Last Thursday saw Kerry IFA elect a new chair. The three-way contest proved fraught – largely because of the arcane electoral system used.

For IFA county officer elections where there are more than two candidates, a first ballot is taken where voters express a simple first preference. Following the counting of these votes – from more than 200 people – Michael Kirby was eliminated, leaving Kenny Jones and Pat O’Driscoll standing.

Unfortunately, quite a few voters had left the meeting by the time the second ballot began. Some had cows calving, others were standing in the packed room. Frantic phone calls recalled some, with voting continuing until near midnight.

In the event, Pat O’Driscoll was elected by, it is believed, a handful of votes – far fewer than the 27 who voted in the first ballot but not the second.

The new vice-chair is Neilus O’Connor from Moyvane. O’Driscoll is no stranger to Bluebell, having served four years as the second Kerry delegate to the executive council. Kerry is one of two counties with a second rep, reflecting the size of the membership in the county. Just like in Galway, there occasionally are rumblings about dividing the county, and these aired again recently.

Four years ago, Sean Brosnan won a three-way contest for the Kerry chair, and approaches were made to change the voting system to a single transferable vote. There are again calls for this from all sides in Kerry.