Parlon refuses to rule out comeback
FINE Gael's ambitions to secure an additional seat in Laois/Offaly have been dealt a blow with the shock announcement by Deputy Olwyn Enright that she won't be contesting the next General Election due to personal circumstances.
Already there is heated speculation on who will succeed Deputy Enright, with former PD minister Tom Parlon not ruling himself out when contacted by the Offaly Express on Tuesday. Speaking on holidays as he was about to visit Graceland, the former estate of Elvis Presley, he left the way open for a famous comeback similar to those enjoyed by the King himself.
Having just left Nashville, the former IFA President quoted Jerry Lee Lewis's - "Goodness, gracious great balls of fire," when responding to Deputy Enright's shock announcement.
"Her news came as quite a shock to me," Mr Parlon said. He added that he hadn't much time to digest the news but significantly didn't rule out another tilt at politics. "I will have to think about it when I get back," he said.
The bombshell announcement by Deputy Enright came on Monday, with the Laois/Offaly TD who has one ten month old son, and another baby due in December, stating it was proving too difficult to have a normal family life, particularly as her husband, Joe McHugh, is a sitting TD in Donegal North East.
Already a number of candidates have emerged in Offaly with millennium man, Cllr Brian Whelahan touted as potential front-runner.
The only modern day hurler to make the 'team of the millennium', the former Offaly hurling star currently coaches Camross in Laois. He secured a seat on Birr Town Council but failed to win a seat on Offaly Co Council in last year's local elections.
Other potential candidates from the Birr area could include one of the Hanniffy brothers, relations of Deputy Enright who enjoy high profiles due to their respective hurling prowess, while in north Offaly, Cllrs Nichola Hogan and Liam Quinn - both newly elected members of Offaly County Council - are seen as potential general election candidates. Cllr Molly Buckley who was a candidate in the last General Election could also run again.
In Laois, Cllr James Daly and Willie Aird have both expressed their interest in contesting the general election along with sitting TD, and party front bench spokesperson, Charlie Flanagan. Party member Paddy Buggy was the first candidate in Laois to announce that he would be seeking the party nomination.
A high-profile candidate in the constituency who could be courted by Fine Gael is another former IFA President, Padraig Walshe. A further potential dark horse could be current Macra President, Michael Gowing - a Portlaoise native now living in Shinrone - who has less than a year left in his term of office.
In an interview earlier this summer, Mr Gowing wouldn't be drawn on a potential future in politics. "I am the current Macra President and it would be very foolish and incorrect of me to talk about the future," he said. He added that whatever role he may enjoy in the future, it would involve lobbying on behalf of the farming community.
Fine Gael party members have consistently stated that the party should be aiming for three seats in the five seat constituency if it is serious about its plans to form the next government.
The last time Fine Gael won three seats in Laois/Offaly was when Charlie McDonald won a seat in 1973 along with Oliver J. Flanagan and Tom Enright, fathers of the current party TDs in the constituency.
Deputy Flanagan said that his colleague will be sadly missed when she leaves electoral politics at the next General Election.
"Olwyn will be a big loss in the constituency and in the Dil. I wish her great happiness and success in the next phase of her life and career," he said.
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