Who will win the European Elections in the South?

By Owen Gleeson

We were asked by our charges in Youth Media for Europe who in our opinion would win in our constituency. While I could make a decent stab at it; I thought to myself who would I trust more? Automatically, I thought of the bookies. They rarely get it wrong. Here are all the prices from Paddy Power.

Brian Crowley (Fianna Fail) 1/100

Toireasa Ferris (Sinn Fein) 5/1

Dan Boyle (Green) 33/1

Seán Kelly (Fine Gael) 1/100

Colm Burke (Fine Gael) 10/1

Alexander Stafford (Independent) 66/1

Alan Kelly (Labour) 8/15

Ned O'Keeffe (Fianna Fail) 25/1

Maurice Sexton (Independent) 200/1

Kathy Sinnott (Independent) 4/6

So the first two positions are pretty much a dead cert. If you consider that Kerry is 8/15 to win the Munster title then you’re pretty much guaranteed that Crowley and ex GAA man Sean Kelly are in.

But it is the battle for third that offers much better value. I would fancy Kathy Sinnot’s price of 4/6 over Alan Kelly’s 8/15 because she is a current MEP and form is important in any event. However, more importantly an independent has always gotten elected in the South Constituency since the elections have started. Anyone in the gambling world knows consistency is vital.

My tip for the future is Toireasa Ferris who has run a gallant race but will ultimately end outside a place position. She has age on her side which is very important but she is also from a stable outside of the big 3, whose form has been very poor of late. Another important factor in her prospective future chances is that her father has a history of big upsets. He famously beat Dick Spring into fourth place for the much coveted TD spot in the North Kerry elections. I can see his daughter doing well in the future North Kerry elections probably repeating her father’s success there.

The other lads in the race are a bit of gamble. Colm Burke’s preparation hasn’t gone as well as planned. Ned O’Keeffe on the other hand never really got into contention.