Cork TD James O’Connor backs MEP Billy Kelleher’s bid for Fianna Fáil presidential nomination

Cork East TD James O’Connor has declared his support for Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher’s underdog campaign to secure the Fianna Fáil nomination for next month’s presidential election.

Mr O’Connor’s support, announced just before the party’s deadline for nominations, gave Mr Kelleher one vote more than he needed for the threshold of five endorsements.

Mr O’Connor joins TDs Pádraig O’Sullivan and Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, senator Paul Daly, and MEP Barry Andrews in publicly supporting Mr Kelleher.

Fianna Fáil’s 71 parliamentary party members will decide on Tuesday between Mr Kelleher and former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin, who has been endorsed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and currently has 31 declared votes.

To win, 36 votes are needed, and 34 are still undeclared.

Mr O’Connor told The Echo that Mr Kelleher had broad, if undeclared, support across the parliamentary party.

“As a Cork man, as a Fianna Fáil TD, I am very proud to support one of our own in Billy Kelleher,” said Mr O’Connor.

Mr Kelleher, meanwhile, said he would be engaging with party colleagues ahead of the vote.

“The purpose of this is to ensure that we have an interrogation of the candidates, that we have an interrogation of ideas and values, and that we put forward a candidate that actually reflects the Fianna Fail values that we want to take into the campaign.” 

Speaking to RTÉ’s Six One News, he said: “I think it’s important in a democratic party like Fianna Fail, that we do have a healthy debate.” 

Asked about whether he believes he will be successful, given that Mr Gavin had 31 public endorsements when only 36 is needed for a majority, Mr Kelleher said: “That’s the beauty about the process – in the sense that it is going to be a secret ballot.”

The MEP rejected claims that a vote for him would undermine Mr Martin’s leadership and added that he was unaware of Mr Gavin’s interest when he first approached the idea of running.

Asked if he would not have put himself forward if he had known about the leadership’s support for Mr Gavin, Mr Kelleher said: 

“I still believe that there should be a contest. I don’t believe in coronations.

“I think we have to get people into the ring. They have to be able to present and articulate their views, to express themselves.” 

Pressed on whether he was saying that Mr Gavin could not do that, he replied: “I can only speak for myself. I speak regularly. I engage with colleagues, I have been debating my entire life. I stand on my record.”

Meanwhile, former weather forecaster Joanna Donnelly and Riverdance star Michael Flatley announced they were no longer pursuing their bids for the office.

Mr Flatley said he had to put his family and health first, adding: “I feel I can better serve the Irish people by continuing my work promoting Ireland and Irish culture globally.” 

Ms Donnelly told supporters she came to understand she was “underprepared” for a tilt at the Áras, saying in a social media post: “I was naive to think I could meet the challenges of the campaign.”

To get on the ballot for the October 24 presidential election, candidates need the nominations of 20 Oireachtas members or four of Ireland’s 31 local authorities.

So far, Galway East left-wing Independent TD Catherine Connolly has secured sufficient Oireachtas nominations, while Fine Gael has declared former minister Heather Humphreys as its candidate.

The presidential election will be held on Friday October 24.