THERE hasn't been a Sinn Féin TD in Donegal for 84 years. Peader O'Donnell was the last back in 1923. However, twenty-nine -years old Councillor Pearse Doherty feels he is well poised to break the political mould in Donegal South West.
A civil engineer technician, Councillor Doherty burst onto the national stage when he came within a whisker of being elected to the European Parliament in 2004, the same year he was elected to Donegal County Council. Now he stands on the verge of making history and is convinced the mood is for change in the constituency.
Speaking to the Donegal News in Gweedore on Monday, Councillor Doherty, said it was time for a 'new type of politics'.
"I've no doubt there is a strong mood for change in this election. I've been on the doorsteps since January and people want to see Sinn Féin represent them in the Dail after this election. It looks like the two sitting Fianna Fail TDs are going to be returned and the polls show we are ahead for the third seat. However, we're not being complacent, we know we have to convince about 9,500 people to give us their vote, but based on the response on the doorsteps people are prepared to vote for Sinn Féin in this election," he said.
Councillor Doherty polled 2,696 or just over 7.5 per cent of the first preference votes in the last general election. His running mate Tom Dignam got 1,133 first preferences. However, with some polls putting the Sinn Féin vote at around 19 per cent in this election Councilllor Doherty is convinced the party will take a seat.
So where are the votes coming from?
"They're coming from people who want change. They have seen the work that Sinn Féin has done with the peace process and the new devolved institutions and the work on the ground locally where we have four county councillors, town councillors and an Údaras na Gaeltachta board member. They have seen a new type of politics that is working hard, day in day out, rather than just seeing an organisation at election time," he said.
"People are breaking away from the old traditional-established parties like Fine Gael and Fianna Fail because they're looking at the problems that exist and if they continue to vote for them we will continue to have more of the same for the next twenty years. Sinn Féin is a breath of fresh air," he added.
A recent opinion poll commissioned by Raidio na Gaeltachta found that Minister Mary Coughlan will comfortably top the poll. According to that poll, her Fianna Fáil colleague Pat the Cope Gallagher was expected to secure the second seat aided by her transfers with the third being an extremely close contest between Councillor Doherty and Fine Gael Deputy Dinny McGinley.
The poll showed that Councillor Pearse Doherty polling much better in each of the electoral areas than Deputy McGinley except by a narrow margin of just one per cent in Glenties, their home bases. It is interesting to note that Cllr Doherty polls almost double the first preference votes in the Stranorlar Electoral Area than Deputy McGinley which could be as a result of the ongoing Harte fall out and the fact that Sinn Féin have Councillor Tony McDaid in the area.
On the key issue of second preferences the poll makes interesting reading. One in two of Coughlan's votes would fall back to Pat the Cope Gallagher with Cllr Doherty (13 per cent) gaining a slight edge on Deputy McGinley (12 per cent).
However, Cllr Doherty benefits by almost two to one on outgoing Deputy McGinley on the second preferences transfers of Junior Minister Gallagher.
He doesn't accept the final outcome will hinge on the 'Gweedore' battle between himself and Deputy McGinley
" We're taking votes right across the constituency. People are not just voting for local candidates, they're looking for the party that has the policies and vision to actually address the problems that are important to them," he said.
In the last election there ten candidates and this time just seven and the most notable absentee is Independent Fianna Fail. In the 2004 general election Joe Kelly, son of former County Councillor Paddy Kelly from Falcarragh, polled 3,091 first preferences (8.6%) of the vote.
Councillor Doherty said he now had former supporters of IFF canvassing for Sinn Féin.
"IFF supporters backed Blaney and Kelly because of how they articulated the republican vision in the past. Now, they see Sinn Fein has a plant to bring about Irish unity and is doing it on a daily basis and they're gravitating towards this party," he said.
Councillor Doherty burst on to the national stage when he polled over 65, 000 votes in the 2004 European elections. On Monday he was being featured in the UTV 'Insight' programme due to be screened next Monday night. So how confident is he of being elected?
"We're confident we can win a seat in Donegal South West but we want to get the two seats in Donegal. We know it is not going to be easy and we're not being complacent but based on the work we have done and the record in council we're up for the fight. Many people realise the problems Donegal faces such as employment, health, education and infrastructure can be resolved on a regional basis and as the largest party in the north west we are well placed in this regard," he said.
Councillor Doherty said the key issues being raised on the doorsteps during his canvass were health, unemployment, the fishing industry and infrastructure.
