Fine Gael nominees for Cavan Monaghan revealed

Four people - all men - have put themselves forward to run for Fine Gael in the next General Election in Cavan and Monaghan.

The Selection Convention will take place tomorrow evening (Friday) in the Hotel Kilmore. It was postponed from earlier in the week following the shock announcement by Minister Heather Humphreys at the weekend that she will not be contesting the next election - now widely believed to be on November 29.

As expected the cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr T.P. O'Reilly, has been nominated; as has Cllr David Maxwell in Monaghan.

Also throwing their hats into the ring are Senator Joe O'Reilly and Cllr Aidan Campbell from Cavan and Monaghan respectively.

Prior to Minister Humphreys' bombshell, it had been thought that Fine Gael would run a two-candidate strategy in the constituency in a bid to claim a second seat with Cllr T.P. O'Reilly the front runner to make the ballot.

However, given the latest developments, and the fact that no female candidate has come forward, party headquarters may opt to add a female to the ticket as a third candidate if they can identify a suitable option.

Since 2012 political parties have been legally obliged to select at least 30% women candidates nationally to contest general elections. That threshold rose to 40% in 2023, and shortfalls in one constituency can be made up across other constituencies. Failure to meet this threshold would see the party lose 50% of the State annual funding to help cover the cost of running the political party.

Fine Gael’s Director of Elections Olwyn Enright says the party is still aiming to win two seats in the Cavan-Monaghan constituency given the party's current status in the polls and popularity of leader Simon Harris.

“We are in it to win it; Fine Gael intends to win two seats in this very important constituency at the upcoming General Election,” she said.

Minister Humphreys' decision not to seek re-election comes as a massive blow to Fine Gael nationally and locally with many commentators having predicting her to top the poll.

She is the 18th Fine Gael TD, elected in 2020, to announce that she will not seek re-election.

Minister Humphreys has said that she will put her full support behind the Fine Gael candidates selected to win two seats in the constituency and see Simon Harris returned as Taoiseach.

RUNNERS AND RIDERS IN THE RACE

Sitting TDs

- Deputy Brendan Smith (FF)

- Deputy Niamh Smyth (FF)

- Deputy Matt Carthy (SF)

- Deputy Pauline Tully (SF)

Others in the mix so far

Cllr T.P. O’Reilly (FG)

Senator Joe O'Reilly (FG)

Cllr David Maxwell (FG)

Cllr Aidan Campbell (FG)

Senator Robbie Gallagher (FF)

Cllr Sarah O’Reilly (Aontú)

Cllr Shane P. O’Reilly (Independent Ireland)

Val Martin (Irish Freedom Party)

Lester Gordon (Shamrock Independent)

Eddie O’Gara (Green Party) from Monaghan town