And there will be a Blaney name on the paper after all…

Any fears that there would not be a Blaney name on the ballot paper in Donegal North East for the first time in over 80 years were put to rest today when Dara Blaney handed in nomination papers and declared his intention to seek election in the constituency as an independent candidate.

A member of the new Vision Alliance, Dublin-based Mr. Blaney is the son of the late Neil T Blaney and his inclusion on the ballot paper does not comes a complete surprise with countless rumours over the past week that one of Neil T’s sons might well run.

With the Green party candidates also declared in both constituencies, Dessie Larkin confirming he will not stand and a number of independents indicating their intention to run in both Donegal North-East and Donegal South West, the number of declared candidates in the county now is as follows:

Donegal North East

Dara Blaney – Independent


Cllr Jimmy Harte – Labour

Betty Holmes – Independent


Cllr Charlie McConalogue – Fianna Fail


Cllr Ian McGarvey – Independent


Deputy Joe McHugh – Fine Gael


Cllr Padraig MacLochlainn – Sinn Fein

Humphrey Murphy – Green Party


Cllr John Ryan – Fine Gael


Dessie Shiels – Independent


Ryan Stewart – Independent

Donegal South West

Tanaiste Mary Coughlan – Fianna Fail


Deputy Pearse Doherty – Sinn Fein


John Duffy – Green Party


Cllr Frank McBrearty – Labour


Stephen McCahill – Independent


Deputy Dinny McGinley – Fine Gael


Senator Brian O’Domhnaill – Fianna Fail

Cllr Thomas Pringle – Independent

Ann Sweeney – Independent