Denis Foley survives attempted FF coup
JULY 1980
Members of the 1980 Brosna Carnival committee.
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MINISTER of State, Tom McEllistrim this week attempted to pull of a coup at the annual general meeting of the Tralee Comhairle Ceanntair of Fianna Fail.
But his bid to oust Councillor Denis Foley from the key post of secretary failed to come off.
Mr Foley's friend, Mr Jack Lawlor of Tralee was ousted from the chairmanship but he got himself elected to the key position as delegate to the Dáil Ceanntair.
The struggle for power at comhairle ceanntair level is all about control of the Dáil Ceanntair, which nominates a member to the powerful National Executive (NE) of the party.
Denis Foley has been constituency delegate to the NE for the last four years and Mr McEllistrim attempted coup was part of his determined bid to see him removed from the position. The question hangs around the allegiance of the officers and delegates elected by the different Comhairle Ceanntair in the North Kerry constituency.
Before Monday night's meeting Mr McEllistrim circulated the names of the team he wanted elected - and Denis Foley and Jack Lawlor were not among them. The man who beat Mr Lawlor for the chair was Seamus Byrne from Ballymacelligott. Tom Kirby of Ardfert was unopposed for the vice-chairmanship and Denis Foley beat Paddy Donnellan of Tralee for the secretaryship. Leamy Fitzgerald and Paudie Foley were elected joint treasurers. Paudie Fuller, who is from Kilflynn, Noel Stack, from Banna and Jack Lawlor were elected delegates to the Dail Ceanntair, Mr Lawlor beating Jack Moriarty of Tralee for one of the nominations.
