Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Wednesday 16°CThursday 12°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
NewsPolitics

CAN EAMONN MCCANN TAKE A SEAT IN DERRY? IRISH TIMES PREDICTS HE WILL

written by John May 2, 2016
ShareTweet
People Before Profit candidate Eamonn McCann out on the hustings in Derry

People Before Profit candidate Eamonn McCann out on the hustings in Derry

AT the grand old age of 73, journalist and socialist Eamonn McCann knows this is probably his last chance of getting elected to the Assembly.

And The Irish Times believes McCann could come between the SDLP and Sinn Fein and take a seat in the Foyle constituency for the People Before Profit party.

The SDLP and Sinn Fein are both looking to take three seats.

Sinn Fein have parachuted Martin McGuinness into Foyle in the hope of pinching a seat off Colum Eastwood’s SDLP and be returned to the Assembly with Raymond McCartney and Maeve McLaughlin.

Eastwood is confident he, Mark H Durkan and Gerry Diver will retain the party’s three seats.

But Eamonn McCann has other ideas and he could give both parties a bloody nose and get elected to the Assembly after voting is counted following polling day this Thursday, May 5.

McCann first stood here for election in the civil rights days of 1969, winning almost 2,000 votes in a contest won by John Hume, and also stood in the last Assembly elections in 2011, taking 3,120 votes but narrowly failing to win the sixth seat.

“I think this is the first election in which I am actually enjoying the process. Our campaign is in good shape,” he tells Gerry Moriarty of The Irish Times.

McCann says the first remark he and his canvassers utter on the doorsteps is “we are neither orange nor green”.

He believes. that policy is gaining some traction. In one loyalist area a party canvasser was told by a woman “I will vote for you but don’t be seen talking to me”.

McCann thinks Sinn Féin has engaged in a “high-risk” strategy in bringing McGuinness back to Derry. “If the result is that one of the existing MLAs – Raymond McCartney, a former blanket man, for instance – loses their seat then there will be a steward’s inquiry.”

No doubt there is a lot at stake in Derry, and there could be a reckoning after polling day, particularly for the SDLP but maybe also for Sinn Féin.

McCann knows that this is his best chance. He’s not taking anything for granted, but thinks the SDLP will take a hit and that Foyle will pan out two Sinn Féin, two SDLP, one DUP and himself.

“I am bursting with excitement, with the possibility of at last getting up [to Stormont],” he says.

“The one pledge I can give is that if elected they will know I am there,” added McCann.

CAN EAMONN MCCANN TAKE A SEAT IN DERRY? IRISH TIMES PREDICTS HE WILL was last modified: May 2nd, 2016 by John

Tags:
CAN EAMONN MCCANN TAKE A SEAT IN DERRY? IRISH TIMES PREDICTS HE WILLcolum eastwoodmartin mcguinnesspeople before profit
ShareTweet
John

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Harkin: MPs must vote down punitive welfare...

10 hours ago

Mayor welcomes first cohort of Medical School...

10 hours ago

Eastwood to oppose British Government’s disability cuts

12 hours ago

Mayor announces charities of the year and...

12 hours ago

Two males arrested over vehicle crime incidents...

15 hours ago

McLaughlin: Executive inaction forces closure of vital...

1 day ago

Two men arrested over drug supply probe...

1 day ago

Durkan welcomes move on Home Adaptation backlog

1 day ago

Folúntas: Oifigeach Cléireachais (Na Cealla Beaga)

1 day ago

Organisations and charities sign letter criticising Stormont’s...

2 days ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Sun, sea, spectacular views, historical charm and fabulous food. Tunisia of course

    April 5, 2024
  • Magical trip to see Santa from Belfast

    December 20, 2023
  • DD Travel Feature: Cork’s amazing The Montenotte Hotel

    April 18, 2023
  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022

Courts

  • Former Derry coach Rory Gallagher launches High Court action against GAA

    July 1, 2025
  • Derry man jailed over house burglary offences

    June 26, 2025
  • Woman charged to Derry court over shop robbery

    June 25, 2025
  • Killer Hazel Stewart loses appeal over ‘cruel’ double Co Derry murders

    June 25, 2025
  • Dosey Derry rally fan to donate €275 to hospice after THIRD street sleep

    June 25, 2025

Donegal Daily

    Read More

    • News
    • Sport
    • Courts
    • Jobs
    • Features
    • Business
    • Politics

    Information

    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Advertise WIth Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    Derry Daily

    © 2025 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


    Back To Top

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy