George Lee was off Fine Gael's Christmas card list

HATS off to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor Neale Richmond of Fine Gael who, in these recessionary times, did his bit for cost control (and indeed the environment) when he recently sent out Christmas cards left over from 2009.

The Fine Gael-issued cards were perfectly fine, except for the slight problem that they listed the names of the party's TDs in Dublin South (Richmond's Glencullen-Sandyford ward is in that constituency), including a certain George Lee, who of course sensationally resigned his seat last February.

Rather than dump the cards, the resourceful Richmond simply blacked out Lee's name. Unfortunately, however, Lee's name was still visible under the black ink.

The word is that Fine Gael is on the hunt for a big name candidate to fill Lee's shoes in Dublin South in the upcoming general election. But, like Richmond's experience with his Christmas cards, the party may find that Lee's name will be difficult to erase.

Cannon fires in Galway

STAYING with matters Fine Gael, it emerged last week that the party has added Senator Ciaran Cannon – formerly PD leader – to its ticket in Galway East. Cannon failed to get the nod at the party convention in December where councillors Jimmy McClearn and Paul Connaughton jr – son of one of the Dáil's true gentlemen – were selected. But the party hierarchy wanted the articulate Cannon on their team in a constituency that, for once, will see big change in the next general election.

With the two sitting Fine Gael TDs – Connaughton and Ulick Burke – retiring, and one of the FF seats under threat, there could be three new deputies from the four-seat constituency. Despite losing its two sitting TDs, Fine Gael is targeting a third seat here but it looks a big ask. Labour has high hopes for councillor Colm Keaveney, while independents are talking up the chances of Seán Canney.

Fitzpatrick favoured to run in place of former taoiseach

NOW that Bertie Ahern has bowed out, it will be fascinating to see who ends up on the Fianna Fáil ticket in Dublin Central.

The days of FF routinely winning two seats in the constituency are gone – for this election at least – and the party will be up against it to hold even one.

Next Friday is the party's closing day for nominations in the constituency. Cyprian Brady, who got in on the back of Ahern transfers last time out having secured just 939 first preference votes, seems intent on standing again.

And Mary FitzPatrick, who fell foul of the Ahern machine in 2007, is certain to put her name forward. She lost out to Maurice Ahern in the convention for the 2009 by-election. But after a barnstorming performance in the local elections, her name is the one head office most wants to see on the ticket.