Fine Gael to hold convention
As speculation mounts over the timing of the next General Election, Fine Gael is to hold its convention locally to select candidates to stand in Cavan-Monaghan.
The event will take place at the Errigal Hotel in Cootehill on Monday, October 21.
As it stands, Fine Gael members look set to nominate two candidates - Deputy party leader and Minister for Social Protection as well as for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, and current Cavan council Cathaoirleach T.P. O'Reilly.
In 2020, Minister Humphreys was elected on the first count with 17.7% of the overall vote across the two counties and the portion of North Meath contained within the then constituency boundary.This will be the second time that Cllr O'Reilly's name has been put forward for a chance at challenging for a seat in the Dáil.
Last time out, when Fine Gael ran a three-candidate strategy with Sandra McIntyre's name also on the ballot, Cllr O'Reilly polled 5,124 first preferences, and was only eliminated on the 11th count following the election of Fianna Fáil's Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth, neither of whom reached the quota.The Virginia man's success as a first time General Election candidate saw him fend off Fianna Fáil stalwart Senator Robbie Gallagher and Aontú highflyer and fellow council colleague, Sarah O'Reilly.
First elected to Cavan County Council in 2019, he was the third councillor to be returned to the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District in the local election in June with a total 1,715 votes.
Along with speculation over when an election might be called, the race itself is already heating up with several candidates declared already.
With five seats up for grabs, the Sinn Féin selection convention took place in early September, also in the Errigal Hotel in Cootehill, with Deputies Pauline Tully and Matt Carthy both getting the nod.
It remains unclear even yet whether party headquarters intends to add a third name.
Details of the Fianna Fáil convention, meanwhile, have yet to be confirmed, though the party ran three candidates last time out in Deputies Smith and Smyth, along with Sen Gallagher.
Elsewhere, local election poll topper in the Ballyjamesduff MD, Shane P. O’Reilly is another confirmed name standing for the newly founded Independent Ireland.Cllr Sarah O'Reilly has been selected once again to stand for Aontú, with the party's support for her backed up by them hosting their inaugural ‘Think In’ with delegates meeting at the Hotel Kilmore last month.
Finea native Lester Gordon has also announced his intention to run as an Independent candidate, and farmer Val Martin has been nominated by the Irish Freedom Party.