Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

Extremely committed. Hard working. Diligent. A tremendous public representative.

Just some of the praise Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin heaped on Éamon Ó Cuív when the party’s former deputy leader and long-serving Galway West TD retired from politics last year.

Martin, who previously clashed with Ó Cuív on policy and party direction, went even further.

The Cork TD described the former Gaeltacht Minister as “one of the most conscientious and dedicated politicians I’ve ever worked with”.

Not conscientious or dedicated enough to be given the opportunity to pitch to become the party’s Presidential candidate, though, Micheál?

The micro-managing – or micro-mis-managing – of the Fianna Fáil Presidential Election candidate selection process was a by-product of the control-freakish way Martin leads. It’s Micheál’s way, or the highway.

Even still, it was shocking that the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party –TDs, Senators and MEPs – facilitated........

© Connacht Tribune