Many Cork FG members give McGuinness their backing for presidential run

With Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly ruling himself out of the running, the path looks to have been made even clearer for former MEP Mairead McGuinness to become the Fine Gael candidate for the upcoming presidential election.

Speaking to The Echo, the overwhelming mood among Cork Fine Gael TDs and councillors ahead of the upcoming presidential election is optimistic, regarding a strong candidate for the political party emerging.

Cork North Central Fine Gael TD Colm Burke said he believed Ms McGuinness would be a positive choice: “I do think that she is a strong candidate and I do think that she will have the full support of the entire parliamentary party and the entire organisation. That is because she has made a huge contribution over a long number of years.

“She would have a major contribution to make, in the sense that she has huge European experience, as well as Irish experience. As we go into a changing world, where we will need that support of other countries with conflict around Europe. I think she would be a very good president.”

Speaking to The Echo, Carrigaline-based Fine Gael Cork county councillor Úna McCarthy also gave her seal of approval to Ms McGuinness being the party’s candidate: 

“If she does go forward, there is no doubt that she is a very impressive candidate. She has very impressive credentials, from financial oversight in Europe to political experience. Overall, she is a very confident and capable candidate, if she does decide to put her name forward.”

Macroom-based Cork county councillor Ted Lucey added: “My own thoughts are that Mairead McGuinness would be a good candidate and she would put up a very strong fight to win it. I think anyone that would beat her would be a very strong candidate, but I think she would have an excellent chance.”

Cork city Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan agreed that the former MEP would be a good candidate for the party.

“I have no doubt that if she runs, she will be the one to beat, from every other candidate’s point of view,” he said.