disappointed and disheartened” by the decision. He emphasised that his family and supporters deserve time to digest the news before any decisions are made: “I will be consulting with my family, my campaign team, and my supporters before determining my next steps”.
Despite his disappointment, Senator Murphy acknowledged that there are bigger challenges facing others and sought to downplay the personal impact of the decision: “It’s not the end of the world, and there are far more serious problems that other people have. This shouldn’t be all about Eugene Murphy.
“I’m more concerned for the people of Roscommon and the party I have supported for my whole life for leaving them without a choice in the upcoming election”.
Stating that the one-candidate strategy leaves a significant portion of the constituency unrepresented without the choice to vote for a home-grown candidate, Murphy said: “Fianna Fáil are refusing to give the people of Roscommon a choice. With a population of over 70,000 people, they’re being left without a candidate from one end of the county to the other”.
Stating that he believed this was a “very poor decision by the party”, Murphy expressed his deep gratitude to those who have supported him over the years, particularly local clubs and community groups. He gave special thanks to the GAA clubs, which he said he has a lifelong allegiance to: “I don’t think anyone can question my allegiance to the Primrose and Gold. It’s a jersey I have worn in many ways and will continue to do so”.
As the political landscape in Roscommon-Galway shifts, Murphy’s next move will undoubtedly be watched closely.
