Jim Gavin was canvassing in Carlow just three days before his shock withdrawal

FIANNA Fáil politicians and party members were today trying to come to terms with the sudden resignation of their presidential candidate, Jim Gavin, on Sunday night.

Mr Gavin abruptly resigned after appearing on The Week in Politics programme on RTÉ earlier that day where he seemed unable to answer a question about money that he allegedly owed to a former tenant. His resignation sent shockwaves through the Fianna Fáil party, while it also raised the issue of how it chose its candidate in the first place, after Mr Gavin was personally selected by taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Mr Gavin was in Co Carlow last Thursday, when he spent the day meeting the public while accompanied by Fianna Fáil elected members, including minister of state Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and local councillors. The whistle-stop tour of the county saw Mr Gavin visiting Tyndall College, St Leo’s College and Bosom Buddies Women’s Shed in Carlow town, the Fighting Cocks GAA Club near Rathoe and Tullow Mart.

The local party was delighted with the reception that Mr Gavin received while he was here, and so his resignation must have been an even bigger blow to them.

“I am personally disappointed at Jim Gavin’s decision to withdraw from the presidential election. I canvassed for Jim here in Carlow and saw the very positive engagement he had with people on the ground,” said Ms Murnane O’Connor. “Therefore, I do deeply regret that there is no longer a Fianna Fáil candidate for people to support in this election.

“Many of my colleagues have expressed a desire to review the process by which we select presidential candidates, to take into account the views and opinions from everyone in the party. I think this is a good idea so that we can learn from this experience.” MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú was interviewed on RTÉ’s Liveline about the resignation. She said: “The Jim Gavin that I got to know over a very, very short period was a very good candidate on paper, with a lifetime of service and achievement, but he wasn’t a politician.

“Most of what he had achieved was as a volunteer and as someone who wanted to serve his community and his country with distinction, I might add.

“But he wasn’t used to the pressures of political public life, and he wasn’t afforded the time to adjust. The time just wasn’t there. He wasn’t used to television, cameras, microphones, the glare of the media, public debating or rating.” She continued: “I canvassed with him over three full days between Carlow and Kilkenny. I saw the enthusiasm, the character, the commitment, the energy, and he certainly had the makings of a good politician. But this is not a race like any other election race.” Councillor John Pender, cathaoirleach of Tullow Municipal District, felt that Mr Gavin had no choice but to resign.

“I’m extremely disappointed by what happened. We’d been out canvassing with him here in Tullow on Thursday and he went down very well.

“The revelation (about the money owed to his tenant) made it untenable. I was surprised. He didn’t deal with the question very well on Sunday. It looked like something was afoot. It was untenable for him to stay,” said cllr Pender.