BY C.J. MCGINLEY

IS there something in the water around Termon that produces more than its fair share of politicians. The quiet, rural area was this week again claiming another political distinction with the election of Dr Kieran Deeny as an MLA following last weekend's northern elections.

Dr Deeny's grandfather, James, was a native of Currin, Termon and the family have many relations scattered all over Donegal in places such as Creeslough, Killygordon, Culdaff and Buncrana. Dr Deeny, an Independent candidate polled 3,776 first preferences votes in West Tyrone and was elected as an MLA after the seventh count. He topped the poll in the Assembly elections of 2003 in West Tyrone having polled 6,158 first preferences.

Just a short trip down the road from the Deeny ancestral home is the homestead of Dr James McDaid.

TERMON MAN

Paddy 'the Cope' Friel is a well known local in Termon and remembers the Deeny family.

"Dr Kieran Deeny's grandfather was James Deeny from Currin, Termon and later went on to become an RIC policeman in Downpatrick. Dr Deeny's father Bernard was a chemist, his wife was from the north and they only had one son, Kieran," he said.

"His grandfather was buried in the Old Abbey in Kilmacrennan in 1931 and his father died back in 2000," Paddy added.

As well as the Termon connection there are numerous other relations around Donegal.

"Mrs Nellie Kelly in Creeslough is a second cousin while Mary Scanlon from The Cross, Killygordon is also a cousin. There are cousins on the Deeny side in Culdaff and Ballybofey," he added.

Mr Deeny MLA is a GP based in Carrickmore. He is married with three children. He was born in Downpatrick on October 12, 1954. He represented Down in GAA in the early 1970s and played soccer in the Irish League and League of Ireland. He also represented Ulster Schools in Table Tennis in 1972-73.