EXCLUSIVE: Cllr Niamh Smyth added to FF ticket

EXCLUSIVE

Paul Neilan

Bailieborough councillor Niamh Smyth has tonight been added to Fianna Fail's General Election candidate team, the Anglo Celt can exclusively reveal.

The councillor topped the poll in the local elections of May 2014 but was made wait until this afternoon before receiving the call.

Cllr Smith lost out three-to-one on the nomination at the selection convention late last year with sitting TD Brendan Smith selected as the sole candidate - Monaghan candidates all withdrew the night before the selection.

Speaking to the Celt this hour, Cllr Smyth said she was 'delighted' to get the call from party HQ's area organiser Marguerite O'Loughlin.

'I just got the call ten minutes ago!' said Cllr Smyth, who had received no inkling either way at the recent Fianna Fail ard fheis.

'I'm just so excited but I wasn't giving up, I just hoped and hoped and kept hoping,' said a delighted Cllr Smyth. 'There's so much to be done but at the moment I have to get back to teach a class!' said the arts education officer with the CMETB in Monaghan.

Meanwhile, the Anglo Celt understands that former councillor Therese Hamilton in Ballybay is also to be added, making up the three-candidate team for the constituency with a polling day expected on February 26.