Sinn fein to decide election candidates tonight

Sinn Fein will tonight decide on who will be running as their candidates for Cavan-Monaghan in the next general election.
Already announced as putting his candidacy forward is health spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, a member of the Dáil for the constituency since 1997. Joining him in the hat is thought to be young senator Kathryn Reilly, the Ballyjamesduff native who joined the Oireachtas in 2011 at just 22 - making her the youngest in the history of the State to do so.
Card-carrying members will tonight descend on the Errigal House Hotel in Cootehill for their convention, where, it is thought, that Deputy Ó Caoláin will be easily passed with Senator Reilly his running mate in Cavan.
The senator announced her intention to run to this paper in January of this year and there was never any doubt over Ó Caoláin’s stature within the party and track record seeing him as an obvious choice.
While Ó Caoláin is more than likely to retain his seat from his Monaghan base things will be more difficult for Sen Reilly as she looks to break into the Fianna Fail-Fine Gael split on this side of the constituency, held by experienced campaigners Brendan Smith (FF) and Joe O’Reilly (FG). More difficult still by the constituency being reduced from five to four seats.
Former councillor Pauline Tully ruled herself out of returning to the fold after being sounded out and after being allegedly attacked by her former partner things do not look like changing any time soon. She announced her resignation from the council chamber in April 2012, citing family commitments and was replaced by Grainne Brady, who herself resigned in December of 2013. The seat remained vacant until Noel Connell took it in the May 2014 local election.
Garda whistleblower John Wilson has said that he still intends to run as an independent in the constituency, after stating to this paper that were he ever to run with the backing of any party that it would have been Sinn Fein. Fianna Fail will have to decide on whether or not to add local poll-topper Niamh Smyth to their ticket - the Baillieborough councillor says she has no intention of withdrawing beforehand and there are already several expressions of interest in Monaghan looking to partner Deputy Smith, should he be chosen, for a logical geographical split. Fine Gael are expected to run Deputy O’Reilly here and Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys in Monaghan with no real internal challenges to those two.
Renua are still at early days in setting up their branch in the constituency and have not yet moved on choosing anyone who expressed an interest as the party concentrates on prioritising 20 counties nationwide with Cavan not thought to be one of those.